Francine's career in the entertainment industry began with photography, modeling for national publications and traveling throughout the Midwest, Toronto, and Montreal. She later transitioned to acting, booking roles in commercials and industrial training films, as well as appearing in productions such as Early Edition and Chicago Story, and even acting opposite Tom Cruise in Risky Business.
Although her acting career started in her hometown of Chicago, it was in the south that it truly blossomed. After a successful print and commercial career, she took a 10-year hiatus before returning to the industry with a bang, earning a Best Supporting nomination for her first film and later booking the lead role in the award-winning feature film "Stand Your Ground".
Having fallen in love with the south during her time on location, she eventually moved to the Atlanta area and landed the recurring role of Sandra Barkley (Avery's mom) on CMT's Nashville. She went on to book roles in Necessary Roughness, The Originals, The Dream Factory, Halt and Catch Fire, and even had a viral transformation on Fox's The Passage.
Throughout her career, Francine has had the opportunity to take on numerous lead and supporting roles in various feature films, including Mine 9, Christmas Ranch, Keys to the City, Charlie's Christmas Wish, Calm Before, Modern Prodigal, and Circles, where she played a strong, battle-worn, and determined character fighting against unknown invaders.
In addition to her work in front of the camera, Francine has also taken on the role of producer, allowing her to have a more active role in the stories she tells. She believes in challenging herself and taking charge, rather than waiting for opportunities to arise. With this in mind, she founded ElFilm Productions, LLC, produced several short films, and even won some awards.
Her goal is to create films that showcase real people, who make mistakes and learn from them. She hopes to make people think, see another perspective, remember moments, and make better choices.
Francine has recently optioned a two-book series by award-winning author Deborah Raney and hopes to be in production before the end of 2020.
