Today on Too Opinionated, we welcome actress, writer, producer and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Ruby Garnet to discuss her powerful new Western, Dogwood, starring alongside Eric Roberts and James Storm!

Set in post-Civil War Ohio, Dogwood follows Harriet Beckwith (Garnet), a widowed mother of three seeking a fresh start on the frontier.

But when she encounters a town controlled by the ruthless Daniel Manlius (Eric Roberts), a horrific act of violence pushes Harriet to fight back, inspiring a community to stand together against oppression.

🎬 Ruby didn't just star in Dogwood—she created, co-directed and helped bring the entire production to life!

Drawing on her experiences as an Iraq War veteran and her Southern Ohio roots, Ruby crafted a gritty, female-driven Western exploring survival, courage, injustice and the strength of community.

We talk:

🤠 Creating and starring in Dogwood
⭐ Working alongside Eric Roberts and James Storm
🎬 Bringing an authentic Western to Southern Ohio
💪 Building a predominantly female-led production crew
🇺🇸 Serving eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including deployments to Iraq
🕵️ Her career as a federal intelligence officer
🎭 Pursuing acting at 12 and competing in the Cincinnati Overture Awards
🔥 Leaving government service to chase her Hollywood dreams
🎥 Her Amazon drama GodsWill
🌱 Directing, producing and starring in The Seedling
🥊 Her passion for MMA, obstacle racing, marathons and triathlons
❤️ Balancing filmmaking and motherhood

From the battlefields of Iraq to the frontier of Dogwood, Ruby Garnet has built a remarkable second career through determination, creativity and courage.

A Marine. A mother. A filmmaker. A Western leading lady. Ruby Garnet is writing her own Hollywood story!

🎬 Dogwood premiered at the P-Town Film Festival in Portsmouth, Ohio, September 12, 2026.

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