# Rosalind Ross (writer)
**Rosalind Ruth Ross** (born 1990) is an American screenwriter, film director, and former equestrian vaulter, best known for writing, directing, and executive producing the 2022 feature film *Father Stu*.[1](https://tv.apple.com/gb/person/rosalind-ross/umc.cpc.167wybe19sn4ivx8nm30h4qo7) She won a gold medal at the 2010 [FEI World Equestrian Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/fei-world-equestrian-games) before turning to screenwriting, and her spec script *Barbarian* appeared on the 2016 Black List.[1](https://tv.apple.com/gb/person/rosalind-ross/umc.cpc.167wybe19sn4ivx8nm30h4qo7) • [2](https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/black-list-2016-final-updated-list-ec1f14892970/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1990, Aptos, California[1](https://tv.apple.com/gb/person/rosalind-ross/umc.cpc.167wybe19sn4ivx8nm30h4qo7) |
| Signature work | *Father Stu* (2022), written, directed, and executive produced; her directorial debut[1](https://tv.apple.com/gb/person/rosalind-ross/umc.cpc.167wybe19sn4ivx8nm30h4qo7) • [3](https://www.avclub.com/father-stu-writer-director-rosalind-ross-interview-mark-1848772032) |
| Equestrian career | Gold medal at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games; former world champion in equestrian vaulting[1](https://tv.apple.com/gb/person/rosalind-ross/umc.cpc.167wybe19sn4ivx8nm30h4qo7) • [4](https://www.ambition.org/team/rosalind-ross) |
| Black List | Spec script *Barbarian* earned a spot on the 2016 Black List[2](https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/black-list-2016-final-updated-list-ec1f14892970/) |
| Education | Palo Alto High School; Emerson College, degree in writing and literature with an emphasis on historical nonfiction[1](https://tv.apple.com/gb/person/rosalind-ross/umc.cpc.167wybe19sn4ivx8nm30h4qo7) • [4](https://www.ambition.org/team/rosalind-ross) |
| Personal life | In a relationship with Mel Gibson since 2014; their son Lars Gerard Gibson was born in 2017[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6793979/) |
| Upcoming | *God of the Rodeo*, a true crime thriller with Ross writing and directing and Snoop Dogg starring[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6793979/news/) |
## Equestrian vaulting career
Before entering film, Ross competed in equestrian vaulting, a discipline combining dance, theater, and acrobatics performed on horseback. She was a world champion in the sport and, according to the AMBITION organization where she serves on the advisory board, holds the most team World Championship medals of any American female.[4](https://www.ambition.org/team/rosalind-ross) She won gold at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.[1](https://tv.apple.com/gb/person/rosalind-ross/umc.cpc.167wybe19sn4ivx8nm30h4qo7) • [7](https://fametown.com/en/celebrity/rosalind-ross/) Earlier, she was part of the United States vaulting team that took silver at the 2006 World Equestrian Games.[8](https://www.uset.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2006-Fall-Newsletter.pdf)
She left elite sport to study at [Emerson College](https://www.edgepedia.org/emerson-college), graduating with a degree in writing and literature with an emphasis on historical nonfiction, and has said she never formally studied screenwriting or filmmaking, learning instead by doing.[4](https://www.ambition.org/team/rosalind-ross) • [9](https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20220412331330/rosalind-ross-exclusive-interview-father-stu-mark-wahlberg-mel-gibson/)
## Screenwriting
Ross's first professional credit came in 2014, when she wrote one episode of the television series *Matador*, a [Robert Rodriguez](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-rodriguez) production.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6793979/) • [7](https://fametown.com/en/celebrity/rosalind-ross/) Her spec script *Barbarian* earned a place on the 2016 Black List, the annual survey of the most-liked unproduced screenplays in Hollywood, and was set up with Atlas Entertainment.[2](https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/black-list-2016-final-updated-list-ec1f14892970/) • [4](https://www.ambition.org/team/rosalind-ross)
She has developed scripts for Bold Films, Paramount Pictures, Warner Horizon, and [Walden Media](https://www.edgepedia.org/walden-media), and written projects attached to actors and filmmakers including [Reese Witherspoon](https://www.edgepedia.org/reese-witherspoon), David Oyelowo, Casey Affleck, and [Mark Wahlberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-wahlberg).[4](https://www.ambition.org/team/rosalind-ross) Her projects include *Lioness*, a drama about a soldier in Afghanistan set up in 2015; *Escaping North Korea* (2015); *Destroyer* (2018); *Black Sam*, written for Casey Affleck; *Barbie and Ruth* for Bold Films; and an adaptation of the World War II book *Hell from the Heavens* for Hollywood Gang.[10](https://www.movieinsider.com/p28379/rosalind-ross) • [4](https://www.ambition.org/team/rosalind-ross) She also served as co-executive producer on the television series *Lawmen: Bass Reeves* and contributed additional literary material to *Arthur the King*.[11](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/rosalind-ross/credits/3060039649/)
## Father Stu
*Father Stu* (2022) dramatizes the life of Stuart "Stu" Long, a [Helena, Montana](https://www.edgepedia.org/helena-montana), boxer turned actor turned Catholic priest who died in 2014 of inclusion body myositis. Mark Wahlberg, who had been developing the story for roughly a decade, at one point with director [David O. Russell](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-o-russell), called Ross out of the blue and asked her to write the screenplay after she had written two earlier scripts for him.[3](https://www.avclub.com/father-stu-writer-director-rosalind-ross-interview-mark-1848772032) • [12](https://mvmoorhead.blogspot.com/2022/04/recipe-for-stu.html) Ross spent about seven to nine months writing it, interviewing Long's father Bill and a seminary friend, and reading a memorial-service pamphlet of anecdotes about him; she has said she focused the script on the relationship between Stuart and his father.[9](https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20220412331330/rosalind-ross-exclusive-interview-father-stu-mark-wahlberg-mel-gibson/) • [3](https://www.avclub.com/father-stu-writer-director-rosalind-ross-interview-mark-1848772032) • [13](https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/overcoming-darkness-to-the-best-version-of-himself-rosalind-ross-talks-father-stu/)
After she turned in the script, Wahlberg asked her to direct it as well, her first directing assignment. The film was shot in 30 days and released by [Columbia Pictures](https://www.edgepedia.org/columbia-pictures) on April 13, 2022, with Wahlberg starring opposite [Mel Gibson](https://www.edgepedia.org/mel-gibson), Jacki Weaver, and Teresa Ruiz; Ross also served as executive producer.[3](https://www.avclub.com/father-stu-writer-director-rosalind-ross-interview-mark-1848772032) • [14](https://www.archindy.org/criterion/files/2022/pdfs/20220408.pdf) • [15](https://live.screendollars.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screendollars-Newsletter-2022-03-27.pdf) The film received a 2022 ReFrame Stamp, awarded to productions that are gender balanced in key roles.[16](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/IMDb/pr/pdf/IMDbProPressRelease_030123ReFrameandIMDbProAnnounce2022ReFrameStampFilmRecipients.pdf) Critical reception was mixed: Rotten Tomatoes lists 41 percent from critics and 95 percent from audiences,[17](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/rosalind_ross) and reviewers such as Charles Bramesco of *Little White Lies* criticized the film's pacing while others praised its treatment of faith and masculinity.[18](https://lwlies.com/talent/rosalind-ross) • [19](https://www.mercatornet.com/father_stu_mark_wahlberg_stuart_long_holiness)
## Later projects
Ross is attached as writer and director to several projects in development and pre-production, including *God of the Rodeo*, *Destroyer*, *Escaping North Korea*, *Lioness*, and an untitled [Mary Edwards Walker](https://www.edgepedia.org/mary-edwards-walker) project.[10](https://www.movieinsider.com/p28379/rosalind-ross) In 2026, Deadline reported that [Snoop Dogg](https://www.edgepedia.org/snoop-dogg) would star in *God of the Rodeo*, a true crime thriller, with Ross writing and directing and Snoop Dogg and Sara Ramaker producing through Death Row Pictures alongside Giannina Scott and [Ridley Scott](https://www.edgepedia.org/ridley-scott).[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6793979/news/)
## Personal life
Ross has been in a relationship with actor and director Mel Gibson since 2014, whom she met while working on a script for his production company [Icon Productions](https://www.edgepedia.org/icon-productions); he has been a mentor to her, and she has named *Braveheart* as her favorite film. Their son, Lars Gerard Gibson, was born in 2017.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6793979/) • [3](https://www.avclub.com/father-stu-writer-director-rosalind-ross-interview-mark-1848772032) • [7](https://fametown.com/en/celebrity/rosalind-ross/)
## References
1. [Rosalind Ross, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/gb/person/rosalind-ross/umc.cpc.167wybe19sn4ivx8nm30h4qo7)
2. [Black List 2016, Final Updated List, Go Into The Story](https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/black-list-2016-final-updated-list-ec1f14892970/)
3. [How Father Stu's first-time director helped Mark Wahlberg bring an extraordinary life to the big screen, The A.V. Club (2022)](https://www.avclub.com/father-stu-writer-director-rosalind-ross-interview-mark-1848772032)
4. [Rosalind Ross, Screenwriter & Director, AMBITION](https://www.ambition.org/team/rosalind-ross)
5. [Rosalind Ross, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6793979/)
6. [Snoop Dogg To Star And Produce 'God Of The Rodeo' Pic From Director Rosalind Ross, Deadline via IMDb News](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6793979/news/)
7. [Rosalind Ross, Director and Screenwriter, Fametown](https://fametown.com/en/celebrity/rosalind-ross/)
8. [USET Foundation Fall 2006 Newsletter](https://www.uset.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2006-Fall-Newsletter.pdf)
9. [Rosalind Ross shares how her directorial debut became a reality, HOLA! USA (2022)](https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20220412331330/rosalind-ross-exclusive-interview-father-stu-mark-wahlberg-mel-gibson/)
10. [Rosalind Ross Film Credits, Movie Insider](https://www.movieinsider.com/p28379/rosalind-ross)
11. [Rosalind Ross List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/rosalind-ross/credits/3060039649/)
12. [Less Hat, Moorhead: Recipe for Stu (2022)](https://mvmoorhead.blogspot.com/2022/04/recipe-for-stu.html)
13. [Rosalind Ross Talks 'Father Stu', Creative Screenwriting (2022)](https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/overcoming-darkness-to-the-best-version-of-himself-rosalind-ross-talks-father-stu/)
14. [The Criterion, April 8, 2022, Archdiocese of Indianapolis](https://www.archindy.org/criterion/files/2022/pdfs/20220408.pdf)
15. [Screendollars Newsletter, March 27, 2022](https://live.screendollars.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screendollars-Newsletter-2022-03-27.pdf)
16. [ReFrame and IMDbPro Announce 2022 ReFrame Stamp Film Recipients](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/IMDb/pr/pdf/IMDbProPressRelease_030123ReFrameandIMDbProAnnounce2022ReFrameStampFilmRecipients.pdf)
17. [Rosalind Ross, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/rosalind_ross)
18. [Father Stu review, Little White Lies](https://lwlies.com/talent/rosalind-ross)
19. ['Father Stu': Mark Wahlberg and Rosalind Ross on Stuart Long's holiness, MercatorNet (2022)](https://www.mercatornet.com/father_stu_mark_wahlberg_stuart_long_holiness)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screenwriters and television writers › Film screenwriters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license