Oslin began turning her career towards acting by 1994. This began with a guest appearance on the television western, "Paradise." Oslin portrayed a mother living in rural America and performed the song, "Down in the Valley." She would also appear on a television special with Carol Burnett where she performed a duet version of her song, "New Way Home." In 1993, Oslin made her first appearance on the big screen in "The Thing Called Love." She starred alongside Hollywood actors Sandra Bullock and River Phoenix. Directed by Peter Bogdanovich, the film's plot focused on Nashville and the main character's dream of becoming a country music songwriter. Oslin portrayed Lucy, a fictional owner of the Bluebird Café. Reviewers, including "The Austin Chronicle," disliked the movie, but praised Oslin's performance. "She's so country and so good in her role, she reveals the rest of the movie to be as artificial as it is," Louis Black wrote in 1993. Movie reviewer Roger Ebert gave the film only one star in his review. Also in 1993, Oslin appeared in the television movie, "." In 1994, she guest-starred in the Arkansas-themed series "Evening Shade." Oslin portrayed one of three sisters headed to audition for the Grand Ole Opry.