‘Murdered at 17’ , July 8 (8pmET/PT) on LIFETIME.
Susan Walters (Teen Wolf, Framed for Murder, Loving, Drop Dead Diva) chats about playing Carley Emerson, the over-protective mother of a popular teenage cheerleader Brooke, (Christine Prosperi – DeGrassi) who suffers from a head injury caused by a basket toss stunt. The 17-year-old, not fully recovered, is diagnosed with Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), which can trigger violent, uncontrollable behavior.
The medication Brooke has to take causes her to black out if she drinks alcohol, cramping her partying life-style. An ugly fight with her best friend Maddie, (Emily Galley – The Blackcoat’s Daughter) leaves Brooke vulnerable, she accepts a drink from handsome, 18-year-old Jake(Blake Burt – Geostorm, Pitch Perfect 2) at a party. Jake was a witness to the argument, he confides in Brooke that he also has a temper. Later, at another party, Maddie ends up dead, with Brooke and a bloody knife beside her. Brooke is devastated, and unable to recall what happened. Brooke believes she has killed her best friend. She disposes of the evidence, goes home, lies to the police when questioned.
Jake tells her he has retrieved the evidence but won’t tell anyone as long as Brooke agrees to stay with him. Her mother, Carley, convinces her to do the right thing and go to the police. Trapped by the lies she has told, Brooke is torn between living a life controlled by Jake, or going to prison.
Making this film must have been especially frightening for the mother of two daughters.
Susan Walters. Yes, but it does shine a light on IED, and the side-effects of the medication her daughter Brooke, experiences. It also deals with the grief a parent feels when their child suffers a debilitating accident, and the consequences – denial, anger, guilt , fear. I get to explore a wide range of emotions!
You have been performing for a long time. How did you get started in the business?
Susan Walters. I started out at John Casablancas’ Elite Models in New York. I quickly moved into doing commercials. Elite Models was multi-dimensional, they had a Theatrical Agent who was able to cast me on the soap opera Loving, where I met my artist/actor husband, Linden Ashby. We’ve been married for 32 years!
What’s it like being married to an actor?
Susan Walters. For Linden and myself, it’s been wonderful! We ‘get’ each other, and are sympathetic to the actors life. The pressure and stress you feel when you have an audition, the times when you think you’ll never work again. Having a support system at home is a blessing. We have been fortunate to be able to work on several projects together, (Loving, Teen Wolf, The War Next Door, Drop Dead Diva). It’s also been great for our two daughters, Frances Grace and Savannah Elizabeth. Our careers offered them the opportunity to travel with us, and Linden has been able to spend more creative time with them than a normal 9-5 working Dad.
What was the best part of working on ‘Murdered at 17’ ?
Susan Walters. Without a doubt, working with Christine Prosperi! She was a delight, so professional. She brought much more to the part than I could have ever imagined. I felt really comfortable and natural playing the part of her Mom!
Did Brooke really kill her best friend?
Susan Walters. Tune in to LIFETIME on July 8 (8pm ET/PT), to find out!
Thanks Susan, I will!
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