Despite the tragic death of popular actress Anne Heche, her upcoming film about human sex trafficking is still set to air.
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Anne Heche: Human Sex Trafficking Film Will Still Air Despite Actress’ Tragic Death
The film is called ‘Girl in Room 13’ and is scheduled to release in September 2022 on Lifetime.
It Is reported that the film follows a “heroic mother” (Heche) on a relentless search to find her daughter (Larissa Dias), who is a recovering opioid addict that had been abducted and forced into the dark underworld of the human trafficking industry.
In a panel during the Television Critics Association virtual press tour on Thursday (August 11), Amy Winter, the network’s executive vice president and head of programming, announced the decision.
She was joined on the panel by Larissa Dias, Caren Benjamin, and the film’s director Elisabeth Rohm. The filmmaker confirmed that they had finished work on the project.
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At the time of the panel, Heche was still in the hospital fighting for her life, when Winter stated:
“As many of you know Anne remains in critical condition.
And all of us here at Lifetime are deeply concerned for her and everyone affected. We hope that her friends and family stay strong during this difficult time. You know just as much as we do and we ask that you kindly refrain from inquiring about her health status.
This project is important to Anne, along with each and every one of us. We all sought to make a film that would bring attention to this appalling issue of human sex trafficking.
We hope that this film moves you and that you are just as inspired as Anne was to help us with our mission to stop violence against women.
We’re all so dedicated to the cause, of stopping violence against women and I again thank Lifetime’s so much for creating this platform.
All of us, especially Larissa who played this victim, are committed to that cause. We talked about it — every single one of us — that this was our mission
And although [Anne] is deeply missed, right now, I will say the film is finished and she did a phenomenal performance — a tour de force much like Larissa.”
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After Heche’s tragic death, the Lifetime film’s director Elisabeth Rohm stated:
“She was just a total pleasure, a hero for the film. She became a good friend and did a phenomenal job. Her performance is a tour de force, and it was really a privilege to direct her.
Every single morning, she would come to set and she said, ‘We will not stand for abuse!’ And she would pump her fist and have this just beautiful, bright smile. She was so committed to making an incredibly deep, profound, and important performance.
Anne was very open about the abuse she sustained in her childhood. And I believe that she was committed her whole life to make an impact and protecting women and being a voice against abuse.”
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