Then, when you accept that it’s a mental illness, a whole other ability toward compassion comes in.Įmily Skeggs and Marcia Gay Harden (Lifetime)ĭo you think the movie is timely since it deals with mental health, an issue we need to work on in the U.S.? The story is completely gripping and to study Munchausen by proxy, you have to accept that it’s a mental illness because, at first, you just think this is a selfish, horrible, monstrous human being doing this to her daughter. I’ve never heard of Munchausen syndrome and I didn’t know about this particular case, so it was all new. Before she even was offered the role, she had wanted to play the role. Not at all, unlike Emily, who is a true crime fan, and knew the whole story. Were you familiar with it at all before you got the script? I first heard of Munchausen syndrome by proxy back in the ’80s or ’90s, and it was such a surprising thing. More than that, Esme is perfectly healthy, mentally and physically, and has been a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, forced to believe she was ill by her controlling, abusive mother. Instead she ran away with her boyfriend after plotting with him to murder Camile. It turns out that Esme was not kidnapped.
