Lifetime frames this as a powerful return to dramatic roots for Lake, highlighting her ability to portray complex, real-life figures in high-stakes narratives.
Insiders note the irony of Lake returning to acting via the very genre that often mocks daytime TV stars, with fans buzzing about her transition from talk show host to true crime matriarch.
Lake’s last credited acting role was in the 2021 Lifetime holiday movie 'Under the Christmas Tree.' The new film, 'She Married Her Murderer: The Susan Cox Powell Story,' is set to debut in early 2027.
Ricki Lake is officially back in the game, and she’s bringing the receipts with a true crime twist that fits her brand perfectly.
Put down the mug and pick up the script, because Ricki Lake is officially back in the acting business. The former daytime talk show queen, who spent years dominating the airwaves with her candid interviews and cultural commentary, is trading the couch for the camera in Lifetime’s latest "Ripped from the Headlines" original movie. Lake will star in "She Married Her Murderer: The Susan Cox Powell Story," taking on the role of Judy Cox, the justice-seeking mother of the titular missing woman.
It’s a dramatic pivot from her iconic role as Tracy Turnblad in "Hairspray," but one that feels surprisingly fitting for a star known for uncovering the truth. The film casts Matreya Scarrwener as Susan Cox Powell, the young Utah mother whose 2009 disappearance became a national obsession. Lake’s character, Judy Cox, is depicted as the fierce matriarch fighting for custody of her grandchildren amidst a web of domestic violence and deception.
Mike Dopud, known for his work in "Power" and "Deadpool 2," steps in as Susan’s father, Chuck Cox. The casting choices signal a shift toward grittier, more serious dramatic fare, moving away from the lighter holiday specials that marked Lake’s previous screen appearances. This isn’t just a cameo; it’s a substantial role in a narrative that demands emotional depth and investigative rigor.
Behind the camera, director Elisabeth Rohm returns to Lifetime helming duties, marking a reunion with Scarrwener after they worked together on "Husband, Father, Killer." Rohm, along with Kara Feifer, executive produces through their banner, Rohm Feifer Entertainment. The production company has a history with Lifetime, having collaborated on titles like "A Doctor to Die For: The Sarah Harris Story" and "Wife Stalker." This continuity suggests a trusted creative partnership aimed at delivering high-quality true crime content, with Lake’s involvement adding a layer of star power that Lifetime is clearly banking on to draw viewers back to the network’s signature genre.
The storyline itself is as twisted as they come. Susan Cox Powell vanished without a trace in 2009, leaving behind two young sons. Her husband, Josh Powell, played by Jonathan Whitesell, claimed he was camping with the boys when she disappeared, but his alibi never quite added up.
The movie delves into the "weirdness" within the extended family and the tragedy that unfolded after Josh’s eventual death. With a script by Waneta Storms and production by Bruce Harvey for CMW Autumn Productions Inc. in association with Studio TF1 America Inc., the film is set to debut in early 2027. For Lake, this role represents a return to her roots as a serious actress, proving she can command the screen just as powerfully without a microphone in hand.
