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By Sam Cohen/March 4, 2022 12:43 pm EST
When setting out to tackle the role, Drew knew that she would be required to film taxing scenes. She was committed to the challenge, though, because she knew how important it was to tell this story as authentically as possible. During an exclusive interview with The List, Sarah Drew discussed the complications of filming a movie of this nature, especially as someone who is the mother of two children. She also revealed the many ways in which this process was rewarding for her, as it highlighted the importance of community and female empowerment.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support on their website.
Sarah Drew says love is the backbone of this story
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She continued, “But … The heartbeat of the whole movie is love, and it’s in every frame. It’s not revenge. It’s not rage. It’s not anger. It is everything. It’s a pure motivation of love.”
She elaborated on how love presents itself in different forms
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She went on to discuss how Meredith has close friends and a community who rallies around her to help her through this impossibly difficult fight for her children. As Drew poignantly put it, “Most of them are women too, so it’s really about these women becoming these powerhouses for one another in order to unify this family that’s been torn apart, and it’s very powerful.”
Drew described Meredith as a hero, and mentioned that while Meredith is herself a survivor of kidnapping and abuse, it was important to Drew and to Lifetime to tell this story in a way that wasn’t “about victimhood.”
Drew is proud of the way she was able to tell Meredith’s story
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Drew went on to praise Meredith further and highlighted how Meredith has since gone on to work in women’s shelters for survivors of domestic violence to help people through the difficult situation Meredith once faced. “You feel that energy thrumming through her in every frame of the movie. She is a survivor. She will survive. She will stop at nothing. And no one can shake her. And it’s powerful. It’s empowering,” Drew said.
The “Grey’s Anatomy” actress went on to say that it’s important to surround yourself with people and to build a community for yourself, especially when you’re struggling with a debilitating issue. “For me, that community is oxygen. I just believe that there is no movement forward or fullness of life without community, in my opinion,” Drew said.
