Emmy(R) Award Winner Kirstie Alley ("Cheers") To Star In And Executive Produce The Lifetime Original Movie "And She Was"

This Film Is About A Middle-Aged Screenwriter Whose Script-Selling Scheme To Beat Hollywood's Youth Obsession Goes Awry

PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 11 -- Kirstie Alley ("Cheers," "Fat Actress") will star in and executive produce the upcoming Lifetime Original Movie "And She Was," a satiric comedy about a middle-aged screenwriter who learns she is all washed up in Hollywood because she is considered too old. She enlists the help of her 20-something nephew who passes himself off as the writer of her scripts. But when he falls in love with a studio executive, her plan to reveal that she is, in fact, the talented wordsmith, is jeopardized. "And She Was" will premiere this summer on Lifetime Television.

In making the announcement, Susanne Daniels, President, Entertainment, Lifetime Entertainment Services said, "This movie's audacious humor deftly skewers the entertainment industry's unfortunate age bias that sidelines so much creative talent." She added, "The caliber of Kirstie's comedic talents and unique perspective into our industry, offers a great lense for this wonderfully funny material."

In "And She Was," Birdie Landgon (Alley) is an Academy Award(R)-winning writer approaching her 50th birthday who gets continually stonewalled finding work in an industry that prizes youth above all else. In desperation, she dreams up a plan to have her attractive car-salesman nephew Neil (Eric Christian Olsen, "The Loop," "Tru Calling") pose as a screenwriter using her scripts. The ruse succeeds perfectly. But just as Birdie begins to feel twinges of conscience, Neil falls for a studio development executive named Andrea. If Birdie decides to expose the deception, it could cost Neil his budding relationship and Andrea her job. While she struggles with her quandary, Birdie discovers for herself, and demonstrates to others, that being a woman of a certain age does not mean life is over, and that there are second chances for everyone.

Kirstie Alley's career has been punctuated by multiple awards and success in top-grossing films and highly acclaimed television programs. Alley most recently appeared in her own Showtime series "Fat Actress" and the television movies "Family Sins" and "While I Was Gone." She is best known for her portrayal of Rebecca Howe on NBC's "Cheers," for which she won Emmy(R), Golden Globe(R), and People's Choice(R) Awards during her six years on the hit comedy. Other television credits include "Veronica's Closet," the CBS movie "David's Mother," for which she won an Emmy(R) and two miniseries "The Last Don" and "Salem Witch Trials." In 2003, Alley portrayed the mentally disabled Donna Lee Shelby Thornton in the CBS film "Profoundly Normal." Alley's film credits include "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," "Look Who's Talking," "Look Who's Talking Too," "Look Who's Talking Now," "Deconstructing Harry," "Drop Dead Gorgeous" and "For Richer or Poorer."

Eric Christian Olsen was most recently seen in the FOX series "The Loop" and had a recurring role on "Tru Calling." He will soon be seen in the feature films "License to Wed" and "The Comebacks." His additional film credits include "The Last Kiss" with Zach Braff, "Beerfest," "Cellular," "Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd," "The Hot Chick," "Local Boys," "Not Another Teen Movie" and "Pearl Harbor."

"And She Was" is produced by Jaffe/Braunstein Films for Lifetime Television. Executive producers are Howard Braunstein, Michael Jaffe (Lifetime's "Not Like Everyone Else" and "Odd Girl Out"), Richard Fischoff (Lifetime's "For One Night") and Kirstie Alley. Graeme Clifford ("Profoundly Normal") directs from a script written by George Beckerman ("Man of the People").

Lifetime is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, Lifetime is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Lifetime Television, LMN, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime Home Entertainment and Lifetime Online (http://www.lifetimetv.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

SOURCE Lifetime Television
http://www.lifetimetv.com/