Lifetime’s latest “Ripped from the Headlines” movie, Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story, tells the shocking true story of a woman who discovers her family isn’t who she thought they were. The film, starring and executive produced by Yaya DaCosta, premieres Saturday, April 12 at 8 PM/7c.
Here’s the Lowdown: Based on Monique Smith’s memoir, the film follows Smith’s life from a childhood marked by abuse to her adult quest to uncover her true identity. After realizing she lacks basic documentation like a birth certificate, Smith begins a decades-long search, questioning family members and using DNA testing to find answers.
What This Means Now: This movie brings to light a deeply personal and disturbing story of identity theft and the long-lasting impact of childhood trauma. It highlights the importance of documentation and the search for belonging.
The Bigger Picture: The film features Yaya DaCosta (The Lincoln Lawyer, Chicago Med) not only as the lead but also as an executive producer. The cast also includes Robert Hamilton III, Solace Kimbro Jones, Kadeem Isaiah, Morgan-Rose Jordan, and DaCosta’s real-life sister, Djassi DaCosta Johnson. It is directed by Tailiah Breon from a script by Sylvia Jones. It is produced by Undaunted content. The movie adds to Lifetime’s growing slate of films based on true events, often exploring themes of resilience and overcoming adversity. It premieres Saturday, April 12 @ 8PM/7c.
