Keyshia Cole brings her life story to the screen in the new Lifetime biopic Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story.
The singer-songwriter portrays herself in the film about her journey from her early days in Oakland — to her success as a multi-platinum selling recording artist.
[Keyshia Cole and Frankie Lons are shown in the image above]
The movie marks Cole’s acting debut, and recounts some of the most challenging aspects of her life, including her traumatic childhood, being placed in foster care and later adopted as her mother, Frankie Lons, struggled with substance abuse.
Lons died on her 61st birthday in July 2021 from an accidental overdose.
Related Story: ‘Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story’ Trailer Shows the Singer Reflecting on Her Traumatic Childhood (Video)
At a screening of the biopic and Q&A this week in Los Angeles, Cole said she struggled while filming some of the scenes focusing on her mom.
“It was difficult,” she told the audience assembled at the Grammy Museum.
“The casket [scene] was really difficult,” Cole shared. “The rehab scene was really difficult.”
Still, Cole said the intense scenes helped her process her mother’s death.
“It was also something like my last goodbye to her, in a way,” she explained.
Veteran actress Debbi Morgan of All My Children fame plays Lons in the film.
Related Story: Keyshia Cole Addresses Mom Frankie Lons’ Death: ‘You Will Be Missed’
Cole, 41, admitted she cried while filming parts of the movie, but said Morgan was very supportive.
“She just kept saying, ‘I feel like your mom is here,'” Cole recalled Morgan telling her.
“‘Not everybody is perfect,'” Morgan reminded her.
Lifetime describes the film as “a story of childhood trauma, tragedy, complexity of love and overcoming obstacles to become the best version of oneself.”
The movie is directed by D’Angela Proctor and Manu Boyer from a script written by Angelica Cheri.
Swirl Films and Big Dreams produced the movie for Lifetime. Executive producers are Eric Tomosunas, Leslie Greif, D’Angela Proctor and Keyshia Cole. The co-executive producer is Ron Fair, Cole’s longstanding A&R and music collaborator. Fair also supervised the music and Grammy Award winner Warryn Campbell composed the original score for the film.
The film also features a new song recorded by Cole titled “Forever is a Thing.”
Keyshia Cole: This is My Story premieres Saturday, June 24 at 8p/7c as part of Lifetime’s celebration of Black Music Month.
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