Rising star Lily Brooks O’Briant takes on a compelling role in Lifetime’s new psychological thriller, Killing the Competition, premiering Saturday, March 1, 2025. This gripping film, inspired by true events, explores the dark side of ambition and the devastating impact of parental obsession.
O’Briant portrays Grace Fenwick, a dedicated dancer whose rejection from her mother’s alma mater’s elite dance team sets off a tragic chain of events. Her mother, Elizabeth (played by Melissa Joan Hart), spirals into a dangerous fixation, targeting the team’s star dancer, Hannah (Valerie Loo), and her mother, Nicole (Anzu Lawson). As Elizabeth’s actions intensify, the situation escalates to an unforeseen climax.
“Grace is passionate and hardworking, but she struggles under the immense pressure of her mother’s expectations,” says O’Briant. “I drew inspiration from real stories of teens dealing with extreme parental pressure. I wanted to portray Grace’s emotional journey authentically, especially as she comes to terms with her mother’s disturbing obsession.”
Produced by Hartbreak Films and Allegheny Image Factory, Killing the Competition features a screenplay by Jane Espenson and Christina Welsh. The film was shot in West Virginia, capturing the raw intensity of the story. O’Briant recalls the filming process as “fast-paced and collaborative,” highlighting a particularly intense scene filmed at a real high school football game, which added an element of authenticity to the story.
One of the unique challenges O’Briant faced while preparing for the role was learning to twirl two batons in just a week—a skill she hadn’t practiced since childhood. “It was an intense but fun experience,” she shares.
“The best part about playing Grace was exploring the complex mother-daughter dynamic,” O’Briant reflects. “It’s both loving and unsettling. I loved portraying Grace’s vulnerability and strength as she confronts the truth. Working with Melissa Joan Hart again was an incredible experience.”
The film also stars Eddie Mills as Steve Fenwick. “This movie is a wild ride with unexpected twists,” O’Briant teases. “It dives deep into obsession, and I think audiences will be hooked.”
Killing the Competition will premiere on Lifetime and be available for streaming on Lifetime’s website and app.
Upcoming Projects
O’Briant is set to release her highly anticipated EP, Catch Me If You Can, on March 28, 2025. The album features tracks like Fix Me and Looking for a Man. Fans can catch her performing an exclusive acoustic showcase at The Dime in Los Angeles on March 13, 2025.
Additionally, O’Briant will be a featured speaker at the Endometriosis Foundation of America’s annual medical and patient conference on March 2, 2025. Her documentary, Silent Suffering: How Endometriosis Affects Teens, co-created with her sister Hannah, will screen at the event. The documentary will also be available on YouTube starting March 1st in conjunction with Endometriosis Awareness Month.
About Lily Brooks O’Briant
Lily Brooks O’Briant is an 18-year-old actress, singer, and songwriter, currently captivating audiences as Lucy Romalotti on CBS’s iconic daytime drama The Young and the Restless. She gained recognition for her starring role as Ella McCaffrey in Apple TV+’s inspiring series Life by Ella.
Beyond acting, O’Briant has made waves in the music industry, releasing an EP and 12 original songs in 2024, including Hopeless Romantic, What You Wanted, and Thank You, earning acclaim for her heartfelt lyrics and powerful melodies.
As a passionate advocate, O’Briant serves as an ambassador for the Endometriosis Foundation of America, Teen Cancer America, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In 2020, she founded Team Young Hollywood, which has since raised over $50,000 to support St. Jude’s.
Rising star in focus
In 2023, O’Briant joined the cast of the long-running soap opera The Young and the Restless as Lucy Romalotti, further solidifying her place in television. In addition to her acting career, she has pursued music, releasing her debut single Slow in 2022, followed by an EP titled Hopeless Romantic in 2023.
Beyond entertainment, O’Briant is an advocate for youth health issues, serving as an ambassador for Teen Cancer America and actively raising awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She has also opened up about her personal battle with endometriosis, using her platform to spread awareness about the condition.
With her undeniable talent and dedication to both her craft and important causes, Lily Brooks O’Briant is a rising star to watch in the years to come.
We spoke to her about her new project and life as an artist.
Lily, how did you approach Grace’s growing awareness of her mother’s unraveling fixation?
I wanted to show Grace’s journey from wanting to please her mom to almost being afraid of her in a way that felt real—taking away layers of trust until she realizes just how far her mother is willing to go. It was about capturing that dread of watching someone you love cross a line you never saw coming.
The film exposes the brutal reality of young performers in high-stakes environments. Did you personally relate to Grace’s struggles, and what did this role teach you about the dark side of ambition?
I know what it’s like to be in a competitive industry, but I’ve been lucky to have an incredible support system from my mom. Playing Grace really showed me how ambition can turn toxic when being the very best becomes more important than anything—it’s a fine line between pushing to be the best version of yourself and pushing too far.
With Grace being a dancer and the story revolving around a cutthroat competition, how did you prep for the dance sequences? Did they help shape her emotional arc?
I had to learn baton twirling in just a week, which was both challenging and exciting—I could totally relate to Grace’s pressure to perform under high stakes. The dance sequences became more than just routines; they mirrored her emotional state, with every move carrying the weight of her struggle to keep up with impossible expectations.
The script, crafted by Jane Espenson and Christina Welsh, goes to some pretty dark places. What kind of conversations did you have with the writers or director about the psychological depth of Grace’s journey?
We talked a lot about how Grace internalizes pressure—how she goes from wanting to make her mom proud to realizing that love and control aren’t the same thing. It was important to show her unraveling not just through words, but through body language, small moments of doubt, and those subtle shifts where she starts to see the truth.
At its core, this film is a cautionary tale about ambition without limits. What do you hope audiences take away—especially when it comes to healthy relationships and setting boundaries?
I hope people walk away realizing that success should never come at the cost of your happiness or identity. Grace’s story is a reminder that real love supports, not suffocates, and that sometimes, the hardest thing to do is to stand up for yourself—even to the people closest to you.
The film’s visuals—cinematography, set design—ooze tension and unease. How did those creative choices enhance the psychological weight of the story?
Everything from the lighting to the camera angles makes you feel the pressure Grace is under—tight frames, dimly lit spaces, and sudden shifts in focus put the audience right in her head. It’s like the world around her is closing in, visually echoing the suffocating control she’s trapped in. Costume was also very important because Grace is just a teenager who is interested in doing something she loves but her mom is very focused on outward appearances so you will see each character’s personality in the clothing.
Some of Grace’s emotional moments are intense. What were the toughest scenes to shoot, and how did you get into the right headspace to make them feel raw and real?
The toughest scenes were the ones where Grace realizes that something she once did for fun has turned into a tool for her mother’s obsession & Grace becomes literally afraid of her mom. My mom has always been incredibly supportive but to get into that headspace, I focused on the idea of what if my own mom had been completely obsessed and pushed me the way Grace’s mom tried to push & control her.
