Lisa Rinna Reflects On Playing ‘Crazy’ Parent In Her Return To Lifetime With “Mommy Meanest”

Lisa Rinna, best known for her roles in Melrose Place and her recent stint on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, is making a dramatic return to Lifetime movies with the chilling new film, Mommy Meanest. After a 22-year hiatus from the network, Lisa steps into the shoes of Madelyn, a mother who terrorizes her daughter Mia, played by Briana Skye, with hundreds of anonymous, bullying texts.

The project came to life shortly after Lisa left The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in early 2023. She was eager to explore roles that were distinct from her previous TV persona. 

“I had been talking to Lifetime right after I left Housewives about doing a movie. “We had a meeting and they asked me what kind of a movie I wanted to do. And I said, ‘I’d love to play either a murderer or somebody really, really crazy,’ and they were like, ‘Oh my God. We love it. We think we have something for you,’” she stated, per PEOPLE.

The network initially pitched her a murder story which she loved, but due to last year’s writers’ and actors’ strike, plans were changed, leading to her role as Madelyn in Mommy Meanest.

Despite the shift from her initial murder role, Lisa embraced the challenge of playing a manipulative and malevolent character. While it filled her need for playing a crazy character, she said, “I still need to play a murderer. I just want to play different things that I’ve never gotten to play before. That’s not happened yet, so that’ll be next maybe.”

Filming Mommy Meanest was a significant undertaking for Lisa, who hadn’t led a movie in over two decades. “I haven’t done a movie for Lifetime for 22 years. And honey, that muscle was weak so I had to really learn my lines,” she admitted. The role demanded her to be present in numerous scenes, requiring intense focus and preparation.

Adding a family twist to the filming, Lisa’s daughter Delilah, 25, joined the cast as one of Mia’s classmates. Filming took place just outside Vancouver, and Lisa ensured her daughter was well taken care of during her stay. 

“When she got there, I just welcomed her. I made sure she had food and the right things in her hotel room, and I made sure we got her a matcha when she went to set. Mom stuff like that,” Lisa recounted.

Mommy Meanest, set to premiere on May 11, is not just a showcase of Lisa’s acting range but also marks a new phase in her career, proving her versatility and commitment to taking on complex, dynamic roles.