Katie Cassidy hopes Karen Reed will be ‘flattered’ by Lifetime movie (not included)
Katie Cassidy completely transformed into Karen Reed For Lifetime’s new movie, The Defendant: The Karen Reed Story.
“I just try to embody the character, and I do believe there are three sides to every story,” Cassidy, 39, told EXCLUSIVELY US Weekly ahead of the TV movie’s premiere on Saturday, January 10th. “There’s her side, there’s their side, and there’s the truth, and the truth will come out.”
Reed, 45, was arrested in 2022 for the second-degree murder of her then-boyfriend. John O’Keefe. She pleaded not guilty and was ultimately acquitted in June 2025 of all charges related to O’Keefe’s death and leaving the scene of an accident. Reed was found guilty of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and sentenced to one year of probation.
Cassidy plays Reed in a TV show based on a true crime story.
“There [is] There’s certainly a certain amount of pressure, but I also can’t bring myself to go there because that would put me in trouble,” Cassidy told us Put yourself in Reid’s shoes. “Of course, every character I play has a part of me in it, but I want to [Karen] Justice, I think I did. “
Read did not participate in the production defendantthough Cassidy hopes she’ll be happy with the final cut.
“I hope she’s proud of it in some way,” Cassidy said. “I hope she feels flattered by my portrayal of her.”
According to the actress, she approached the role differently than how she usually prepares to embody TV and film characters.
Katie Cassidy in “The Accused.”
Provided by Lifetime/YouTube“Normally I’d work on the material, I’d read the script, do script analysis and build a backstory, but in this case, because it’s a true story, I didn’t really do that,” Cassidy explained. “I had to do as much research as I could and then just go for it, believe in myself and throw myself into it.”
Cassidy further complimented defendant director Linda Lisa Hightfor their support in bringing this film to life.
“Our director Linda-Lisa Hayter is amazing. She was my rock while we were filming,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without her. She was amazing because… it was very intense and emotional.”
although defendant In addition to highlighting Reed’s story, Cassidy also wanted the film to pay tribute to the late O’Keefe.
Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, is sharing new insights as her case heads to a second trial. Reed, 45, is accused of drunkenly killing O’Keefe in January 2022. Prosecutors said she hit him with her SUV and left him to die in the snow. […]
“From what I’ve heard, he was a really great man and even took over his sister’s children and became a parent to them because he lost her sister,” Cassidy said. “So, you know, such a good man’s life was lost right here, which is why I think it’s important that we acknowledge that and focus on that. I hope this pays tribute to his life in some way, which was really important to us and the producers.”
since packaging defendant, Admittedly, it took Cassidy some time to separate himself from the character.
Karen Reed.
Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images“I feel like I’m still decompressing from it all,” she told us. “It’s definitely going to take some time, [and with] The body and the mannerisms…it stuck with me longer. “
this gossip Girl The alum further noted that giving up a character is akin to “mourning” death.
“I know this might sound weird or morbid, but in a way, it’s like grieving the death of a character,” Cassidy added. “You have to let go and readjust yourself, decompress and get back to reality, and that’s a process.”
Accused: The Karen Reed Story Premiering on Saturday, January 10 at 8pm ET.
