Mike Sheppard (Jibre Hordges), a bright but financially struggling college student, believes all his problems are solved when he catches the eye of the mesmerizingly beautiful and impossibly wealthy entrepreneur, Veronica King (Latarsha Rose). Their whirlwind romance showers him with luxury cars, designer clothes, and a taste of a life he’s only dreamed of. But Veronica’s generosity is a gilded cage, and her affection comes with strings attached—strings that quickly turn into a suffocating web of control, surveillance, and terrifying ultimatums.

When Mike tries to pull away, rekindling a connection with his college sweetheart Gia (Liyah Chante Thompson), Veronica’s obsession curdles into a violent rage. What Mike initially saw as a passionate romance is revealed to be a meticulously planned scheme where he is just a pawn. Trapped in a world of private security, hidden cameras, and deadly secrets, Mike must use his wits to survive the very woman who promised him everything, learning the hard way that the most expensive things in life are never free.

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Sugar Mama full cast

1. Latarsha Rose as Veronica King

Veronica is the epitome of high-class menace, a woman who uses her fortune as both a seductive weapon and a tool of punishment. Rose masterfully portrays her chilling transition from a charming, sophisticated benefactor to a vindictive, psychologically manipulative predator. Her obsession with Mike is rooted in a dark past and a need for absolute control, making his defiance an unforgivable sin she must rectify at any cost.

Rose’s performance is a masterclass in quiet intimidation. Her most terrifying moments are her calmest—sipping champagne while outlining the horrific consequences of Mike’s disloyalty or using her corporate resources to systematically destroy his life. She embodies the Lifetime villainess archeotype, refined to perfection: elegant, intelligent, and utterly ruthless.

2. Jibre Hordges as Mike Sheppard

Mike is a relatable everyman whose ambition and desire for a easier life blind him to the glaring red flags. Hordges perfectly captures his character’s journey from wide-eyed awe to gut-wrenching terror and, finally, to determined survivalist. His internal conflict between the allure of luxury and the call of his own morality is the emotional core of the film.

Hordges brings a physical and emotional vulnerability to the role, making Mike’s desperation palpable. His performance shines in the action-packed third act, where he must rely on his intelligence and courage instead of Veronica’s money to escape her lethal grasp, transforming from a victim into an unlikely hero.

3. Liyah Chante Thompson as Gia

Gia is Mike’s grounded and compassionate ex-girlfriend, a fellow student who represents the honest, normal life he foolishly abandoned. Thompson brings a fierce loyalty and intelligence to the role, making her more than just a damsel in distress. She becomes Mike’s only ally and the catalyst for his awakening, her genuine love for him standing in stark contrast to Veronica’s possessive obsession.

Thompson’s performance provides the film’s moral compass. Her suspicion of Veronica’s lavish gifts and her refusal to be intimidated by her wealth make her a formidable opponent in the psychological war Veronica wages. Her safety becomes the primary stakes for Mike’s final confrontation.

4. Thiree Pinnock as Andrew

Andrew is Mike’s loyal best friend and roommate, the voice of reason who immediately distrusts Veronica and her flashy gifts. Pinnock provides crucial comic relief and a dose of reality, his cynical one-liners about “too good to be true” situations serving as constant warnings that Mike initially ignores.

Pinnock’s role evolves from comic relief to crucial accomplice. When Mike’s life spirals into danger, Andrew’s unwavering loyalty is tested as he becomes an essential part of the plan to take Veronica down, proving that true friendship is worth more than any designer watch.

5. Karen Ceesay as Sharon

Sharon is Mike’s hardworking, single mother whose sacrifices put him through school. Ceesay brings a world of warmth and weary wisdom to her limited scenes. Her pride in her son’s achievements and her subtle concerns about his new lifestyle make her a powerful emotional anchor for Mike and the audience.

Ceesay’s character represents everything Mike is risking. Veronica’s threat to expose a secret from Sharon’s past to destroy Mike’s relationship with her is the ultimate act of cruelty, raising the emotional stakes and giving Mike a powerful reason to fight back beyond his own survival.

6. Joseph Curtis Callender as Greg

Greg is Veronica’s intimidating, silent, and fiercely loyal head of security. Callender uses his formidable physical presence to create a character who is a constant, looming threat. He is the executor of Veronica’s will, a man who follows orders without question, whether it’s delivering a gift or delivering a threat.

Callender’s performance is chilling in its stillness. Greg’s cold efficiency makes him a terrifying obstacle, but a final-act reveal about his own motivations adds a surprising layer of complexity to the enforcer, showing that even those in Veronica’s orbit have their breaking points.

7. Jason Coviello as Eric Richards

Eric is a charismatic business rival of Veronica’s who knows about her cutthroat tactics. Coviello plays him with a slick, opportunistic charm, seeing Mike’s predicament as a chance to finally gain leverage over Veronica. He is an untrustworthy ally who might hold the key to her downfall, but whose help comes with its own dangerous price.

Coviello introduces a wild card into the narrative. Eric’s scenes are filled with tense, double-edged dialogue, as Mike must decide whether to trust a known shark to escape the one he’s already entangled with.

8. Raquel Davies as Nora

Nora is Veronica’s efficient and observant personal assistant, who has witnessed her employer’s dark side for years. Davies portrays her with a nervous energy, constantly caught between her fear of Veronica and a growing sense of guilt over her compliance in unethical activities.

Davies’s character is a pivotal figure in the third act. Her internal moral struggle culminates in a critical choice: remain silent and protect her job, or find the courage to help Mike by providing the evidence he needs to expose Veronica’s crimes.

9. Cheryl Frazier as Beverly & Cat Borovicka as Professor

Beverly, Veronica’s socialite friend (Frazier), and Mike’s skeptical professor (Borovicka) serve as important facets of his world. Beverly represents the vapid, privileged circle Veronica dominates, while the professor symbolizes the academic future Mike is jeopardizing.

Though their roles are smaller, they provide crucial context. The professor’s disappointment in Mike’s failing grades—a result of his distracted new life—and Beverly’s catty remarks about his “place” in their world, heighten the pressure and sense of alienation closing in on him from all sides.

10. Samina Engel as Nurse

In a brief but critical role, the nurse (Engel) treats Mike after a “suspicious accident” orchestrated by Veronica. Her professional concern and subtle suspicion that his injuries don’t match the story plant the first seed that an outside authority might see through Veronica’s perfect façade.

Engel’s performance, though short, is a key moment of validation for the audience and Mike, confirming that his fears are real and that the world outside Veronica’s influence might just believe him.