A picture-perfect family is about to have their world shattered when a teenage girl from the past moves in, seeking not a reunion, but retribution. Convinced that her stepmother is responsible for the tragic deaths of her mother and grandmother, she meticulously plots to get close to her birth father and systematically remove the woman she sees as the ultimate obstacle to justice and her father’s love.

This explosive Lifetime thriller features a powerhouse cast who bring depth and tension to every scene. They embody the ultimate family nightmare, where trust is a weapon and blood ties are not a bond, but a battlefield.

The Stepdaughter cast members

– Annie Ilonzeh as WHITNEY HUGHES

Annie Ilonzeh (Arrow, Empire, All American) masterfully steps into the role of Whitney Hughes, the stylish, successful, and seemingly perfect stepmother. Ilonzeh brings a compelling complexity to Whitney, making it unclear whether she is a cunning villainess or a misunderstood woman unfairly targeted. Her performance is a tightrope walk of poised elegance and simmering unease.

Watch for Ilonzeh’s nuanced portrayal of a woman who feels her secure life slowly unraveling. The warmth in her eyes hardens into suspicion, and her graceful demeanor becomes a shield against the escalating threats within her own home. Is her fear genuine, or is it the panic of a guilty conscience being exposed? Ilonzeh keeps the audience guessing until the very end.

– Blue Kimble as MICHAEL LAWRENCE

Blue Kimble (The Oval, Saints & Sinners) embodies Michael Lawrence, the successful and charismatic birth father caught in the crossfire. Kimble portrays a man blinded by his desire to reconnect with his long-lost daughter and make up for lost time, his paternal guilt preventing him from seeing the danger taking root under his own roof.

Kimble’s performance is heart-wrenching, as he depicts a man being torn in two. His genuine love for his new wife, Whitney, clashes violently with his protective instincts toward his daughter. The audience will feel his turmoil as his dream of a blended family curdles into his worst nightmare.

– Cassidey Fralin as JOANNA LAWRENCE

Cassidey Fralin delivers a breakout performance as Joanna Lawrence, the vengeful stepdaughter. Fralin is chillingly effective, capturing the character’s duality: the wounded, grieving girl on the surface, and the calculating, vengeful strategist beneath. Her ability to switch from sweet vulnerability to cold fury in a heartbeat is the engine of the film’s suspense.

Fralin makes Joanna’s mission terrifyingly relatable. Her quest for revenge is fueled by a profound and twisted love for her lost mother and grandmother. Every seemingly innocent question she asks and every tear she sheds is a carefully placed piece of her destructive puzzle, making her one of Lifetime’s most compelling antagonists.

– Akeem Cheatham as BRIAN HUGHES & Jered Cheatham as ERIC HUGHES

Akeem Cheatham and Jered Cheatham likely play key family members—perhaps Whitney’s brothers or close relatives—who form her support system. They represent the extended family being drawn into the conflict, their loyalty to Whitney putting them directly in the path of Joanna’s wrath. Their presence adds layers of collateral damage and external pressure.

– Judi Johnson as CASSANDRA

The character of Cassandra, shrouded in a credit mystery, is poised to be a pivotal figure. She could be a suspicious family friend, a nosy neighbor, or even a figure from the past connected to the deaths of Joanna’s mother and grandmother. Her role is undoubtedly to either aid Joanna’s plan or see through her facade, becoming either an ally or a target.

– Rayan Lawrence as TERRANCE CLARK & Candi Marie as TERRANCE’S PARTNER

Rayan Lawrence and Candi Marie enter the drama as Terrance Clark and his partner. Terrance could be a private investigator, a lawyer, or a figure from the past who holds a key piece of the puzzle regarding the family’s dark history. Their investigation or involvement threatens to expose secrets on both sides, raising the stakes for everyone.

– Loren Paul as COP

Loren Paul appears as a police officer, representing the cold hand of the law that inevitably gets involved when the family’s turmoil escalates into criminal danger. The cop’s arrival signals that the game is up and the truth, however ugly, is about to be forced into the open, forever shattering the family’s fragile facade.

The perfect family. The imperfect past. A deadly reunion. The Stepdaughter premieres August 30, 2025, only on Lifetime.