In the Lifetime movie Hidden Family Secrets, young widowed mother Melanie (Diora Baird) tries to adjust to life after her husband Scott (Cuyle Carvin) and son die in a tragic boating accident. Melanie and her daughter Gabby (Abbie Gayle) were on the boat and witnessed their deaths. Melanie is dealt another blow when Gabby disappears after an argument. Melanie knows Gabby didn’t run away and she’s right. Her evil mother-in-law Helen is seeking revenge for the death of her only son.
Helen is portrayed by Blanche Baker. She’s best known for her role as Molly Ringwald’s big sister Ginny in the 1984 John Hughes movie Sixteen Candles. (SEE LINK ABOVE.) Baker is also recognized for her roles in the 1990 film The Handmaid’s Tale (Ofglen), and for her debut role as Anna Weiss in the 1978 TV mini-series Holocaust with Meryl Streep (who played her mother); Baker won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress. Fun fact: Baker is the daughter of Oscar-nominated actress Carroll Baker who starred in Elia Kazan’s 1956 film Baby Doll written by Tennessee Williams, co-starring Karl Malden and Eli Wallach. Hidden Family Secrets premieres on LMN on Friday, November 30 at 8 pm. [More Lifetime movies streaming are always available.]
I did feel that I was in my mother’s shadow and that I was always trying to prove myself. I think the truth is, it’s you on the stage, it’s you on the screen, in the end.
—#BlancheBaker daughter of actress #CarrollBaker. pic.twitter.com/Y5kaXSmdPf
— getTV (@gettv) January 23, 2018
Baker with her mother and Carol Kane…
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Three natural blondes at The Cutting Room. With my mother and Carol Kane out to see Ben Vereen.
