“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” uncovers important history that’s gone largely unwritten. We should all know the name Henrietta Lacks. The African-American tobacco farmer’s cells helped the medical community advance research in cloning, chemotherapy, and in vitro fertilization — but her cells were used without her consent. Told from the perspective of Deborah Lacks (Oprah Winfrey), Henrietta’s daughter, the HBO film explores the story of how Henrietta (Renée Elise Goldsberry, “Hamilton”) changed the world — and the fact that her own family wasn’t even aware of her contributions.
I talked to Lydia Dean Pilcher, who served as executive producer on the project. We discussed why she’s so dedicated to getting female stories out in the world, the effect of The Ms. Factor toolkit, a collaboration between the PGA Women’s Impact Network and Women and Hollywood that makes the case for female-driven content, and her involvement in ReFrame, an initiative from a group of Hollywood powerhouses dedicated to achieving gender parity in the entertainment industry.
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” premieres on HBO this Saturday, April 22. The film is based on Rebecca Skloot’s 2010 book of the same name.
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