Naman Shrestha
Based on the bestselling 2017 memoir titled ‘Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body’ written by Roxane Gay, Lifetime’s ‘Surviving the Silence: The Roxane Gay Story’ is a biographical drama movie helmed by Asia Youngman. The narrative centers on a 12-year-old girl named Roxane Gay, who relocates to a suburban neighborhood with her family. Her hopes of a fresh start in the ideal community are shattered when she is sexually assaulted, leaving her traumatized and questioning her self-worth.
In order to deal with the pain and trauma, Roxane finds comfort in food and uses it as a means of survival. In turn, her choices and her changing body are questioned by society, with isolation and societal pressures beginning to rule her life. Soon, she decides to stop allowing her trauma to define her and turns her life around by becoming a successful writer through sharing her emotional journey with the world. The coming-of-age tale of Roxane unfolds in the childhood home in a seemingly idyllic suburb, which turns out to be the place where the traumatic event occurs.
Where Was Surviving the Silence: The Roxane Gay Story Filmed?
‘Surviving the Silence: The Roxane Gay Story’ was filmed entirely in British Columbia, particularly in and around Kelowna. According to reports, principal photography commenced in July 2025 under the working title ‘Hunger’ and concluded after about 40 days or so in early August of the same year. The director, Asia Youngman, shared a few words of appreciation and gratitude after wrapping the shoot. She stated, “40 days in Kelowna working on a special film with some incredible people. Very grateful to our amazing cast and crew, and to my parents and friends who visited and helped keep the homesickness away.”
Kelowna, British Columbia
All the pivotal sequences for ‘Surviving the Silence: The Roxane Gay Story’ were lensed across the city of Kelowna, situated on Okanagan Lake in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. A residential neighborhood in Kelowna doubled as the quaint neighborhood where Roxane Gay and her family move. The production team took over a few real-life properties to depict indoor scenes involving Roxane’s home. For taping key exterior portions, they set up camp in the downtown area of Kelowna, where the filming unit redressed multiple storefronts and businesses. Besides the drama film, the city has served as a prominent production location for several movies and TV shows, including ‘Girls Like Girls,’ ‘A Wife’s Nightmare,’ ‘Texas Two-Step,’ ‘The Thirteenth Wife: Escaping Polygamy,’ and ‘Silk Road.’
Surviving the Silence: The Roxane Gay Story Cast Details
Sunnii E. Bartee and Hilda Martin lead the cast of ‘Surviving the Silence: The Roxane Gay Story’ and bring the true tale to life through their compelling onscreen performances. Apart from acting, Sunnii is also known for her writing talent, which she has showcased on the 2018 miniseries ‘Spoken Memories of Em.’ On the other hand, Hilda hails from Tanzania and loves exploring the places she gets to visit during her acting projects.
Sunnii E. Bartee as Roxane Gay
In the Lifetime production, Sunnii E. Bartee dons the garb of Roxane Gay, the protagonist who overcomes her trauma against all odds. She is known for her portrayals of a poet in ‘Spoken Memories of Em,’ Piness in ‘Orange is the New Musical,’ and Danielle in ‘Tuff Crowd TV.’ Some of you might also recognize her from ‘Bookie,’ where she portrays Big Bad Betty.
Hilda Martin as Young Roxane Gay
Hilda Martin portrays the young Roxane Gay in ‘Surviving the Silence: The Roxane Gay Story.’ After entering the industry through her role in ‘Our Christmas Journey,’ Hilda managed to land roles in bigger projects. For instance, she essays the character of Beau Besser in ‘Superman & Lois,’ Grace in ‘He’s Not Worth Dying For,’ and December in ‘Inedia.’ She also features in ‘Imran and Alykhan’ as Jessica.
The Lifetime thriller also features various other talented actors in supporting yet important roles, including Josh Collins as Gareth, Wayne Corbeil as Passerby/Restaurant Patron, Julia Harnett as Nicole, Ritisha Jhamb as Lauren, Joon Leewood as Mickey, Curtis Lovell as McCaffrey, Jayden Oniah as Joel, and Ron Robinson as Michael.
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