Jana Kramer reflects on the deeply personal nature of her role in ‘Gaslit By My Husband’
Gaslit By My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story has resonated deeply with audiences, with lead actress Jana Kramer expressing her astonishment and gratitude at the film becoming the number one movie on Netflix. Kramer shared that her involvement in the project was profoundly personal on many levels. Surviving domestic abuse herself, she understood the significance of shedding light on this true-life narrative. She wanted to serve as a voice for those who might be voiceless, saying, “There’s so many people out there that need their voices to be heard. I wanted to be a conduit of freedom for those voices.”
Taking on the additional role of executive producer of the movie, Kramer was able to have a heartfelt conversation with the real-life inspiration behind the film, Morgan Metzer. Morgan’s harrowing ordeal at the hands of her ex-husband, Rodney Metzer, unfolded in a brutal attack in 2021. The masked assailant who tormented her turned out to be Rodney himself, who cynically feigned a rescue attempt post-assault. Ultimately, Rodney faced the consequences of his actions through a sentence of 25 years in prison for charges of kidnapping and aggravated assault. Despite the divergence in specifics between their experiences, Kramer and Morgan shared the common bond of domestic abuse. Reflecting on this connection, Kramer mentioned, “Our stories are not the same, we still have the same thread of domestic abuse.”
Jana, having previously endured a vicious attack from her first husband, Michael Gambino, who was incarcerated for attempting to murder her, sensitively approached scenes that mirrored her past trauma. Portraying a simulated assault brought forth “triggering moments” for Kramer during filming. Recollecting the challenging nature of these moments, she delineated, “The attack scene, him [Austin Nichols as Rodney] being on top of me, not being able to breathe, was very similar to my domestic abuse story.” Despite having embarked on a journey of healing and personal growth, she acknowledged the residual impact of such experiences on her well-being.
When casting the pivotal role of Rodney, Kramer turned to a familiar face, Austin Nichols, her co-star from the iconic TV series One Tree Hill. Their shared history and camaraderie contributed significantly to the portrayal of the tumultuous relationship depicted in the film. The choice of Nichols as the scene partner was not random. In Kramer’s words, “Austin was my very first pick for this movie because him and I had that brother-sister relationship and I knew him, and I trusted him, so we got back to that trust and felt very safe with him.”
Gaslit By My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story stands as a poignant representation of resilience and empowerment, reflecting the journeys of real survivors of domestic abuse such as Jana Kramer and Morgan Metzer. By sharing these narratives, the film offers a platform for unheard voices to be acknowledged and supported, fostering an environment of understanding and advocacy for survivors of abuse.