The Secret Life of Zoey
Encyclopedia
The Secret Life of Zoey is a 2002
Lifetime
TV
drama
starring Mia Farrow
, Julia Whelan
, and Cliff De Young. The movie follows the struggles of divorced parents, played by Farrow and De Young, as they attempt to save their seemingly perfect daughter (Whelan) from a secret addiction
to prescription drugs.
and De Young), sixteen year old Zoey Carter (Whelan
) begins to experiment with drugs, stealing prescription medicine from her mother. This secret behavior goes unnoticed at first, as her good grades and volunteer work make her appear to be a model teenager. Zoey escalates to stealing cash in order to buy pills and marijuana
. Her drug dealer, older student Ron Morris (Michael Coristine) gives her drugs to increase her addiction and encourages her to shoplift to buy more.
Zoey's addiction is discovered when her mother discovers a stash of pills in her backpack after a drug-induced fainting episode
. Zoey is sent to drug rehab. Her first stint there gives only the appearance of success, as Zoey continues her secret behavior. After an overdose
, Zoey returns to rehab
, where her counselor Mike Harper (Andrew McCarthy
) works with her parents to help Zoey break free of her addiction.
on August 19, 2002 to mixed reviews. The script was viewed alternately as a fresh take on a cliché
d premise, or another entrant in the mediocre teen anti-drug genre. The two female leads, Farrow and Whelan, were cited as the movie's bright spots. Whelan in particular was noted for the emotional depth and naturalness of her performance; the Orlando Sentinel's
Hal Boedeker went so far as to describe her as "The sole reason to watch 'The Secret Life of Zoey'". Mia Farrow's reviews were not so universally positive, but she was nominated for Best Performance in a TV movie or Miniseries at the 2003 PRISM Awards, which honor outstandingly realistic depictions of drug use
, drug addiction and other dependence
in film and television.
2002 in television
The year 2002 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2002.For the American TV schedule, see: 2002–03 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1940s:...
Lifetime
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
TV
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
drama
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
starring Mia Farrow
Mia Farrow
Mia Farrow is an American actress, singer, humanitarian, and fashion model.Farrow first gained wide acclaim for her role as Allison Mackenzie in the soap opera Peyton Place, and for her subsequent short-lived marriage to Frank Sinatra...
, Julia Whelan
Julia Whelan
Julia May Whelan is an American television actress. She is best known for her role as Grace Manning on the TV drama series Once and Again , and her co-starring role in the 2002 Lifetime Television movie, The Secret Life of Zoey...
, and Cliff De Young. The movie follows the struggles of divorced parents, played by Farrow and De Young, as they attempt to save their seemingly perfect daughter (Whelan) from a secret addiction
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
to prescription drugs.
Plot
Following the divorce of her parents, Marcia and Larry Carter (FarrowMia Farrow
Mia Farrow is an American actress, singer, humanitarian, and fashion model.Farrow first gained wide acclaim for her role as Allison Mackenzie in the soap opera Peyton Place, and for her subsequent short-lived marriage to Frank Sinatra...
and De Young), sixteen year old Zoey Carter (Whelan
Whelan
The family surname Whelan is an anglicisation of the Irish surname, Ó Faoláin. The surname originates from the Middle Irish 'Úa Faeláin' the name of the 10th to 11th century ruling dynasty of the Déisi, a population group inhabiting the area of the modern county of Waterford and south county...
) begins to experiment with drugs, stealing prescription medicine from her mother. This secret behavior goes unnoticed at first, as her good grades and volunteer work make her appear to be a model teenager. Zoey escalates to stealing cash in order to buy pills and marijuana
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
. Her drug dealer, older student Ron Morris (Michael Coristine) gives her drugs to increase her addiction and encourages her to shoplift to buy more.
Zoey's addiction is discovered when her mother discovers a stash of pills in her backpack after a drug-induced fainting episode
Faint
Faint may refer to:* Syncope , a medical term for fainting* Faint , a song by Linkin Park* Feint, a maneuver designed to distract or mislead* Feint , a song by Epica* The Faint, a dance-punk/rock band....
. Zoey is sent to drug rehab. Her first stint there gives only the appearance of success, as Zoey continues her secret behavior. After an overdose
Drug overdose
The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced...
, Zoey returns to rehab
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
, where her counselor Mike Harper (Andrew McCarthy
Andrew McCarthy
Andrew Thomas McCarthy is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the 1980s films St. Elmo's Fire, Mannequin, Weekend at Bernie's, Pretty in Pink, and Less Than Zero, and more recently for his role in the television shows Lipstick Jungle, White Collar and Royal Pains.-Career:McCarthy...
) works with her parents to help Zoey break free of her addiction.
Principal Cast
- Mia FarrowMia FarrowMia Farrow is an American actress, singer, humanitarian, and fashion model.Farrow first gained wide acclaim for her role as Allison Mackenzie in the soap opera Peyton Place, and for her subsequent short-lived marriage to Frank Sinatra...
as Marcia Carter - Julia WhelanJulia WhelanJulia May Whelan is an American television actress. She is best known for her role as Grace Manning on the TV drama series Once and Again , and her co-starring role in the 2002 Lifetime Television movie, The Secret Life of Zoey...
as Zoey Carter - Cliff De Young as Larry Carter
- Andrew McCarthyAndrew McCarthyAndrew Thomas McCarthy is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the 1980s films St. Elmo's Fire, Mannequin, Weekend at Bernie's, Pretty in Pink, and Less Than Zero, and more recently for his role in the television shows Lipstick Jungle, White Collar and Royal Pains.-Career:McCarthy...
as Mike Harper - Michael Coristine as Ron Morris
- Kerry SandomirskyKerry Sandomirsky-Filmography:* Wiseguy .... Angela Terranova* Unsub .... Janice* Matinee .... Kelly* Mom P.I....
as Cathy
Reception
Originally titled On The Edge, The Secret Life of Zoey was released in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on August 19, 2002 to mixed reviews. The script was viewed alternately as a fresh take on a cliché
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
d premise, or another entrant in the mediocre teen anti-drug genre. The two female leads, Farrow and Whelan, were cited as the movie's bright spots. Whelan in particular was noted for the emotional depth and naturalness of her performance; the Orlando Sentinel's
Orlando Sentinel
The Orlando Sentinel is the primary newspaper of the Orlando, Florida region. It was founded in 1876. The Sentinel is owned by Tribune Company and is overseen by the Chicago Tribune. As of 2005, the Sentinel’s president and publisher was Kathleen Waltz; she announced her resignation in February 2008...
Hal Boedeker went so far as to describe her as "The sole reason to watch 'The Secret Life of Zoey'". Mia Farrow's reviews were not so universally positive, but she was nominated for Best Performance in a TV movie or Miniseries at the 2003 PRISM Awards, which honor outstandingly realistic depictions of drug use
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
, drug addiction and other dependence
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
in film and television.