We’re used to seeing Jennifer Aniston playing charming, girl-next-door characters, but the Friends actor is set to take on a much darker role in Apple TV+’s raw, honest drama, I’m Glad My Mom Died. The Morning Show star will lead what looks to be a superb adaptation of iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy’s 2022 memoir of the same name, playing the narcissistic mother at the centre of it - and we can't wait to see her transformation.
The series is expected to cover the complicated relationship Jennette had with her mum, Debra McCurdy, whose dream was for her only daughter to become a star - and Jennette would do anything to make her mum happy. Described by Apple TV+ as a “heartbreaking and hilarious" recounting of Jennette’s struggles, here's everything we know about the upcoming series ahead of its arrival, including the cast, full plot and how to watch it.
What is I’m Glad My Mom Died about?
Based on the real-life mother-daughter relationship between Jennette McCurdy and her mother Debra McCurdy, as detailed in Jennette’s 2022 memoir , the 10-part series will tell Jennette's story, from shooting to fame at a young age in the sitcom iCarly and the spin-off series – in which she appeared with a young Ariana Grande – Sam & Cat.
According to Apple TV+'s official synopsis, it will cover Jennette's struggles as a former child actor while dealing with her overbearing, domineering mother and "centre on the the codependent relationship between an 18-year-old actress in a hit kid’s show, and her narcissistic mother who relishes in her identity as ‘a starlet’s mother.'”
Jennette previously explained in her memoir how her childhood with her mother led to her being “riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifested into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships.”
Having a difficult relationship with a parent is sadly close to Jennifer Aniston’s own life experiences. Jennifer became estranged from her mum, the actor Nancy Dow, after a complicated relationship with her when she was growing up, which was heightened when Nancy then wrote a tell-all book about Jennifer in 1999.
Jennifer described her troubled upbringing in 2018 to The Sunday Telegraph: “[I was] this little girl just wanting to be seen and wanting to be loved by a mom who was too occupied with things that didn't quite matter," she said. The pair didn’t speak for years, but were reportedly in contact again shortly before Nancy died aged 79 in 2016.
Who's in the cast of I’m Glad My Mom Died?
While we know that Jennifer Aniston will play the role of Jennette's mother, Debra McCurdy, Apple TV+ is yet to announce the rest of the cast. We'd expect more cast news to be released soon, so we'll update you here as soon as we have more news.
We also know that Jennette will serve as co-showrunner on the series, and, very excitingly, both Jennifer Aniston and Sharon Horgan will serve as executive producers.
How can I watch I’m Glad My Mom Died?
Given that the series has only just been announced and filming hasn’t yet started, it’s unlikely we’ll see I’m Glad My Mom Died on our screens until 2026, at the earliest. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we'll share it here. In the meantime, you can check out our pick of the best TV dramas to watch this month here.
