Lily Brooks O’Briant releases new Lifetime movie

By Jean Odom

Lily Brooks O’Briant decided she wanted to be an actress at 5 years of age. While it’s not unusual for young kids to dream of being a professional actress, very few become a reality.  Lily was the exception.  She was determined to see her dream come true.

Lily has deep Milan roots.  She is the grand daughter of Dr. Lew and Jane Kizer, who own Kizer’s Eye Clinic in Milan. Her mom Hope Kizer O’Briant, graduated from Milan High School in 1995.

Lily has a recurring role on The Young and the Restless and recently filmed a movie for Lifetime entitled Killing the Competition, opposite Melissa Joan Hart.

In Killing the Competition, Lily plays the role of Grace Fenwick, whose mother pushes her to be the same effortless star dancer and high school prom queen she once was. But when Grace doesn’t make the high school dance team, their world begins to unravel.  The movie was released on March 1st and is airing now Lifetime.

A persistent Lily starting reminding her mom about her dream to become an actress at age 5.

“I know nothing about acting,” stressed Hope.   “I was that mom that was like, ‘No, we’re not doing this.  You’re going to keep doing ballet, baton and gymnastics and all the other things.  She was in Sleeping Beauty when she was 5, and she just did little things all that year.”

At age 6, Lily decided she no longer wanted to pursue baton twirling anymore.

“She had won Miss Major of the South and we were going to Notre Dame for the National Competition. She looked at me, and said, Mommy, I don’t want to do this. I just want to sing and act and do plays,” Hope shared. “There might have been some tears on my part, but I was like, ‘Ok, you don’t have to do this anymore.”

By age 7, Lily wanted to act on TV and film. Hope remembers keeping a running list of excuses to give Lily, who kept asking.

“Girl, we live in Memphis!  I said that for 8 months straight but she still asked every day,” Hope said.

Expecting to be an extra or background performer, Hope told her daughter that kind of acting was time-consuming and awful.  She thought the experience of being in the background might discourage her daughter.

Hope’s plan backfired when she was approached by the director of a show she was working about hiring Lily an agent.  He told her that she was far too talented to be working in the background.

Lily found the right agent and from that point on, her drive to be on the stage became even stronger.   She booked her first major role at age 8 and shortly after, the family moved to New York for her father’s job. Three years later, Hope would move Lily and her siblings to Los Angeles after she was offered a role in The Big Show. After that, her career really took off.

Lily’s determination and positive attitude paved the way for her success.  From the time she was 13, she had been told no for various roles over 400 times.

Hope said the family was inspired by a book titled, Outliers.  The book detailed factors that lead to success.

“Outliers talks about how many hours you have to put in to be successful,” noted Hope.  “It can’t just be talent.  There has to be time and dedication. But then there is a third outlier and that’s probably me.  It’s such a sacrifice for us to come here and travel with her. It’s not just all red carpets and fancy dinners. I gave up my house in Memphis and lived in a little apartment in New York.  I live in an apartment in LA. Lily was going to make this happen.  It was a matter of if I was going to allow her to do that.”

Lily has also released a couple of music albums and performs live on stage in the Los Angeles area. She is also working with several charities, including St. Jude, Teen Cancer America, and Endometriosis of America. She also directs some in her spare time.

Lily busy schedule sometimes worries her mother.

“Because she does acting and music, it adds a big layer of complication.  She is involved in three charities and thinks she can do it all,” Hope explained. “She performs live a lot, which adds another layer of preparation.”

Hope credits her parents, Lew and Jane, for being so supportive of both her and Lily throughout the years.

Lily’s younger sister, Hannah, is also involved in the industry. She has directed two of Lily’s music videos and has helped with a film about Endometriosis that is now on YouTube.

“It’s definitely not handed to her.  It’s just like the same focus with sports. Those that go on to play college or major leagues, it’s the same type of dedication and hard work,” Hope said.