Jennifer Aniston to play ‘narcissistic mother’ in new Apple series based on harrowing memoir
Image of Jennette McCurdy split with image of Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston will star in and produce a series adaptation of Jennette McCurdy’s bestselling memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died. The Apple Studios production will tackle McCurdy’s “heartbreaking and hilarious” account of handling child stardom while dealing with a “narcissistic mother”.

Apple Studios has given the dramedy a 10-episode order, as reported by Variety. The official press release describes the series as a “heartbreaking and hilarious recounting of Jennette McCurdy’s struggles as a former child actor while dealing with her overbearing, domineering mother (Aniston).”

According to Apple: “The dramedy will centre on 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’.”

Image of cover of McCurdy's memoir
Image of cover of McCurdy’s memoir© AP

McCurdy will write, executive produce and showrun the series, alongside Ari Katcher (Ramy, Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show. Aniston is also set to executive produce via Echo Films.

Other notable producers attached to the project include Sharon Horgan and Stacy Greenberg who executive produce for Merman – the production house behind Bad Sisters. LuckyChap, Jerrod Carmichael and Erica Kay are also named as producers.

The series is an expansion of both Aniston’s and Horgan’s relationship with Apple TV+. Aniston currently stars in and executive produces the drama The Morning Show, which is launching its fourth season in September. Likewise, Horgan previously developed the series Bad Sisters” at Apple, with the second season airing in late 2024.

McCurdy published her memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died in 2022 and it quickly topped the New York Times best seller list. In her book, McCurdy details her complicated relationship with her late mother Debra McCurdy, revealing traumatic and violating experiences like her mother insisting on showering her until she was 18.

Speaking on the Louis Theroux Podcast, McCurdy said her mom would subject her to “breast and vaginal exams in the shower” saying she was “checking for cancer”.

Image of Jennette McCurdy and her mother, Debra McCurdy, in 2009
Image of Jennette McCurdy and her mother, Debra McCurdy, in 2009© Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

“I knew it felt violating for me,” McCurdy told Theroux, “and I knew I didn’t want it, but the one time I had attempted to even say, ‘Hey, do you think I could shower myself?’ she flew into hysterics.”

The former Nickelodeon child star started acting at the age of 8 and was a main character on iCarly and Sam & Cat opposite Ariana Grande for years. Jennette admitted that growing up on the Nickelodeon shows caused her mental health to suffer, and that her self-image was drastically impacted as a result.