That night, back at Regan’s apartment, Lee lay awake listening to sirens in the distance. She thought about Lady Caroline Lamb, a mental wreck, desperate for attention. Perfect casting, really. Ben Morris had seen exactly who she was.
—
Francine had called her with an offer that should have changed everything. But in the dark, Lee felt blue and alone. She went to count her sleeping pills—the Greek physician had given her a full month’s worth—but she didn’t take one.
She wanted to have them all if she needed them all.
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DEADLINE ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Lee Perkins in Talks to Play Lady Caroline Lamb in Ben Morris’s “Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know”
By Tina Donahoo
EXCLUSIVE: Rising star Lee Perkins (One of You to Love Me) is in talks to play the fiery Lady Caroline Lamb in Ben Morris’s highly anticipated biopicMad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know. The film, which will star Jason O’Brien as Lord Byron, is already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about projects of the year.
Lady Caroline Lamb, infamous for her torrid affair with Byron and her iconic description of him as “mad, bad, and dangerous to know,” is a central figure in the poet’s tumultuous life. Her own struggles with what many historians now identify as manic depression (bipolar disorder) make her a deeply complex character. The film will explore the volatile relationship between Byron and Lady Caroline, delving into their passionate but destructive love affair, and how their sharedbattles with mental illness influenced their lives and legacies.
“Lee brings a raw intensity and vulnerability that perfectly captures the spirit of Lady Caroline,” said Morris. “Her ability to embody the duality of strength and fragility makes her the ideal choice for this role.”
Morris’s agent, Marlowe McKay, has confirmed that Perkins is considering the role. Perkins and her agent, Francine Bloom, could not be reached for comment.
This role would mark a major comeback for Perkins, who rose to fame as the star of the hit reality showOne of You to Love Me. Recently, she made headlines after a press conference in Athens, Greece, where her younger sister is being investigated as a missing person. The incident brought attention to Perkins’s personal struggles, including the immense pressure of life in the public eye and the emotional toll of her family crisis.
An anonymous source, who claims to be a close friend of Perkins, expressed her excitement about Perkins taking on such a layered character. “Lady Caroline was a woman ahead of her time, unafraid to live and love passionately despite the constraints of her era. Her experience with bipolar disorder, much like Byron’s, shaped her actions and her creative expression in ways that are both tragic and inspiring.”
Production forMad, Bad, and Dangerous to Knowbegins this summer. The film, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Chari Adora, promises to offer a poignant look at the intersection of genius, mental illness, and thesocietal pressures faced by two of history’s most compelling figures.
Bennigson Productions is behind the project, with producers Theodore Harrison and Trevor Brooks steering the ship toward an awards season release in 2027. Fans can expect a deep dive into the emotional and psychological landscapes of both Byron and Lady Caroline, shedding light on the often misunderstood connection between artistic brilliance and mental illness.
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Lee
It was storming outside, thunderrolling through periodically. Flora was hunched over the kitchen table. “Quite a deluge,” said Lee.
“Everyone still talks about Cyclone Athena. It happened before we moved here. The streets turned into rivers and people were trapped in elevators.”
“Jeez,” said Lee.
“You were in, like, a mental hospital, right?”
The question took Lee by surprise, but she decided to be honest. “Yes,” she said.
“Why?”
It was a relief for Lee to speak openly. “I have a mood regulation disorder,” she said. “Do you know what that means?”
“I guess, but nobody really understands brains and how they work.”
Lee snorted, finishing off a mug she’d filled with wine. She pulled out a chair to join Flora. It was strangely soothing in the dim kitchen with the rain pounding the streets outside. “More homework?” she said, gesturing to Flora’s notebooks and textbooks.
“First Year Lyceum project,” said Flora. “That’s what they calltenth grade here.” Flora turned her laptop screen toward Lee. “I’m writing about romance scammers.”
“Oh…”
“I knew Mom was in trouble before she went away,” said Flora. “But nobody listened to me.” Lee recognized the hurt in Flora’s voice—the particular sting of having your observations dismissed. “Isabelle told me to get a life, and Mom told me she was fine,” said Flora. “People don’t like it when you watch them.”
