Photo: Ryan Plummer/A+E Networks/Lifetime
One ofAnne Heche’s final projects was a testament to her fight against violence and abuse.
Elisabeth Röhm, the director of the upcoming Lifetime filmGirl in Room 13, opens up to PEOPLE about Heche’s “beautiful, passionate, bright light” after the actressdied at age 53on Friday, following afiery car crashlast week.
“She was just a total pleasure, a hero for the film. She became a good friend and did a phenomenal job,” Röhm, 49, says. “Her performance is a tour de force, and it was really a privilege to direct her.”
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“Every single morning, she would come to set and she said, ‘We will not stand for abuse!’ And she would pump her fist and have this just beautiful, bright smile. She was so committed to making an incredibly deep, profound, important performance,” Röhm adds.
She explains that the topic held a special place for both of them, and Heche was “a fierce warrior through art and through her platform.”
“Anne was very open about the abuse she sustained in her childhood,” Röhm says. “And I believe that she was committed her whole life to making an impact and protecting women and being a voice against abuse.”
Ryan Plummer/A+E Networks/Lifetime
Along with Dias, 29, Heche and Röhm participated in an upcoming PSA for a partnership between Lifetime, thePolaris Projectand theNational Human Trafficking Hotline. “What we really shared was a passion for the topic we were gonna tackle,” she says.
Röhm previously spoke to Heche a few days before her accident as the actress wanted them to see the film together, but the last time they saw each other in person was when production wrapped in Vancouver.
“We hugged and whooped it up, and we were just so happy and so fulfilled and content,” she recalls. “And she left me a beautiful message the next day saying that it was such an important project to her and she was so proud of this film. We had really built a beautiful friendship through it.”
In addition to Röhm, Lifetime also paid tribute to Heche in a statement to PEOPLE on Friday.
In regards to her upcoming film, a Lifetime spokesperson added, “Anne was passionate about stopping violence against women and bringing awareness to human trafficking. She delivered a masterful performance inGirl in Room 13.”
A rep for Heche confirmed the actress' deathto PEOPLEin a statement Friday on behalf of her friends and family: “Today we lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend.”
“Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy. Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact.”
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Although Heche was legally dead according to California law at the time of the announcement, it had “long been her choice to donate her organs,” so Heche’s heart was still beating at the time and she was still on life support in order to allow OneLegacy Foundation enough time to find recipients who will be a match.
The rep previouslytold PEOPLEthat Heche suffered “a severe anoxic brain injury” and was “in a coma, in critical condition” on Thursday, adding: “She is not expected to survive.”
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The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the call at around 10:56 a.m. It took 59 firefighters around 65 minutes to extinguish the flame and extract Heche from the driver’s seat, according to a newsrelease.
In addition toGirl in Room 13, Heche had several other projects in the works. She was set to star oppositeDermot Mulroneyin the upcoming horror-thrillerFull Ride, had a recurring role inAll Riseon OWN and was premiering in Sam Levinson andThe Weeknd’s HBO showIdol.
Heche shared 13-year-old sonAtlaswith ex-partnerJames Tupper, who previously paid tribute to the actress after her accident. She also shared sonHomer, 20, with ex-husbandColeman Laffoon, to whom she was married from 2001 until their divorce was finalized in 2009.
Girl in Room 13premieres Sept. 17 on Lifetime.
source: people.com
