Bethany Hargrave (Evil Stepmom)

**Bethany Hargrave**, aka **Beth Anne Thompson** (Emily Clarke) is the secondary villainess from the 2021 Lifetime film, *Evil Stepmom* (airdate May 28, 2021).

## Backstory & Introduction

Bethany Hargrave was introduced as the daughter of Caroline Hargrave, though she was actually Caroline's younger sister and born Beth Anne Thompson. Their backstory story revealed that after Caroline lost her doctor's license due to forging prescriptions for Oxycodone and selling them, she and Bethany began conning rich men out of their wealth, with Bethany posing as Caroline's daughter in the scheme. Their latest victim became suspicious of Caroline and confronted her, leading to Bethany brutally beating up their target and ending up arrested for assault.

The film's events saw Bethany and Caroline going after widowed Tim Lasky, with Bethany introducing herself to Tim's twin daughters, Annabelle and Gabriella as Caroline's daughter. Though Caroline hit it off and Bethany served as a best friend for potential stepsister Annabelle, Gabi became suspicious of both Hargraves, mainly Caroline. While Caroline committed her villainy towards Gabi, Bethany continued to befriend Annabelle, to the point where Annabelle refused to believe Gabi's claims that the Hargraves were up to no good, with Bethany explaining her lack of social media posts by claiming that she was being stalked and harassed online.

A night out by the trio saw the twins see shades of Bethany's dark side, as Bethany became furious when Gabriella snuck up on her and threatened her with a broken bottle. After the girls returned home, Bethany ended up slapped and admonished by Caroline, who lashed out at her sister for nearly derailing their scheme, which included Caroline convincing Tim to move both of them in due to their townhouse needing repairs. However, when Gabi found out that their townhouse wasn't theirs, she was informed by Bethany and Caroline that they were getting away from the former's abusive ex-husband, and their plan later involved Caroline claiming to be pregnant.

## Climax and Reveal

    Gabi later went out with Bethany and hung out with her in an attempt to gain information from her, only for Bethany to realize what Gabi was up to and threaten her, claiming that Caroline knew how to get rid of people. In addition, Bethany later stole Tim's checks and set up Gabi, with the villainess giving a sinister smirk as she voiced her deception to Bethany. However, after the twins planned to catch Bethany, Caroline confessed that Bethany stole the checks, doing so for her and the baby. The film's climax saw Bethany catch Gabi looking through her things, though Gabi managed to perform a search for Bethany's real name, Beth Anne Thompson, and learn about her criminal past.

All the while, the evil Bethany informed Caroline that her ID was seen, leading to the sinister siblings holding the twins at gunpoint before driving to the same hiking area where the twins' mother passed on, with Bethany pointing her gun at the twins during the entire drive. Caroline revealed her plan to kill the twins and set them up as suicides, unaware that Tim had heard everything thanks to Annabelle discreetly calling him and rushed to save his daughters. Annabelle disarmed Caroline and held her at gunpoint, after which Bethany fought with Annabelle and ended up shooting her (non-fatally). Tim arrived and saved his daughters, and the film ended with Bethany continuing to pose as Caroline's daughter, while Caroline had her sights set on another victim.

## Trivia

* This was Emily Clarke's very first acting role.