From Homeless to Harvard, and Now Hollywood

Lifetime Television has begun production of an original movie about the life of Elizabeth A. Murray ’04-’05, who gained national attention as she overcame a childhood on the streets to enter Harvard two years ago.

The movie, currently titled Homeless to Harvard, will run sometime next spring, according to Lifetime.

Murray’s story has been the subject of numerous newspaper and magazine articles, and she recently signed a book deal with Hyperion Publishing.

Born in the Bronx to two drug-addicted parents, Murray recounts a childhood filled with hunger, welfare checks and cocaine dealing.

She became homeless at the age of 15 after the AIDS-related death of her mother. Despite these hardships, Murray managed to attend high school, sometimes doing her homework in subway stairwells, and received her diploma in two years. The New York Times then awarded her a scholarship to attend Harvard.

Trevor Walton, senior vice president of Lifetime Original Movies, explained the movie was an “extraordinary privilege” for Lifetime.

“Liz is an inspiration to all people who feel trapped in a world they fear they can never escape,” he said.

Thora Birch, an actress best known for her roles in American Beauty and Ghost World, will play Murray in the movie.

“It’s kind of surreal to envision Thora portraying me, particularly through that period of my life where such personal events took place. I can associate her likeness with big blockbuster films like American Beauty, and now I will adjust to seeing her play me. It’s strange, but wonderful,” Murray said yesterday.

Next weekend, Murray will fly to Los Angeles so Birch can “investigate” her character for the film.

Known across the country as a motivational speaker, Murray delivered her first speech in a forum with former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and continues to speak to organizations and educational institutions.

“When I talk to high schools, I try to relate each difficulty I had to difficulties other people have had. I explain what made me go past them and set goals for myself, and what gave me inspiration,” Murray said.

At Harvard, Murray, who lives in Currier House, has been taking humanities classes but now says she is exploring her interest in the sciences before deciding on a concentration.

She says she hopes to have her memoirs finished by spring, although she says their completion will depend on her writing pace and class obligations.

“The book is called ‘Breaking Night,’ which is a slang term for staying up until the sun rises. It will also serve as a metaphor for overcoming odds and breaking through negativity,” she explained.

“It will be a beautifully written, matter-of-fact, coming-of-age memoir,” said Jennifer Lang, the editor of Murray’s book.