Sherri Shepherd talks 'Angel in the Rubble'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZJ8mnajxkc

Sherri Shepherd is taking on one of the most emotionally challenging roles of her career with Angel in the Rubble, a new Lifetime film based on the extraordinary true story of Genelle Guzman-McMillan, the last person rescued alive from the World Trade Center rubble following the September 11 attacks.

Shepherd not only stars as Guzman-McMillan but also serves as an executive producer on the film, which premieres September 12 on Lifetime as the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches.

A Story of Survival Against Impossible Odds

Guzman-McMillan was working for the Port Authority when the World Trade Center collapsed. She became trapped beneath the rubble and remained there for approximately 27 hours before rescuers finally found her.

Her survival became one of the most remarkable stories to emerge from the aftermath of the attacks. Angel in the Rubble is based on Guzman-McMillan’s memoir of the same name and follows both the terrifying hours she spent trapped beneath the debris and the life she rebuilt afterward.

While trapped, Guzman-McMillan said she was comforted by a mysterious man named Paul, who stayed with her and reassured her that help was coming. After she was rescued, she searched for the man but was unable to find anyone who could confirm his identity. She eventually came to believe that he may have been an angel.

Shepherd Felt a Deep Responsibility

For Shepherd, portraying Guzman-McMillan was about much more than recreating the events of September 11.

The actress told Good Housekeeping that she felt a responsibility to tell the story accurately and respectfully, knowing that the real woman who experienced it was still here to see her life portrayed on screen.

Shepherd met with Guzman-McMillan while preparing for the role, learning about who she was before the attacks and how the experience changed her life. The two also connected over motherhood, giving Shepherd another personal point of connection to the woman she was portraying.

Looking Beyond the Rescue

The film also explores what happened after Guzman-McMillan was pulled from the rubble.

Surviving while so many others did not left her carrying an enormous emotional burden. Shepherd spoke about Guzman-McMillan's experience with survivor's remorse, including the loss of co-workers and people close to her.

Rather than allowing that grief to define her, Guzman-McMillan eventually embraced the idea that she had been given another chance at life—and that she could use her story to inspire others.

That perspective became an important part of Shepherd's performance.

‘Live Life Like It’s a Gift’

Shepherd hopes audiences take more than the tragedy of 9/11 away from the film.

Speaking about what she wants viewers to remember, she emphasized compassion, being present and appreciating life because circumstances can change without warning. She also stressed the importance of continuing to honor those who died in the attacks.

The message is especially significant as the country marks 25 years since September 11, 2001, when nearly 3,000 people were killed in the terrorist attacks.

A Story About Hope

While Angel in the Rubble is rooted in one of America's darkest days, Shepherd sees the story as ultimately being about hope.

Guzman-McMillan's survival was extraordinary, but the film also focuses on the strength it took to continue living after experiencing unimaginable loss. For Shepherd, bringing that journey to television meant honoring not only the woman who survived, but also the countless people whose lives were forever changed by 9/11.

Angel in the Rubble premieres September 12, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.