Fan Casting Naomi Simmons in Behind Closed Doors

Naomi was raised in a close-knit family that prized education and community service. She excelled academically and initially entered teaching because she believed history could help students understand how personal experiences connect to larger social forces. In her mid-twenties, Naomi experienced a deeply destabilizing personal betrayal involving someone she trusted and admired. The experience left her suspicious of abandonment and unusually sensitive to signs that people might withdraw their affection. Although she continued to build a successful teaching career, she avoided examining how the incident affected her relationships. She has never married and has struggled to sustain romantic relationships. She often becomes the emotional caretaker in other people's lives, quietly hoping that being needed will prevent them from leaving. Her interest in Alice begins with a sense of recognition.