Anna Nicole Smith's "Complex" Life and Death Is Examined in New Netflix Documentary Trailer

Anna Nicole Smith's legacy lives on.

The late model has been memorialized in Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me, an upcoming documentary from Netflix centered around her life. As seen in a trailer released by the streamer April 17, the project shines a light on the side of Anna Nicole that many were not privvy to before her 2007 death, including motherhood and her marriage to billionaire J. Howard Marshall.

"I want audiences to understand that Anna Nicole was a complex woman," director Ursula Macfarlane told Netflix's Tudum. "She was someone who above all else wanted to be a good mother and a free-spirited exuberant woman who wanted to live life on her own terms."

But as the filmmaker noted, Anna Nicole's life "is also a cautionary tale about how the desire for the American dream can swallow you up and spit you out, blurring your self-image and make you lose sight of your authentic self."

To help tell the Playboy Playmate's story, the documentary will feature never-before-seen footage, home movies and interviews with key figures from her inner circle.

"I feel like many previous books and films about Anna Nicole twisted her narrative," Ursula said, "so I felt fortunate to have access to a wealth of audio and TV interviews including personal phone calls that involved Anna Nicole. I really feel like she is telling her own story in her own words."

She added that participation from Anna Nicole's loved ones helps viewers "get closer to her truth."

The doc comes 16 years after Anna Nicole passed away from a lethal combination of prescription drugs at the age of 39. At the time of her death, Anna Nicole was mourning the loss of her 20-year-old son Daniel Wayne Smith, who had died of an accidental drug overdose five months prior while visiting the reality star and her newborn daughter Dannielynn Birkhead in the hospital.

Since Anna Nicole's passing, Dannielynn has grown up away from the limelight and under the care of her father, photographer Larry Birkhead. 

In September, Larry marked Dannielynn's 16th birthday with a heartfelt tribute praising the teen for enduring "tragedy, turmoil and a couple of baby tantrums."

"Many people thought the odds were stacked against you, but maybe that was geared more towards me than you," he captioned photos of Dannielynn through the years on Instagram. "So proud to be your Dad!"

Calling their life together a "wild ride," Larry added, "Mom is looking down!"

Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me premieres May 16 on Netflix.

Keep scrolling to see Anna Nicole's life in pictures.

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