First published 2009
Marlee Matlin lost her hearing at eighteen months old. She turned to drugs before high school and struggled to connect with people throughout her youth. Her mother often hid behind their communication barrier. Then Henry Winkler encouraged her to pursue acting. With almost no formal training, Matlin landed the lead role in Children of a Lesser God at age twenty-one. She became the youngest woman to win a Best Actress Oscar. Fame brought new challenges. Other deaf actors gave her the cold shoulder while the community expected her to be their spokesperson. She entered rehab during a turbulent two-year relationship with Oscar winner William Hurt. She dated Rob Lowe, Richard Dean Anderson, and David E. Kelley. Television roles followed on Seinfeld, The West Wing, and The L Word. She competed on Dancing with the Stars. Through honest storytelling, Matlin reveals how acting gave her discipline and drive, helping her understand the human condition despite her hearing loss.
Genres: biography, drama, mental-health, autobiography, mental-illness, memoir, biography-memoir, disability
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: overcoming-adversity, personal-journey
326 pages · Hardcover · Gallery Books
Content warnings: addiction, mental-illness