About the Author

Portia de Rossi is an Australian-born actress best known for her roles in the television series Ally McBeal, Arrested Development, and most recently Better Off Ted. She lives in Los Angeles with her wife, Ellen DeGeneres.

Reviews

De Rossi, star of such television shows as Ally McBeal and Arrested Development, reads her memoir of life in the spotlight and closet, her struggles to conceal her homosexuality and eating disorder, coping with burgeoning fame, and meeting-and marrying-Ellen DeGeneres. Her voice is girlish, slightly nasal, and clarion; she takes us through her darkest moments with astonishing frankness, allowing shame and vulnerability to creep into her voice. She seems to be confessing rather than merely reading. It's a deeply affecting performance-save for some hammy vocal characterizations. An Atria hardcover. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

"In prose as simply elegant--and as powerful--as a little black dress, De Rossi weaves together three themes--the impact of a loving, but lonely girlhood as the child of a single mother, the corrosive effect of constant doubts about her appearance and the internal struggle over her sexuality."

--"Los Angeles Times "(5 star review)

"An unflinching self-portrait...frank, brave, and revelatory."

"--Booklist"

"The blunt, pity-free matter-of-factness with which de Rossi shares secrets and lies about her eating disorders and her sexuality makes this forthright confessional story at once shocking and instructional, especially for younger women who may be secretly suffering on their own."

--"Entertainment Weekly"

"A stark, well-written portrait of how De Rossi lost control of her life as she became consumed by her struggle for perfection and acceptance."

--"Washington Post"

"De Rossi artfully draws the reader into the tension of a life lived in secrecy...her story is a cautionary tale, an inspiration, and a triumph."

--"Publishers Weekly"

"Written with artistry, compelling insight and lucid frankness, ["Unbearable Lightness"] offers solid hope and inducement to initiate the odyssey toward self-knowledge and acceptance."

--"The New York Times"

"De Rossi's attention to detail is hypnotic."

--"USA Today"

"""Breathtakingly honest, brutal and beautiful."

"--"Jonathan Safran Foer

"De Rossi tells her story with genuine insight and unflinching honesty. You will cheer her on."

--Jeannette Walls

"De Rossi's memoir reminds us that fame and celebrity are no substitute for feeling comfortable in one's own skin."

--Jodi Picoult