Dying of Politeness

August 29, 2022
Academy Award–winning actor Davis’s spunky memoir presents her self-actualization via film roles: “I kicked ass onscreen way before I did so in real life.” Her charmingly perplexed tone about her misfit years growing up in New England can sometimes feel dissonant, like when she describes being molested by a neighbor when she was 10. After not-quite graduating (she never finished required credits) from Boston University, Davis moves to New York City and lands her first movie role, acting opposite Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie. She then charts her rise to the upper echelons of Hollywood upon relocating to L.A.: her first lead in obsessive Cronenberg’s The Fly (co-starring her second husband, Jeff Goldblum); the creative liberation of her role in Beetlejuice; working with an unpredictable, raging Bill Murray on Quick Change, and—in contrast—a transformative collaboration with Susan Sarandon on Thelma and Louise. Davis hits typical memoir pitfalls, but frankly describes the sexual harassment she felt unable to call out as a woman with artistic ambitions in the industry before the vocabulary of #MeToo. She gets into her love of archery and the lack of roles for women over 40, but gives scant details of her experience of motherhood (“my favorite role of all one I plan to talk about the least”) or her four divorces. Davis displays trademark gumption, if uneven introspection, in this spunky chronicle of showbiz. Agent: Mollie Glick, CAA.

Starred review from January 1, 2023

Academy Award-winning actress Davis presents a candid, comedic look at her career and transformation from mild-mannered girl to movie-star badass. Topics range from her childhood fear of poinsettia poisoning to her mastery of mannequin impersonation. With such a broad range of content, it is no surprise that Davis also addresses her adult ADD diagnosis and why acting has been the perfect fit for a brain like hers. While Davis provides plenty of insight into her famous roles and romances, she also discusses her more recent passion of addressing the gender-representation disparity in mainstream media. And who better to lead this crusade than the first woman to say "suck my dick" on the big screen? Though Davis keeps the narrative mostly lighthearted, listeners should be aware of the memoir's sensitive subjects, including loss of a parent, sexual assault, and abuse. It is only fitting that Davis narrates, as no one else could do justice to such personal and provocative details. VERDICT Will appeal to listeners seeking a humorous, heartwarming memoir teeming with Hollywood stars and stories. Recommended for fans of amusing, empowering movie-star memoirs like Betty White's and Lauren Graham's.--Lauren Hackert

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