The stage and soap opera actress recounts her struggle with racism during her long career on the program, One Life to Live, a struggle complicated by her light skin, her relationship with Harry Belafonte, and her alcoholism.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
After rhetorically asking, "Was I born into a family that was too ideal?" TV soap actress Holly explains that she "fought for air by acting" and that, with this book, "now I fight for air by writing." Her upbringing?her father was a chemical engineer who, along with her mother, steeped the family in traditional values?gave her good manners and poise. But she also emerged with a vulnerability to others, as well as with uncommon powers of observation, which she uses here to see and to articulate the problems of being a talented, ambitious actress who also is African American. Holly (b. 1931) came to public notice in 1968 with her role as Carla Benari on One Life to Live. Seventeen years later, she left the show after a confrontation with the director; three years after that, she was cast as Judge Francis Collier on The Guiding Light. Holly parallels the turns of her acting career to various social events and issues such as the civil rights movement and the killing of Martin Luther King Jr., and describes honestly how these turns affected, and were affected by, the ongoing status of blacks on TV. The personal side of her life also receives frank attention, including portrayals of her parents, vignettes of her childhood and accounts of her affairs. Her most notable romance was with Harry Belafonte, whom Holly came to see as "fraudulent" for his alleged hypocrisy in his relations with black women. Holly settles some scores, depicts the mercurial world of show biz, says some things she wishes she had said earlier and displays a vivid sense of justice in this outspoken memoir. Author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Many readers will remember Ellen Holly, who played the groundbreaking "I passed for white" role on the daytime drama One Life to Live. Born into an upper-middle-class African American family, Holly was sure she could have it all--a career in the theater, a husband, and a family. Instead she pined for her married friend Harry Belafonte (who, to Holly's dismay, left his wife for a white woman); received rave notices on Broadway but rarely found roles; and eventually landed on the soap from which she was cast off after 17 years. As a light-skinned black woman, she suffered professionally on two fronts: with few roles for black women anyway, she was further penalized by being too fair to play even those. Holly is very angry, and not without cause, though she is hardly alone among soap stars who never work in the medium again after being relieved of their roles. What will haunt readers here is the raw emotion behind Holly's often quite elegant prose. This is heartfelt, often brutal stuff, and Holly does not let you turn away from it. Ilene Cooper
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Every Black actress/writer in Hollywood MUST read this.,
By Elena (New York City) - See all my reviews
This review is from: One Life: The Autobiography of an African American Actress (Hardcover)
If you are an actress or screenwriter in Hollywood or New York, read this and think about it. This is not just another "who I slept with" tell all. Ellen Holly's life is really a cautionary tale about the perils intelligent, ambitious, talented black women face in the entertainment industry (and in life and love of course). Dorothy Dandridge wasn't the only black actress trying to make it in the 1950's and Diahann Carroll is not the only survivor. Ellen Holly, who has written for the New York Times and still writes screenplays, is truly one of the faceless pioneers that opened the door for the Halle Berrys, the Vanessa L.Williams, the Angela Bassetts and the Tina Andrews in Hollywood today.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The truth behind One Life to Live!,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: One Life: The Autobiography of an African American Actress (Hardcover)
I have to say that I first saw Ellen Holly playing Judge Frances Collier on Guiding Light. As a caucasian american woman and a lifelong soap fan, I was shocked to learn that she was dismissed from One Life to Life. I wanted her role on Guiding Light to be expanded. Ellen added a touch of class to the show. At least that job provided income to pay some bills, besides Ellen Holly is an intelligent resourceful woman. It took me only a couple of hours to read this magnificient book. I still think Ellen Holly is a very attractive and talented woman. I was glad that finally somebody broke the image of the happy loving family in the soaps. The soaps have never been an easy environment. I have to say that Ellen deserved more than being dismissed and the pitiful salary that she and her co-stars like Al Freeman and Lillian Hayman received is awful. I would say that Agnes Nixon should have done more for Ellen. Despite the bitterness and anger, Ellen maintains her dignity and most of all, she is proud to be who and what she is. She could have easily passed herself off to get work and roles but she chose to lead her career with honoring her family history and ancestry. Still, I would like to see Ellen act whether on stage, television or film. I wish Ellen the best of luck. I don't care what the race of the character is as long as it's played appropriately. Ellen fought for Carla Gray. Sure, people think that soap couples become boring after a while but I don't think so. I think they could be just as interesting. As a soap fan, I love watching familiar characters like Carla and Ed Hall but their departures were just awful. I still wish the best for Ellen and this book is quite an interesting read. Ellen is true to herself and to her readers. I think she has mixed feelings about playing Carla but she is grateful to her fans and people who fondly remember her. No, she never made stardom that she deserved but she is in many ways a star.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ellen will hold you spellbound,
By
This review is from: One Life: The Autobiography of an African American Actress (Hardcover)
I am a voracious reader, but never have I been so captivated by the style and well chosen words of this mesmerizing writer. I felt Ellen's feelings and found myself hanging on her every word, as she guided me through the events of her life. I was especially taken by her strength as she received the many attacks on her African background. She responded with pride and dignity and always seemed to leave the attacker disarmed. I was so taken by her genealogy, I felt compelled to travel the road to the African prince who escaped from the slave ship. I have validated most of the genealogical information on her prince ancestor and have enjoyed the exercise.
This book is a must read for anyone who is interested in history, the theatre, or just want to get to know this beautiful, charming, and well educated lady. billnell@fibervision.com
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