Customer Reviews

One Life: The Autobiography of an African American Actress

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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.

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.

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

I initially bought Ellen's book because I was an avid OLTL fan. I wanted to read about the years that she spent as "Carly Gray" on my favorite soap opera. Ellen Holly is such an eloquent writer that she had me enthralled with her life from page one. I forgot why I first bought the book and I didn't want it to end.

If Ms. Holly wrote another book, I would buy it the minute it hit the stands; that is how great I think her writing is.

This is one of the smartest autobiographies I've ever read. I've watched One Life To Live since a kid, and I never understood the politics behind these kinds of shows and why certain story lines, or characters never got their due. Ellen Holly takes you on a journey that begins at the beginning of her childhood, all the way through her ups and downs in her love life and career, and she never missed a beat. There were times when I was laughing, and there were times when I had to put the book down and walk away because I would be so angry.

I get the sense that most longtime soap fans chose to write her off as bitter because of some of the content, but I don't think that's an accurate assessment of the book. The book is about introspection. Looking to the inside to get through all the bad stuff on the outside, and she does so with more courage and grace than most. She's a very deep feeling person and throughout the book tries to examine why certain things happen the way they did; and I couldn't help but see where she was coming from.

After reading this book, you'll want to grab a coffee with her, pick her brain, find out more about life as an African American actress. But I also found myself unable to enjoy the soaps because this kind of treatment still goes on today and it's there, in the the story lines, shoved in your face.

For viewers of daytime television in the 1960's and 1970's the name Ellen Holly is synonymous for she became the first African/American superstar on ABC's "One Life to Live", a serial created by Agnes Nixon, also known for creating "All My Children".

Ellen starred on "One Life to Live" for 17 years, but in her memoir entitled "One Life" she makes no bones about the hardships she found herself in while starring on a daytime drama. Although as popular as some of her soap opera co-stars like Erika Slezak, Robert Woods and Robin Strasser Holly discusses how she was severely underpaid, how she was treated behind-the-scenes and why she eventually left the series. Surprisingly, she accuses Nixon of being the one who underpaid her as Nixon owned the serial early in its run and that terrible time in 1981 when she quit due to an arrogant and abrasive director. Ellen would eventually return to the show in 1983, much to the fans delight, only to be fired by executive producer Paul Rauch in 1985 who didn't like her voice and also got Ellen's on-screen mother (played beautifully by Lillian Hayman) off the show when a show runner told Lillian in the parking lot she was being let go.

A well-written memoir this is a must read for fans of daytime soaps as it gives the reader an insight into the backstabbing world of daytime serials.

It is important to note as well that Paul Rauch was not shy about firing popular actors on shows in which he headed as he fired not one but three stars of NBC's "Another World" in 1975 leading that show to its eventual demise.

Ellen Holly did a superior job playing Carla on the ABC soap, "One Life To Live." I was often mesmerized by her performances, and I was baffled as to why she never won an Emmy for her work. Ms Holly was understandably bitter about being dismissed after 17 years on the show. But I don't concur with her allegation that her dismissal was race-related. Veteran soap opera performers--many of them white--are frequently jettisoned from the canvasses of their shows, or under-used to make room for "new blood," and sadly, the new blood is always someone young and untalented. But while on "One Life," I was appalled to learn that Ms. Holly was not properly compensated for her services. I can't believe that her annual increases were 37.50. How insulting. No actress who had contributed to the popularity of a show should be treated so shabbily. I have no doubt that racism is prevalent in the entertainment industry, and that is unfair, and unfortunate. And brave people like Ellen Holly should be commended for having the courage to stand up and expose the ugliness of racism behind the scenes of show business. Such gestures will only make life easier for the next Ellen Holly. Or will it?

I purchased this book after winning a starring role in a play. I had never acted a day in my life so the director told me to read up on books and watch movies. I chose One Life and thought this book was just delicious! I devoured it in a few days...Ms. Holly is a wonderful writer and her story is just simply engaging. Her story is quite moving and i love how authentic she was in telling everything- the highs and the lows. I would definitely recommend this to any aspiring actress or anyone looking for a good read...

Ellen Holly is a talented, beautiful actress who gives us a glimpse into her personal and professional life in this poignant book about what it was like to be one of the few African American actresses in daytime TV in the 70's. It's an incredible, well written, intelligent book. Holly writes with such a strong, clear voice, that the reader is immediately drawn into her world. I have such a respect for Ms. Holly and her struggle. It's a must read for anyone who is interested in learning more about African American actors who broke new ground in the arts and entertainment. Thank you, Ms. Holly.

I grew up watching Ms. Holly on OLTL in the 70's. I remember the Ebony magazine cover that had her and Al Freeman, Jr. being married on the show. I read this powerful book many years ago and felt her pain from the first page. When she spoke of being passed for White, she stood her ground and her position was clear. She made it firm in every role she played that she was Black and proud. This sista is a Queen on all fronts. When I finished her book (which is a powerful read), I was so disguted with the way OLTL treated her I stopped watching the show in protest. To see some of the actors on that show win award after award with no talent at all turned my stomach. This woman deserves a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Daytime Emmys because she put her dues in. She laid the groundwork for the Debbi Morgans, Bianca Fergusons, Shari Headleys, and Veronica Webbs of Daytime TV. If it wasn't for Ellen Holly puttin' it down the way she did, none of the other African-American daytime actresses I just mentioned would have had a chance at achieving success at a career in the soaps. Thank you Ms. Holly for your sacrifices and your triumphs. You are a quality talent that I have nothin' but respect for. God bless Ellen Holly for being the Queen that she is and thank you for this phenomenal book. It should be required reading! Wherever you are Ellen Holly, I pray that you are well. You are respected and loved by the real fans of OLTL that know what REAL talent is.