In 1920, Elsa Emerson, the youngest and blondest of three sisters, is born in Door County, Wisconsin. Married in her teens, she flees to Los Angeles and is discovered by one of the most powerful executives in Hollywood. Refashioned as an exotic brunette and renamed Laura Lamont, she experiences all the glamour of stardom. But ultimately, her story is a timeless one of a woman trying to balance career, family, and personal happiness.

A Broadway actress who is unable to admit that she is aging must confront her personal and professional turmoils in order to make a part her own.

Contains bios and filmographies of some of the greatest screen actors and actresses of the last century--from Marilyn Monroe to Meryl Streep, from Charlie Chaplin to Clint Eastwood--with off-camera quotes from each star.

A star known for her strong female roles in Star Trek: Voyager and Orange Is the New Black offers a deeply moving account of the price and rewards of a passionate life. Mulgrew grew up with poetry and drama in her bones; in her mother, a would-be artist burdened by the endless arrival of new babies, she saw the consequences of a dream deferred. She discusses the daughter she gave up for adoption; the challenging roles she has taken on both on and...

It's the winter of 1968 and showbiz legend Judy Garland arrives in London to perform a five-week sold-out run at The Talk of the Town. It has been 30 years since she shot to stardom in The Wizard of Oz, but though her voice has weakened, its dramatic intensity has grown. As she prepares for the show, fights with management, and reminisces with friends and fans, her wit and warmth shine through. She also embarks on a whirlwind romance with Mickey Deans,...

"This is a tale of murder. Or maybe that’s not quite true. At its heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it? Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island. I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time―it...

Gauthier is a handsome and famous soap opera star; Serge is a serious stage actor who has renounced his profession. When Gauthier visits Serge to convince him to join him in a production of Moliere's The Misanthrope, a battle of wits ensues over who will play the lead role of Alceste. Between rehearsals, the two bike along the windswept beaches and rival for the affections of a beautiful Italian divorcee. As tensions mount, Gauthier begins to wonder...

Growing up poor and largely abandoned on the streets of 1920s Chicago Anna Finnegan has struggled her entire life, until a talent manager discovered her and brought her into the world of theater. Now, years later, she's about to start shooting her first movie. Arriving on location in Redstone, Texas, in 1932, Anna steps off the train and collides with Dalton Barnes. He's lived in Redstone all his life and hates how the big-city out-of-towners are...