Actress

From the acclaimed Irish author who won the Booker Prize comes a captivating and emotive novel exploring themes of fame, sexual power, and a daughter's quest to unravel her mother's hidden truths. The narrative delves into the life of Katherine O'Dell, a legendary figure in Irish theatre, through the eyes of her daughter, Norah. The story spans Katherine's early rise to fame in Hollywood and her varied experiences in the theatre scenes of Dublin and London's West End. Katherine's existence unfolds like a dramatic play, with young Norah observing from the sidelines. However, the bond between mother and daughter faces challenges from Katherine's past and the harsh realities of the world. As Norah delves into her mother's secrets, she begins to accumulate her own. The tale takes a startling turn when Katherine's fame shifts to notoriety after she commits an unusual crime. "Actress" is fundamentally a daughter's journey to uncover the truth: the hidden darkness within a shining star, and the forces that eventually led Katherine to madness. The novel brilliantly depicts the allure of post-war America and the gritty reality of 1970s Dublin. "Actress" is a powerful and unsettling narrative about the complex relationships between mothers and daughters and the significant men in their lives. Through a dazzling lens, it scrutinizes the corrosive effect of celebrity while also telling a poignant story of liberation from destructive love and the intrusive eyes of the public.