Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success
Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success
Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success
Member Benefits
30% Off All Books - Savings that support storytellers, not stock prices.
Fight Book Bans - Every membership sends a book to LGBTQ+ youth in affected states.
Member Book Price
$28.99
$20.29
Couldn't load pickup availability
Description
Description
A humorous collection of autobiographical essays from comedian and Somebody Somewhere actor Jeff Hiller, who shares his journey from growing up "profoundly gay" in 1980s Texas to his experiences as an inept social worker and how he clawed, scraped, and brawled to Hollywood's lower middle-tier. While struggling to find success as an actor and pay the bills, something accidentally happened to Jeff Hiller: he aged. And while it's one thing to get older and rest on the laurels of success from the blood, sweat, and tears of your youth, it's quite another to be old and have no laurels. At forty, stuck in a temp job making spreadsheets, the dream of becoming a star seemed out of reach. But after twenty-five years of guest roles on TV and performing improv in a grocery store basement, he finally struck gold with a breakout role on HBO's Somebody Somewhere, playing Joel--the kind of best friend everyone wishes they had. In his book, Jeff dives into the grit and grind of climbing the Hollywood ladder. It's a raw and often hilarious tale of the struggles, triumphs, and humiliations that shaped him into the wonderfully imperfect person he is today. With a mix of awkward charm and heartfelt honesty, Jeff shares his journey: growing up very Lutheran in Texas, navigating bullying as a gay kid, working as a social worker for unhoused youth and HIV prevention, and the endless ups and downs of being a struggling actor. For every one of us who have a dream that we're chasing--and chasing, and chasing--his is a funny, moving, and utterly relatable story.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"This book filled me with warm nostalgia for the New York comedy scene at the turn of the century! Jeff Hiller is a human crocheted blanket and I want to lay on a couch underneath him." --Tina Fey
"All my favorite things about Jeff are in this book: his huge heart, humor and charm. Whether you take Actress of a Certain Age with you to the beach, on a plane, or while you do tee-tee pah-pah, you'll be in the best of hands." --Bridget Everett, comedian, singer, and star of Somebody Somewhere
"I had the pleasure of casting Jeff in my show Nightcap where he proved to be comedic gold. As a talent both on and off the page, Jeff Hiller is a creative powerhouse that we will be enjoying for many years to come."--Ali Wentworth, New York Times bestselling author of Go Ask Ali
"Jeff Hiller uses heart, humor and hope like encouraging lampposts to illuminate the way to others who might feel lost on the dark and twisty road to self-discovery and in his case--stardom. Actress of a Certain Age is like a hilarious, inspirational prayer to all of us from the Patron Saint of Late Bloomers."--Michael Patrick King, writer, Sex and The City and The Comeback
"I loved this warm, wonderful, hilarious and tender book so much. I knew Jeff Hiller from Somebody Somewhere (And if you haven't seen it stop reading this blurb immediately and start watching. You're welcome.) and now I know him as the author of one of my favorite essay collections."--Gary Janetti, New York Times bestselling author of Do You Mind If I Cancel?
"Hiller, best known for his role in the HBO show Somebody Somewhere, strikes a balance between heartfelt and hilarious in his winning debut. . . . Hiller's humanity and vulnerability are front and center, making for a touching account of the uncertainties that accompany an acting career. This hits all the marks."-- "Publishers Weekly"
"Suffused with charm and sparkling real-life anecdotes on the grueling Hollywood machine, Hiller's book is a must-read for any performer trying to make it in the entertainment industry. . . . A chatty, hilarious, effervescently entertaining autobiography anchored by self-deprecating humility and humanity."-- "Kirkus Reviews"
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Simon & Schuster
Pub date:
2025-06-10
Length:
272 pages
The Allstora Membership
Membership Perks:
- Save 30% on all online store purchases
- Exclusive access to author's content
- You pay less, but authors still earn double
Membership Terms:
First Month:
$0.00
Monthly price:
$5.00
- To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
- One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.