Emmy Award¬–winning actress Sharon Gless tells all in this laugh-out-loud, juicy, and touching memoir about her five decades in Hollywood, where she took on some of the most groundbreaking roles of her time.
Anyone who has seen Sharon Gless act in Cagney & Lacey, Queer as Folk, Burn Notice, and countless other shows and movies, knows that she’s someone who gives every role her all. She holds nothing back in Apparently There Were Complaints, a hilarious, deeply personal memoir that spills all about Gless’s five decades in Hollywood.
A fifth-generation Californian, Sharon Gless knew from a young age that she wanted to be an actress. After some rocky teenage years that included Sharon’s parents’ divorce and some minor (and not-so-minor) rebellion, Gless landed a coveted spot as an exclusive contract player for Universal Studios. In 1982, she stepped into the role of New York Police Detective Christine Cagney for the series Cagney & Lacey, which eventually reached an audience of 30 million weekly viewers and garnered Gless with two Emmy Awards. The show made history as the first hour-long drama to feature two women in the leading roles.
Gless continued to make history long after Cagney & Lacey was over. In 2000, she took on the role of outrageous Debbie Novotny in Queer as Folk. Her portrayal of a devoted mother to a gay son and confidant to his gay friends touched countless hearts and changed the definition of family for millions of viewers.
Apparently There Were Complaints delves into Gless’s remarkable career and explores Gless’s complicated family, her struggles with alcoholism, and her fear of romantic commitment as well as her encounters with some of Hollywood’s biggest names. Brutally honest and incredibly relatable, Gless puts it all out on the page in the same way she has lived—never with moderation.
I was (and still am) a big fan of Cagney and Lacey and both stars in their other ventures over the years, so Apparently There Were Complaints landed on my Kindle as soon as possible.
Sharon Gless tells it like it is, with no hesitation, and her speaking voice is one that I can almost hear as I read her written words. I can almost hear her laugh out loud, too, and I turned the pages rapidly to get to all the punch lines of each story.
I bought my copy for my Kindle, but now I want the hardcover, too, so I can enjoy the photos completely.
Despite being a “commitment phobe,” I also like that she has had a long marriage that says a lot about her, too.
A delightful read that earned five stars for me.
***
AN INTERIOR JOURNEY 
It’s a memoir that interests me so I’ll add it to my audible wish list. Thanks for sharing, Laurel.
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Thanks,, Mary, I hope you enjoy it.
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Hmm not being a viewer I am not familiar with her, but do recognise the title of the series she was in. However your review makes me recognise she is an outstanding person.
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Thanks, Kathryn, the show was outstanding in that two female leading actors carried it, and when the network cancelled it after three seasons, there was such a massive protest from viewers (by letters and calls, since this was before social networks!), the show came back on the air for several more seasons. The actors both won several Emmys and Golden Globes.
I love a good female “buddy” movie!
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