I'll Scream Later

Critically acclaimed and award-winning actress Marlee Matlin reveals the illuminating, moving and often surprising story of how she defied all expectations to become one of the most prolific and beloved actresses of our time.

Marlee Matlin entered our lives as the deaf pupil turned custodian audiences fell in love with in Children of a Lesser God a role for which she became the youngest woman ever to win a Best Actress Oscar. More than 20 years after her stunning big screen debut, the Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated actress is an inspirational force of nature - a mother, an activist and a role model for millions of deaf and hard of hearing people around the world.

In I'll Scream Later Marlee takes readers on the frank and touching journey of her life, from the frightening loss of her hearing at 18 months old to the highs and lows of Hollywood, her battles with addiction and the unexpected challenges of being thrust into the spotlight as an emissary for the deaf community. She speaks candidly for the first time about the troubles of her youth, the passionate and tumultuous two-year relationship with Oscar winner William Hurt that dovetailed into a stint in rehab, and her subsequent romances with heartthrobs like Robe Lowe, Richard Dean Anderson and David E. Kelley.

Though she became famous at the age of twenty-one, Marlee struggled all her life to connect with people, fighting against anyone who tried to hold her back. Her own mother often hid behind their communication barrier, and Marlee turned to drugs before she even started high school. However, she found in acting - with the encouragement of her mentor Henry Winkler - a discipline, a drive, and a talent for understanding the human condition that belied her age and her inability to hear. By the time Hollywood embraced her, she had almost no formal training, a fact that caused many other deaf actors to give her the cold shoulder, even as she was looked upon as a spokesperson for their community.
Marlee has played memorable roles on wildly popular television shows such as Seinfield, The West Wing and The L Word danced a show-stopping cha-cha-cha on Dancing with the Stars and now, the uncompromising honesty and humor, she shares her life - an enduring tale that is an unforgettable lesson in following your dreams. [Marlee Matlin, (2009) 336 pages; hard cover] [Marlee Matlin, (2009) 326 pages; soft cover]