Jessica Lange An adventurer's heart

Film historian Uzarowski (Ava Gardner: A Life in Movies) takes a revealing look at actor Jessica Lange in this laudatory biography. He begins with her years as "a shy, dreamy girl, often withdrawn and lost in her own world" in Cloquet, Minn., before she left college to study mime in Paris, dabbled in modeling, and began acting in New York. She first appeared on the big screen in the 1976 remake of King Kong in a part that was mostly dismissed, except by the New Yorker's Pauline Kael, who compared her to Carole Lombard. Substantial roles followed, including Oscar-winning turns in Tootsie and Blue Sky, but despite her acclaim, Lange struggled to find worthy roles until she garnered the attention of Ryan Murphy, whose TV series American Horror Story reintroduced her to the public in 2021. Uzarowski depicts Lange as a serious, hardworking actor who infused her performances with a unique carnality and yearning, and also touches on her personal relationships, including with dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and her famously secretive longtime partnership with Sam Shepard. In brisk prose, he paints a thorough, convincing portrait of Lange as a generational talent. Fans will enjoy this loving tribute to a remarkable artist. (June)

Film historian Uzarowski (coauthor, Ava Gardner: A Life in Movies) illuminates actress Jessica Lange's journey from her upbringing in Minnesota, to modeling in Paris, and to New York, where she began her acting career. Lange achieved fame in the 1980s; in 1983 she showed her range when she was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for the stark drama Frances and won the Supporting Actress Oscar for the comedy Tootsie. Uzarowski's biography shines in his careful treatment of the lesser-known aspects of Lange's life, such as her study of photography and mime theater. Particularly enjoyable is the account of her studying with French actor Étienne Decroux in the 1970s. Although Lange has worked steadily in films, TV, and on stage, her career often receives less critical attention than some of her contemporaries, such as Meryl Streep. Uzarowski's comprehensive account and narrative writing style seamlessly blend facts and details gleaned from press and interviews throughout Lange's career to create a stunning portrait of a singular actress. VERDICT A well-researched and highly readable biography that is a must for film studies collections.--Claire Sewell