Jessica Lange remains a popular actress of the stage, films, and television. She has executed numerous memorable on-screen portrayals in films such as King Kong (1976), Tootsie (1982), and Blue Sky (1994). She has since won Emmys for Grey Gardens (2009) and appearances in the American Horror Story television series. Moreover, fans of classic film will no doubt remember her heart-wrenching portrayal of Golden Age Hollywood actress Frances Farmer in Frances (1982).

Fans of Jessica Lange will be delighted in the first biography focusing upon the career and achievements of Lange. Anthony Uzarowski’s Jessica Lange: An Adventurer’s Heart offers a thoughtful, well-researched examination of Lange’s personal life and career. The parallels and personal connections between Lange to her portrayal of Farmer are especially interesting, offering readers more depth in their understanding of her portrayal.

While I tend to be more interested in Farmer’s homages to classic film and portrayals of Golden Age stars, Uzarowski does a fine job in discussing Lange’s impact as a contemporary actress who has worked actress multiple genres. In addition, Uzarowski offers a more complex and multifaceted exploration of Lange’s life and priorities off-screen, further making this autobiography exceptionally thorough for a modern-day working actress with decades of acting experience.

Jessica Lange will be available June 6, 2023, via the University Press of Kentucky.