311196733

I'd like to meet:

Marlee Matlin to publish her autobiography, "I'll Scream Later"

Available April 14, 2009 through SimonandSchuster.com, BarnesandNoble.com or local bookstores.

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 twenty 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 eighteen 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 with a stint in rehab, and her subsequent romances with heartthrobs like Rob 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.

She has played memorable roles on wildly popular television shows such as Seinfeld, The West Wing, and The L Word, danced a show-stopping cha-cha-cha on Dancing with the Stars, and now, with uncompromising honesty and humor, Marlee shares the story of her life -- an enduring tale that is an unforgettable lesson in following your dreams.

Marlee Matlin received the Academy Award for Best Actress for her film debut in "Children of a Lesser God." At 21, she became the youngest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar. In addition, Marlee also received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama. Since then, Marlee has starred in "Waker," "The Player," "Hear No Evil," "It's My Party, " and most recently in “What the Bleep Do We Know.”

On TV, Marlee starred in CBS’ "Bridge to Silence," a film that marked her first speaking role. Marlee also starred in the NBC series "Reasonable Doubts" opposite Mark Harmon and has been nominated for four Emmy awards for "Seinfeld," "Picket Fences," "The Practice" and "Law and Order:SVU." Since then, Marlee appeared on NBC’s “The West Wing,” “Desperate Housewives,” “CSI: NY” “My Name is Earl” and "Nip/Tuck." She hosted ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and Executive Produced "Eddie's Million Dollar Cook Off" for the Disney Channel. She recently wrapped her third and last season on Showtime's “The L Word” and starred on the sixth season cast of ABC's “Dancing With the Stars" where she asked America to "read my hips!" In April, 2008, Marlee starred opposite Jeff Daniels in the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, “Sweet Nothing In My Ear” on CBS. And in April 2009, her autobiography entitled "I'll Scream Later" will be published by Simon and Schuster.

Marlee was instrumental in getting legislation passed in Congress in support of Closed Captioning and serves on the boards of a number of charities including The American Red Cross, The Children Affected by AIDS Foundation and Easter Seals.