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Sunshine Girl: An Unexpected Life
Known for her outstanding performances on the groundbreaking television series The Good Wife and ER, Julianna Margulies deftly chronicles her life and her work in this deeply powerful memoir.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY GOOD HOUSEKEEPING • "At once a tender coming-of-age story and a deeply personal look at a young woman making sense of the world against a chaotic and peripatetic childhood."-Katie Couric
As an apple-cheeked bubbly child, Julianna was bestowed with the family nickname "Sunshine Girl." Shuttled back and forth between her divorced parents, often on different continents, she quickly learned how to be of value to her eccentric mother and her absent father. Raised in fairly unconventional ways in various homes in Paris, England, New York, and New Hampshire, Julianna found that her role among the surrounding turmoil and uncertainty was to comfort those around her, seeking organization among the disorder, making her way in the world as a young adult and eventually an award-winning actress.
Throughout, there were complicated relationships, difficult choices, and overwhelming rejections. But there were also the moments where fate, faith, and talent aligned, leading to the unforgettable roles of a lifetime, both professionally and personally-moments when chaos had finally turned to calm.
Filled with intimate stories and revelatory moments, Sunshine Girl is at once unflinchingly honest and perceptive. It is a riveting self-portrait of a woman whose resilience in the face of turmoil will leave readers intrigued and inspired.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY GOOD HOUSEKEEPING • "At once a tender coming-of-age story and a deeply personal look at a young woman making sense of the world against a chaotic and peripatetic childhood."-Katie Couric
As an apple-cheeked bubbly child, Julianna was bestowed with the family nickname "Sunshine Girl." Shuttled back and forth between her divorced parents, often on different continents, she quickly learned how to be of value to her eccentric mother and her absent father. Raised in fairly unconventional ways in various homes in Paris, England, New York, and New Hampshire, Julianna found that her role among the surrounding turmoil and uncertainty was to comfort those around her, seeking organization among the disorder, making her way in the world as a young adult and eventually an award-winning actress.
Throughout, there were complicated relationships, difficult choices, and overwhelming rejections. But there were also the moments where fate, faith, and talent aligned, leading to the unforgettable roles of a lifetime, both professionally and personally-moments when chaos had finally turned to calm.
Filled with intimate stories and revelatory moments, Sunshine Girl is at once unflinchingly honest and perceptive. It is a riveting self-portrait of a woman whose resilience in the face of turmoil will leave readers intrigued and inspired.
Editorial Reviews
"Over the course of her illustrious career on screen, Julianna Margulies has played any number of unforgettable characters but as this memoir proves, she might be most fascinating as herself. . . . Not every celebrity autobiography has a truly compelling story to tell, but this one does and tells it with style, humor, and flair."-Town & Country
"Sunshine Girl is a probing, fearless, beautifully written coming-of-age story. The word that comes to mind is ‘transcendent.' Julianna Margulies has transcended a complicated childhood, transcended a difficult ten-year relationship, transcended her own demons, transcended fame itself to become whole and wise. I loved this book."-Dani Shapiro, New York Times bestselling author of Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love
"It should be no surprise that Julianna writes with the same insight, precision, and kindness with which she imbues the characters she portrays. This book is a revelation. Be prepared to gasp!"-Alan Cumming, New York Times bestselling author of Not My Father's Son: A Memoir
"I read this book in one day and truly loved it. Julianna Margulies's level of introspection is remarkable. Personality and destiny are largely forged from childhood and family, yet few of us are able to weave that journey into a compelling memoir that examines the harder parts of our lives with such honesty. Margulies's engrossing story of the difficulties and nuances of growing up between two households paints a candid but loving portrait of the brutal insecurities of adolescence and the unbreakable bonds of all imperfect families. I rooted for her at every turn, especially during her present chapter."-Lee Woodruff, New York Times bestselling author of In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing
"Sunshine Girl is at once a tender coming-of-age story and a deeply personal look at a young woman making sense of the world against a chaotic and peripatetic childhood. We are all so fortunate that Julianna Margulies discovered her passion. You will feel inspired by the way she has lived her life: with grit, grace, and gratitude."
"Sunshine Girl is a probing, fearless, beautifully written coming-of-age story. The word that comes to mind is ‘transcendent.' Julianna Margulies has transcended a complicated childhood, transcended a difficult ten-year relationship, transcended her own demons, transcended fame itself to become whole and wise. I loved this book."-Dani Shapiro, New York Times bestselling author of Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love
"It should be no surprise that Julianna writes with the same insight, precision, and kindness with which she imbues the characters she portrays. This book is a revelation. Be prepared to gasp!"-Alan Cumming, New York Times bestselling author of Not My Father's Son: A Memoir
"I read this book in one day and truly loved it. Julianna Margulies's level of introspection is remarkable. Personality and destiny are largely forged from childhood and family, yet few of us are able to weave that journey into a compelling memoir that examines the harder parts of our lives with such honesty. Margulies's engrossing story of the difficulties and nuances of growing up between two households paints a candid but loving portrait of the brutal insecurities of adolescence and the unbreakable bonds of all imperfect families. I rooted for her at every turn, especially during her present chapter."-Lee Woodruff, New York Times bestselling author of In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing
"Sunshine Girl is at once a tender coming-of-age story and a deeply personal look at a young woman making sense of the world against a chaotic and peripatetic childhood. We are all so fortunate that Julianna Margulies discovered her passion. You will feel inspired by the way she has lived her life: with grit, grace, and gratitude."
Readers Top Reviews
GloryBsimonsteven
I really enjoyed this book. It’s a definite page turner!
Ilan IsraelGloryB
I appreciate Julianna Margulies as an actress and I saw her on the TV show “Finding your Roots”, so I picked up her memoir out of interest . It may not be the most polished literary work, though for a first book I thought it was well- written and held my attention. The writer’s honesty shines through, as she paints a picture of a very problematic childhood and adolescence, trying to lay down roots where hardly any stability existed. Her mother’s eccentricity and self- centered ness was offset by her obvious love for her children and her father’s semi absence from her life was also balanced with love and financial support. Julianna writes of her finding direction in acting, and writes of her adult relationships with self- criticism. She somehow seemed to meet the people she needed for support in a serendipitous pattern, and many of her friends stayed with her throughout the years. She found mentors to give her advice, when needed, and for the most part, listened and learnt. Those who are looking for inside gossip about her TV roles will be disappointed by this memoir, but those who are interested in hearing what it takes to succeed in a very cut-throat entertainment industry will be rewarded by reading this interesting, honest view from one who has left a fine mark on our screens.
carilynpIlan Isra
I’ve loved the roles she played on TV. Strong leading characters who don’t get pushed around. After listening to the author in conversation in a recent virtual event, I was even more drawn to read her book after getting a glimpse into her background. An unconventional childhood – a complicated mother, a father who was not around, a family who moved often, these were some of the forces she was up against. What is unexpected in reading Julianna’s story is how candid and straightforward she is. I haven’t read a first-hand celebrity biography in some time where the author speaks so freely about her struggles, loneliness, and lack of stability in her life, all of which led her to where she is now. Throughout her childhood and early adulthood, she remained resilient and determined, quick to point out that although she had some hardship, there was plenty of goodness too, like the love of her two sisters and soon, the theatre bug and deep friendships she formed. In her early acting days, a relationship with a fellow actor nearly drained the exuberant spirit that defined her. Never one to quit, she persevered in both her craft and evolving love life. It took a lot of soul searching for Julianna to find out what she wanted and it’s clear from her story that her hard work paid off. SUNSHINE GIRL is written in an authentic voice. Whether she is talking about various people who helped her in some way and are still an integral part of her life, the disturbing encounter with actor Steven Seagal, why she walked away from so much money at the height of her career, or her ability to confront her parents later in life, you feel like Julianna is giving you a real sense of who she is and not a fabricated story that might have been written for a role she played.
Kimberly D. Loise
I adore Julianna Margulies but this entire book was summed up in her interview with Oprah. The book is without her voice and doesn't go into the detail of being on 2 amazing shows. Also, why did she end "Good Wife" so badly?
pilates loverKimb
I enjoyed reading this book and laughed out loud at times at Julianne's antics and stories. I felt a kinship in her angst with motherhood and insecurities at times. It was like you were having a cup of coffee with her and chatting. That said, I realize time has gone on but fans of ER and Good Wife will be surprised at the lack of any stories at all. The reunion on you tube had more substance there. I don't want bad gossip but a few funny stories? A mention of a co star other than George? Good Wife had a chapter but I feel that was more about her adjustment with her son. Again, I don't want salacious gossip but a few anecdotes and nice things would have been nice. She must realize her fans of those shows would want to know some insights. James Garner did that with his bio years ago, nice balance of both personal and work without hurtful gossip. I wish she just had more about that along with her interesting life.
Short Excerpt Teaser
ONE
nothing was planned
My parents' marriage was pretty much over by the time I was born. My father was away on a business trip when I was due, and when my mother picked him up at the airport with her large belly protruding over her waistline, my father looked at her and said, "You're still pregnant?"
Maybe he was kidding. But to a woman nine months pregnant I can see how this could sound harsh. In any event, I waited for him to come home and entered this world three weeks late, a whopping ten pounds, four ounces. My mother likes to say, with a laugh, that she's still recovering.
Janice Marylin Gardner married Paul Eli Margulies in 1960 after meeting him on a blind date. A ballerina for most of her life, she was born in Brooklyn to Isabel, a pianist who had studied at the Mannes School of Music and was considered a "wunderkind" who would be one of the great hopefuls to become a concert soloist. Her dreams were quashed when she met my grandfather and found herself pregnant with my mother at seventeen.
My mother's father, Michael Gardner, owned a beauty salon on Flatbush Avenue. He was handsome and charismatic, nursing a bubbling charm with the ladies, not unlike the character Warren Beatty played in the film Shampoo. He was open about his infidelities in front of my mother, telling her this was their secret. In doing so, he made her feel special, made her his accomplice, having enough trust in her to keep this secret from my grandmother. She became his ally, too young to realize that she was joining him in his deceit.
My mother tells me ballet saved her life. From the age of ten she took the long subway ride from Flatbush Avenue to the School of American Ballet in Manhattan every day, by herself. Ballet shielded her from a home fraught with tension, alcohol, and an unhappy marriage.
She became a member of the American Ballet Theatre company right after ballet school and stayed with them for two years. At the time it was called the Ballet Theatre; it eventually became ABT. As she said, "I left because I didn't feel I was strong enough on my toes to go any further than the chorus. I just wasn't good enough to be a soloist."
Instead she pursued Broadway, television, and anything that would give her a decent paycheck where she could utilize her dance background. Her first Broadway show was First Impressions with Polly Bergen and Hermione Gingold. She was a chorus girl and an understudy.
My mother was on The Fred Waring Show, the Johnny Carson show a couple of times, she toured with Sammy Davis Jr. She traveled with the General Motors Motorama show, making a living good enough to rent her own apartment in Manhattan. She was a great beauty, often compared to Ava Gardner. Slender hips, dancer's legs, deep brown, velvety eyes surrounded by dark voluminous curls.
She met Lee Guber (who later married Barbara Walters) when she was twenty-one years old. He was fifteen years her senior and nervous about the age difference, but they were together for three years. He championed her singing and dancing career with great coaches; she met Jule Styne, who saw her potential as a big Broadway star. "I didn't want it enough," my mother later told me.
At the age of twenty-three, she met my father, backstage when she was in the original production of My Fair Lady. He was extremely handsome, smart, charming, and stylish. Proffering humor and intellectual conversation. After their first date, he walked her to the lobby of her Upper West Side apartment, hoping she would invite him up. When she bid him good night at the door my father gazed into her big brown eyes and said, "I can hope, I can think, and I can wait."
She had never met anyone like him. My father came from a good family. "He was Ivy League," she mused when reminiscing about their first date. His father, Irving Margulies, was in the leather business, mostly for upholstery. His mother, Henrietta Greenspan Margulies, was a lawyer. They lived in an impressive home in Riverdale, they were respected members of their community, they put both their sons, my father and his younger brother, Michael, through the private Horace Mann school in New York and then Dartmouth College, where my father majored in philosophy.
By the time my mother came into the picture, my father was newly divorced, having just ended a short-lived marriage, and had dropped out of Columbia Law School after one year. His explanation for dropping out: "I was always in the Philosophy Library, I had no interest in the law."
He had married a young woman named Marcia Pressman when he was just twenty years old, between his junior and sen...
nothing was planned
My parents' marriage was pretty much over by the time I was born. My father was away on a business trip when I was due, and when my mother picked him up at the airport with her large belly protruding over her waistline, my father looked at her and said, "You're still pregnant?"
Maybe he was kidding. But to a woman nine months pregnant I can see how this could sound harsh. In any event, I waited for him to come home and entered this world three weeks late, a whopping ten pounds, four ounces. My mother likes to say, with a laugh, that she's still recovering.
Janice Marylin Gardner married Paul Eli Margulies in 1960 after meeting him on a blind date. A ballerina for most of her life, she was born in Brooklyn to Isabel, a pianist who had studied at the Mannes School of Music and was considered a "wunderkind" who would be one of the great hopefuls to become a concert soloist. Her dreams were quashed when she met my grandfather and found herself pregnant with my mother at seventeen.
My mother's father, Michael Gardner, owned a beauty salon on Flatbush Avenue. He was handsome and charismatic, nursing a bubbling charm with the ladies, not unlike the character Warren Beatty played in the film Shampoo. He was open about his infidelities in front of my mother, telling her this was their secret. In doing so, he made her feel special, made her his accomplice, having enough trust in her to keep this secret from my grandmother. She became his ally, too young to realize that she was joining him in his deceit.
My mother tells me ballet saved her life. From the age of ten she took the long subway ride from Flatbush Avenue to the School of American Ballet in Manhattan every day, by herself. Ballet shielded her from a home fraught with tension, alcohol, and an unhappy marriage.
She became a member of the American Ballet Theatre company right after ballet school and stayed with them for two years. At the time it was called the Ballet Theatre; it eventually became ABT. As she said, "I left because I didn't feel I was strong enough on my toes to go any further than the chorus. I just wasn't good enough to be a soloist."
Instead she pursued Broadway, television, and anything that would give her a decent paycheck where she could utilize her dance background. Her first Broadway show was First Impressions with Polly Bergen and Hermione Gingold. She was a chorus girl and an understudy.
My mother was on The Fred Waring Show, the Johnny Carson show a couple of times, she toured with Sammy Davis Jr. She traveled with the General Motors Motorama show, making a living good enough to rent her own apartment in Manhattan. She was a great beauty, often compared to Ava Gardner. Slender hips, dancer's legs, deep brown, velvety eyes surrounded by dark voluminous curls.
She met Lee Guber (who later married Barbara Walters) when she was twenty-one years old. He was fifteen years her senior and nervous about the age difference, but they were together for three years. He championed her singing and dancing career with great coaches; she met Jule Styne, who saw her potential as a big Broadway star. "I didn't want it enough," my mother later told me.
At the age of twenty-three, she met my father, backstage when she was in the original production of My Fair Lady. He was extremely handsome, smart, charming, and stylish. Proffering humor and intellectual conversation. After their first date, he walked her to the lobby of her Upper West Side apartment, hoping she would invite him up. When she bid him good night at the door my father gazed into her big brown eyes and said, "I can hope, I can think, and I can wait."
She had never met anyone like him. My father came from a good family. "He was Ivy League," she mused when reminiscing about their first date. His father, Irving Margulies, was in the leather business, mostly for upholstery. His mother, Henrietta Greenspan Margulies, was a lawyer. They lived in an impressive home in Riverdale, they were respected members of their community, they put both their sons, my father and his younger brother, Michael, through the private Horace Mann school in New York and then Dartmouth College, where my father majored in philosophy.
By the time my mother came into the picture, my father was newly divorced, having just ended a short-lived marriage, and had dropped out of Columbia Law School after one year. His explanation for dropping out: "I was always in the Philosophy Library, I had no interest in the law."
He had married a young woman named Marcia Pressman when he was just twenty years old, between his junior and sen...
