11 of the juiciest celebrity memoirs ever written: from Demi Moore’s takedown of Ashton Kutcher and Prince Harry’s revelations about William, to Mariah Carey and Jessica Simpson exposing Tommy Mottola
Jessica Simpson slammed music exec Tommy Mottola in her 2023 memoir, while Demi Moore wrote about her difficult marriage to Ashton Kutcher, and Barbra Streisand delved deep into friendships with King Charles and Princess Diana. Photos: @jessicasimpson/Instagram, AP, Handout
Celebrity memoirs are nearly always explosive. So much is speculated about the lives of the famous few, that when they finally get to set the record set, revelations abound. Most recently, Britney Spears caused a furore with her tell-all memoir, The Woman in Me, revealing, among other things, that she had an abortion when she was with Justin Timberlake, when the young pop stars were just 19.
Britney Spears recounts her years as a superstar who became a victim of her success in her memoir The Woman in Me. Photo: AFP
Similarly, Jada Pinkett-Smith’s memoir, Worthy, released in October, finally lifted the lid on her and Will Smith’s relationship, with the Matrix revealing that Hollywood power couple have in fact been separated for years – and that Tupac Shakur once asked her to marry him.
So who else has revealed their true selves by putting it all down in a highly saleable tome? Here’s a few of our favourites.
Demi Moore,Inside Out
Demi Moore with her former husband Ashton Kutcher, at the 2013 premiere for No Strings Attached, in which the latter starred. Photo: AP Photo
Demi Moore famously didn’t hold back in her naming of big Hollywood and establishment figures in her 2019 memoir Inside Out. From the fact that former president George Bush’s twin daughters “ended up doing bong hits” at former husband Ashton Kutcher’s house, to the shocking revelation that About Last Night director Ed Zwick would only cast her if she lost weight. But she saved most of her vitriol for Ashton Kutcher who she describes as becoming “less and less present” before their 2013 divorce and eventually cheating on her. Ouch.
Prince Harry,Spare
Prince Harry’s memoir Spare was expected to ruffle feathers – but few expected to stark depiction of palace life that the UK royal unleashed in January 2013. Phot: AP Photo
To say Prince Harry’s memoir dropped bombshell after bombshell is an understatement. Following shortly after his explosive Netflix documentary, it marked the first time a senior royal had revealed such intimate details about life within the British institution. Among the revelations were that Prince William assaulted him in his kitchen, the fact that he lost his virginity to an older woman, and an admission that he and his brother had tried to persuade his father not to marry (now queen) Camilla.
“This is a playbook, based on adventures in my life. Adventures that have been significant, enlightening, and funny, sometimes because they were meant to be but mostly because they didn’t try to be,” explained McConaughey ahead of his memoir’s release. And he wasn’t kidding. Various slightly absurd episodes include his father resuscitating his pet bird, and his embarking on two life-changing journeys to Mali and Peru after having vivid dreams about floating naked down the Amazon River.
Jessica Simpson,Open Book
Jessica Simpson opened up about dating John Mayer in her memoir Open Book. Photo: @jessicasimpson/Instagram
Jessica Simpson’s 2020 memoir was notable for its heartbreaking honesty about being sexually abused as a child, as well as the singer’s problematic relationship with musician John Mayer and struggles with her weight after being told by a record executive to lose 6kg. She did as she was told but the executive in question, Tommy Mottola, insisted she keep going until she had “Janet Jackson abs”. She also admits having had a crush on a (very) young Ryan Reynolds when she auditioned for the Mickey Mouse Club as a child.
Will Smith and his children, in happier, simpler times. Photo: @willsmith/Instagram
Will Smith’s memoir preceded the Oscars incident, which seemed to undo all of the goodwill he’d built up over the years in one fell swoop (or should that be slap). And more’s the pity for fans of his book, who roundly praised the King Richard actor’s inspiring journey from growing up poor in Philadelphia with a violent and abusive father, to being the toast of Hollywood.
The Meaning of Mariah Carey? Read her book of the same name. Photo: Koto Bolofo
Remember the abhorrent music executive Jessica Simpson called out in her memoir, Tommy Mottola? Unfortunately for Mariah Carey, she was married to him between the ages of 23 to 27. She admits in her memoir that her relationship with the controlling music industry mogul “nearly smothered her to death”. She also makes a pointed comment about Princess Diana in the book, saying she wished the royal had lived long enough to experience social media, which would have given her a direct line to her fans who would have come to her defence more often.
Elliot Page,Pageboy
Pageboy: A Memoir, by Elliot Page. Photo: Macmillan/TNS
Finally able to be himself after coming out as gay in 2014 and then transitioning in 2020, Page poured his heart into his memoir in hopes it would be a comforting and inspiring tale for others struggling with the same issue. In June he told NPR “there was some organic surge of words” that he needed to commit to record after growing up with abuse and a “constant feeling that something’s wrong”. He also admitted to a previously undisclosed relationship with actress Kate Mara.
Matthew Perry,Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
Matthew Perry died in October 2023, less than a year after the release of his eye-opening memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. Photo: Handout
The Friends actor’s memoir, released just last year, has been referenced by several of his famous friends since his tragic death in late October. Paget Brewster, who played his girlfriend Kathy on the show, wrote, “Please read his book. It was his legacy to help.” Charting his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, the actor admits, among other things, that he spent US$7 million on various forms of rehab and that he prematurely dumped Julia Roberts because he feared he would “never be enough” for her.
Barbra Streisand, My Name is Barbra
America singer Barbra Streisand. Photo: Handout
The newest memoir on this list has also been written by its oldest member. At 81, the legendary singer and actress Barbra Streisand’s book runs to an impressive 992 pages. And why the hell not? As one of the few people on earth to win an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony), and with famous friends from Marlon Brando to Prince Charles, she has plenty of stories to tell, and this new release promises to be a barnstormer of a book to curl up with this winter.
Britney Spears and Jada Pinkett-Smith’s revelations about their former partners may have raised a few eyebrows recently, and Barbra Streisand just dropped a 992-page epic
Sadly, many stars talk of addiction and mental health struggles, including Matthew Perry and Elliot Page, while others, such as Matthew McConaughey, reveal themselves to be downright quirky
