When I heard that Talli was launching her new novel 'Watching Willow Watts' by asking people to answer the question ‘If I Could Be Anyone, I’d Be…’ , I didn't have to think for long about my answer.
In a way I didn't choose this person, fate kind of chose her for me ...
Back in 1996 when I got married and changed my name to Helen Hunt I didn’t realise that I was taking on a very significant life partner – my new namesake, the Hollywood actress Helen Hunt. Yes, that's right, 'the other Helen Hunt'.
By 1998 the other Helen Hunt was riding high with an academy award for her role alongside Jack Nicholson in ‘As Good As It Gets’ and every time I introduced myself to someone on the phone I was asked if I was ‘that’ Helen Hunt.
From a live radio interview for work when the presenter decided it would be funny to interview me as if I was really the other Helen Hunt and ask me what it was like to snog Mel Gibson, to my most recent experience of receiving a letter asking for a signed photo (from someone I fear was about to be VERY disappointed) ‘the other Helen Hunt’ has been a constant presence in my life.
So would I actually want to be her? Well, I wouldn't mind some of her success! But on balance I'd rather be a writer than an actress, so I think I'll stick with what I've got for the moment!
About Watching Willow Watts
For Willow Watts, life has settled into a predictably dull routine: days behind the counter at her father's antique shop and nights watching TV, as the pension-aged residents of Britain's Ugliest Village bed down for yet another early night. But everything changes when a YouTube video of Willow's epically embarrassing Marilyn Monroe impersonation gets millions of hits after a viewer spots Marilyn's ghostly image in a frame.
Instantly, Willow's town is overrun with fans flocking to see the 'new Marilyn'. Egged on by the villagers -- whose shops and businesses are cashing in -- Willow embraces her new identity, dying her hair platinum and ramming herself full of cakes to achieve Marilyn's legendary curves.
But when a former flame returns seeking the old Willow, Willow must decide: can she risk her stardom and her village's newfound fortune on love, or is being Marilyn her ticket to happiness?
If you’d like to buy a copy of 'Watching Willow Watts' (Kindle Editions) , follow these links:
Amazon UK
Amazon.com
Also see more of Talli's books here and read her blog here.
15 comments:
LOL! Yes, I don't think you had much of a choice there. :) But I'm with you -- I'd much rather be a writer than an actress.
Thanks for taking part, Helen!
I wouldn't mind her success either. I could manage to snog Mel Gibson too... ;)
Great post, Helen!
The stories behind a lot of these is what makes them so cool!!!! This was such a fun post!!! I found you via twitter (cuz that's the place to be right now)!!!!
It's nice to dream about someone else's success, but much nicer being yourself.
Now that is funny. The "Other Helen Hunt".....Great story.
The Other Helen Hunt sounds like a fab story-in-the-making to me! Funnily enough though I did want to be an actress, once a long while ago. But then I went to an audition and decided it wasn't for me. :)
I have to agree on the writer rather than actor thing. Great post!
How fun! I definitely wouldn't mind her success either. Great post!
Helen Hunt is an amazing actress. She drove me to tears in "Castaway"!
I think Helen Hunt is great, but I'm glad you chose yourself. I'm rather be a writer than an actress, too.
I'd much rather write than act too, Helen. You've chosen wisely! :-)
Fabulous tale. I'm glad you don't mind playing along.
This is great, and I agree on preferring to be a write as well. Funny to share the same name. I get a lot of "Are you related to Tracey."
I'd rather be a writer than an actress too but not as much as I'd rather be a burlesque dancer. Hope your workshops are going well today.
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