A Mind of My Own

THE INSTANT BESTSELLER

'Vivid, bright and beautiful' – Guardian

'Wonderful. I wish I'd written it – I couldn't put it down' Miriam Margolyes

Kathy Burke is one of Britain's most distinctive voices. Even as a fearless kid in Islington, she did things her own way; roaming the estate that raised her to find her own path. A place at the Anna Scher Theatre in her teens changed the course of her life, and she found unimaginable success as an actress and writer – and national fame. But the rare gift that has always set her apart, beyond the stage or screen, is her ability to see the truth and tell it like it is.

This spellbinding memoir is not just Kathy's story, but the story of her class, her gender and her time.

A Mind of My Own is funny, profound and deeply entertaining.

'This is a book about being raised as a feral, motherless child; starting work at 17; immortalising several of this country’s most endearing catchphrases; triumphing at Cannes; being told you’re a genius by Peter Cook; and, at one party, accidentally taking some of Shaun Ryder’s crack, then attempting to set fire to a woman’s arse' – Caitlin Moran, Times Magazine

'Glorious, very funny and no-nonsense, just like Kathy Burke' – Jo Brand

Kathy Burke began her career as an actor in 1982. In the 1990s, she became known for recurring roles on French and Saunders and The Harry Enfield Show as both Waynetta Slob and the beloved Perry. In 1997 she won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her work in Gary Oldman's Nil By Mouth, and in 1999 she starred in BBC sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme. Bored of acting, she took a 'break' to focus on directing which has been her main job for the past twenty years. Her theatre credits include Out in the Open by Jonathan Harvey, The Quare Fellow by Brendan Behan, born bad by Debbie Tucker Green, and Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde. Her short film, Better Than Christmas for Sky Arts led to her writing a four part semi-autobiographical mini-series, Walking and Talking. She directed a four part TV drama, Holding based on the novel by Graham Norton, and has presented three Channel 4 documentaries. As an actor, she has returned to the screen occasionally, for her role in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and most recently in Steve McQueen's Blitz. She has hosted 100 episodes of the podcast Where There's a Will There's a Wake. Born and bred in Islington, she still lives there today. A Mind of My Own is her first book.