Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain By Portia de Rossi
“Unbearable Lightness” (Atria, $25.99) is actress Portia de Rossi’s memoir of her battle with anorexia and bulimia at the height of her fame. Throughout her life, De Rossi pressured herself to excel beyond her peers and has been tormented by deep conflicts. She tried to disguise her attraction to women by marrying a man, but the marriage ultimately failed. She found solace in her supportive brother and through her success on the show “Ally McBeal.”
Her beauty turned her into a cover girl and added to her anxieties. The attention lavished on her body forced her to maintain her weight, which ultimately dropped to 89 pounds. This memoir is a stark, well-written portrait of how de Rossi lost control of her life as she became consumed by her struggle for perfection and acceptance.
