In Actress of a Certain Age, Jeff Hiller nimbly folds tenderness and vulnerability into a riotously disarming memoir. Standing more than six feet tall and weighing 200 pounds in the sixth grade, with "a gay lisp" and "a nervous and girlish giggle," Hiller was constantly tormented with the F-slur and other forms of bullying at school. Church was his haven, however, and its theatrical elements gave Hiller his first taste of dramaturgy. For a time he considered entering the ministry, but deep down he really "just felt called to be a singing, dancing, wocka-wocka showman of God. Pastor Charo! 'In the name of God, let's cuchi-cuchi!' "
One might have described Hiller's acting career as niche, until he won the 2025 Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy, for his starring role on the endearing HBO comedy series Somebody Somewhere. As he documents his gradual ascent, through improv groups and commercial gigs, Hiller is a generous and entertaining storyteller. Actress of a Certain Age distills the feel-good, laugh-till-you-cry reminiscences of a sweet, silly, and thoroughly lovable man establishing the career of his dreams. --Dave Wheeler, senior editor, Shelf Awareness