I recently read A Mind of My Own by Kathy Burke. It was a Christmas gift from my daughters, who even went for the signed copy, which felt lovely to have on my shelf. I had been looking forward to it because I enjoy her podcast Where There’s a Will, There’s a Wake, where she talks to guests about their ideal deaths and funerals with humour and reflection. I have also enjoyed watching her television series Kathy Burke’s All Woman, where she explores women’s lives and body image in a straightforward and honest way. Both of these made me keen to read the book, hoping for something similar in tone and insight.

I enjoyed A Mind of My Own well enough. I liked it. It gives a clear account of her life and career, the challenges and highlights of family life, and the work she has done as an actor and now as a writer and director. There is honesty in the way she talks about her life and experiences, and she does not shy away from the facts of her journey. That alone makes it readable and engaging.

That said, I also felt A Mind of My Own played it a little safe. Perhaps that is on me for expecting more from an actor’s memoir. It sometimes felt like it moved from one event to the next in a very linear way. I would have welcomed it lingering more on the moments in between the accomplishments – the bits that feel messy, complicated, or deeply personal. I remember feeling something similar reading Judi Dench’s memoir, so Kathy Burke is in good company. Both have lived fascinating lives, and yet the narrative sometimes moves in a straightforward sequence from one milestone to the next.

I guess what I’m saying is that there were parts of the book where I wanted to see more depth. Her relationship with alcohol, for example, and how she stepped away from it before returning, is mentioned but not explored in any real detail. Similarly, difficult or unhealthy relationships are referenced, yet the emotional impact and the struggles that followed are kept quite private. I know in my heart that’s fair enough. I completely respect Kathy Burke’s right to privacy. She does not owe the reader every intimate detail. Yet at the same time, a small part of me thinks, if that is the case, why write a memoir at all? It is often those honest, vulnerable, messy moments that make a story compelling and memorable, and holding back in that way leaves the reader a bit dissatisfied.

Despite that, there is so much to like. Kathy Burke comes across as a fighter and a grafter. Her determination, energy, and willingness to carve out her own path are clear throughout. Her shift from acting to writing and directing is interesting, and her voice comes through strongly. She makes it clear that the book is not ghostwritten, which I really appreciated. You can hear her speaking in the words on the page, and that authenticity is valuable. It makes the book feel like a genuine conversation that is engaging.

Finishing A Mind of My Own left me feeling glad I read it, but also wanting a little more. I wanted more of who Kathy actually is, but as I’ve said, maybe I don’t have that right. The book does exactly what it sets out to do, and it does that well. Overall, I would put A Mind of My Own on the higher end of celebrity memoirs. It is readable, honest, often funny, and full of moments that make you smile or nod in recognition. I shall keep and look after my lovely signed copy, but as my dear departed mum used to say, celebrity memoirs given as Christmas presents usually end up on charity shop bookcases in the New Year. I do have a feeling this one may follow the same path for some readers. Not because it is bad, but because it leaves you wishing for just a little bit more.