Who Does She Think She Is?

Martine McCutcheon is 24 years old; this is her (first) autobiography. Written with the help of Matthew Wright, tabloid columnist turned ubiquitous media correspondent, it charts her childhood years, early struggles in showbiz and subsequent success in Eastenders and beyond; a real rags-to-riches tale of dreams come true. Matthew Wright is an old hand at ghost-writing celebs so you can be sure the tone here sounds like Martine's and the story flows with a certain amount of panache and tension. Certainly, the opening chapters, which chart the wannabe superstar's abuse at the hands of her father, are gritty and touching, echoing in the heart of anyone who has also been a victim of abuse. A donation from the sales of each book will go toward Refuge, helping resettle abused families. As Martine grows up, however, life settles down. Her story becomes extraordinary--as she excels at the Italia Conti Stage School and lands acting parts galore--but also strangely mundane (with her fair share of loves lost, hearts broken and dreams left by the wayside). This is the story of an East End gal made good; lacking a little glamour, perhaps, but solidly down to earth--it's most appreciative reader, perhaps, aspirational teens looking to follow Ms McCutcheon's path to Epping Forest Country Club and on to household fame.

While Martine furnishes her fans with plenty of Eastenders trivia and stage-school capers, the tone here is kept deliberately light. Leaving the deep and meaningful stuff to fellow poppette Geri (If Only by Geri Halliwell), she rights a few newspaper wrongs and explains each step of her career, but isn't given to courting controversy in print. Martine stars as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady in London's West End from spring 2001 and it's strange how her life seems to mirror its inspiration Pygmalion. The play's author, George Bernard Shaw was, of course, a genius writer, and its fair to say Martine is not--still; audiences will warm to her alter ego of Eliza all the same. --Helen Lamont