I’m Glad My Mom Died

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Manufacturer: Jennette McCurdy
Brand: Memoir
Brew: Hardcover
Steeping Time:
Tea Service: Recommendation
Strength:

Synopsis: Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.

In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants.

Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.

I saw I’m Glad My Mom Died everywhere when it first came out,

but I didn’t grow up watching Jennette McCurdy on TV, so I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy it. While on set for an independent film in the summer of 2023, one of our amazing crew members (looking at you, CC) said I should read it anyway. She’d just finished it and thought I’d love it simply from an actor’s viewpoint. The next day on set, she pressed her copy into my hands and told me to enjoy. And I did.

Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to be an actor. Well, I really wanted to be Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz, followed by wanting to be Judy Garland, and then finally upgrading to actor (so I could essentially be Judy Garland). I grew up in the middle of nowhere and didn’t have much of an opportunity to put that desire into action, nor did I have cable or access to Nickelodeon. So, even if I had been the target age for iCarly or Sam and Cat, I wouldn’t have been able to watch it.

I went into I’m Glad My Mom Died with practically zero knowledge of who Jennette McCurdy was. I only knew that we shared the same profession, albeit she was a million times more successful. Unfortunately, I quickly learned that there were some pretty heavy downfalls wrapped up in that success for Jennette.

I’m Glad My Mom Died spoke to my soul as an actor, not as a fan.

And I truly think that even if you hold neither of those titles (actor or fan), you’d still enjoy this book. We all consume media, whether it be TV shows, film, theatre, music, books, paintings, or any other form. From my own experience, most everyday people have no idea what goes into making their favorite show or film franchise. Getting a peak behind the curtain, especially into the lives of child actors and the dangers they face, is something I find vital.

Unfortunately, Jennette’s experience is not singular. Many child actors, women, and even men face abuse and intimidation behind the scenes. I hope things are improving, and I have personally experienced more positives as the years have gone by. But knowing these stories is so crucial to understanding what the lives of our favorite stars are really like.

Jennette McCurdy did an excellent job of documenting her story. It is raw and open, and she doesn’t sugarcoat. I appreciated her directness. It didn’t leave room to second-guess what happened to her during her journey. She faced so much abuse, not only at work but also at home. It was endless. I don’t have the words to describe what she went through. Her journey to healing was truly beautiful to read, and I commend her for sharing it with the world.

I hope others who read I’m Glad My Mom Died take away a few key points.

One: Money does not equal happiness. Just because someone has a dream career does not mean they feel fulfilled or anything near happy. They might have millions in the bank, but their life could still feel empty.

Two: Actors are people. Entertainers are people. Performers are people. They are just like you, complete with feelings and insecurities and hurts. None of us know what’s going on behind closed doors. We may know their names and faces, but we have no idea what life is actually like for any of them. Work life may look perfect, while home life could be a nightmare.

I highly recommend I’m Glad My Mom Died. You don’t have to be a fan. You don’t have to be in the industry. All you need is an appreciation for another human’s existence on this planet.

Have you read I’m Glad My Mom Died? Leave a comment and let me know what you thought about it! Want to read it for yourself? Click here to get a copy of your own.
Cheers,
Lydia