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Collateral Stardust: Chasing Warren Beatty and Other Foolish Things
Born in Hollywood, and raised by a radical, Black Panther-supporting mother and a charismatic trombone-playing father, Nikki Nash grew up surrounded by musicians, actors, conspiracy theorists, political fundraisers, jazz jams, and lots of alcohol-fueled parties. At thirteen she was lonely, longing for attention, and desperate to find something to fill the void. It wasn't a pony. It was Warren Beatty. She made a secret vow to find him and have him in her life forever. She wasn't naive and this wasn't a fantasy; she had a solid plan. And the first step was to grow up.
Five years later, Nash—now eighteen—embarks on the next step of her plan. After quitting college, she learns that Warren Beatty—who lives at the Beverly Hills Hotel—frequents a nearby restaurant. She gets a hostess job there and waits. In the meantime, she has endless strange encounters with stalkers, sociopaths, actors, agents, mobsters, and producers. It takes a year-and-a-half, but on a cold Sunday night, after breaking her finger in a judo class and looking her worst dirty hair pulled back, no make-up, her broken finger in a glass of ice—Warren Beatty walks through the door.
Five years later, Nash—now eighteen—embarks on the next step of her plan. After quitting college, she learns that Warren Beatty—who lives at the Beverly Hills Hotel—frequents a nearby restaurant. She gets a hostess job there and waits. In the meantime, she has endless strange encounters with stalkers, sociopaths, actors, agents, mobsters, and producers. It takes a year-and-a-half, but on a cold Sunday night, after breaking her finger in a judo class and looking her worst dirty hair pulled back, no make-up, her broken finger in a glass of ice—Warren Beatty walks through the door.
- GenresMemoir
280 pages, Paperback
Published August 19, 2025
8 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 9, 2025
There’s so much to love about this powerful and hilarious memoir, I’m not sure where to start.
Best to begin in Hollywood, I suppose, where you’re either a star or a bit player. Though Nash grew up brushing elbows (and other body parts) with megastars like Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson, she herself was only occasionally showered with “collateral stardust” – brief moments of fame by association.
But in this memoir, the big stars Nash meets are relegated to minor roles, and Nash claims the starring role in her own multi-faceted life story.
Sidekick grows into leading lady. Walk-on becomes the star attraction. That’s the power of good writing. Nash has a psychologist’s insight into character and a standup comic’s timing. I was moved by Nash’s honesty about her distant mother, her addictions, and the fallout from her always saying “yes”— to drugs, sex, standup comedy, and Warren Beatty.
Let’s address Beatty for a moment. Though “Chasing Warren Beatty” is part of this book’s subtitle, Nash’s memoir is no exploitative kiss-and-tell. She does kiss, and she does tell, but in a blunt and humorous way that cops to her own naivete and to famous people’s flawed humanity. If you’ve come for a salacious tell-all, you’ve come to the wrong place.
Nash uses her long-term obsession with Beatty as an organizing principle in the book, to show how she goes from starstruck teen to mature woman who knows how to call the shots and knows when to say goodbye. Women are not defined by who they have a fling or even a love affair with. But if we look closely at who we choose, and why we choose them, that teaches us a great deal about ourselves.
Nash is willing to take a good hard look at herself, which elevates this memoir far beyond a Hollywood tale. I could see myself in Nash, though I didn’t grow up anywhere near Hollywood.
Read this book. You won’t be disappointed.
Best to begin in Hollywood, I suppose, where you’re either a star or a bit player. Though Nash grew up brushing elbows (and other body parts) with megastars like Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson, she herself was only occasionally showered with “collateral stardust” – brief moments of fame by association.
But in this memoir, the big stars Nash meets are relegated to minor roles, and Nash claims the starring role in her own multi-faceted life story.
Sidekick grows into leading lady. Walk-on becomes the star attraction. That’s the power of good writing. Nash has a psychologist’s insight into character and a standup comic’s timing. I was moved by Nash’s honesty about her distant mother, her addictions, and the fallout from her always saying “yes”— to drugs, sex, standup comedy, and Warren Beatty.
Let’s address Beatty for a moment. Though “Chasing Warren Beatty” is part of this book’s subtitle, Nash’s memoir is no exploitative kiss-and-tell. She does kiss, and she does tell, but in a blunt and humorous way that cops to her own naivete and to famous people’s flawed humanity. If you’ve come for a salacious tell-all, you’ve come to the wrong place.
Nash uses her long-term obsession with Beatty as an organizing principle in the book, to show how she goes from starstruck teen to mature woman who knows how to call the shots and knows when to say goodbye. Women are not defined by who they have a fling or even a love affair with. But if we look closely at who we choose, and why we choose them, that teaches us a great deal about ourselves.
Nash is willing to take a good hard look at herself, which elevates this memoir far beyond a Hollywood tale. I could see myself in Nash, though I didn’t grow up anywhere near Hollywood.
Read this book. You won’t be disappointed.
September 14, 2025
Nikki Nash grew up in, and worked in, Hollywood. She had a unique relationship with Warren Beatty. She encountered Robert Altman, Jack Nickelson and numerous other celebrities. She worked on well-known television shows. But her insider knowledge of Hollywood is not what makes this book unforgettable.
Hollywood life is only the context for an uncompromisingly honest and deeply moving examination of a life lived searching for love in all the wrong places. Many readers will identify with the pain of growing up with charming but emotionally absent parents. “Better to keep my needs to myself—and hope someone intuited them—than risk being rejected,” Nash says. No surprise, then, that she struggled with a serious eating disorder. And that she was known for her hard work, insight and dependability.
But what makes this memoir such a great read is Nash’s deft sense of humor, honesty, and deep insight. Who wouldn’t want to know an underage teen who has the creativity and moxie to dress up in a nun’s habit to buy booze? Nash had me laughing while my heart was breaking, always wanting to turn the page, rooting for this brave, clever and wise woman on her journey to self-realization.
Hollywood life is only the context for an uncompromisingly honest and deeply moving examination of a life lived searching for love in all the wrong places. Many readers will identify with the pain of growing up with charming but emotionally absent parents. “Better to keep my needs to myself—and hope someone intuited them—than risk being rejected,” Nash says. No surprise, then, that she struggled with a serious eating disorder. And that she was known for her hard work, insight and dependability.
But what makes this memoir such a great read is Nash’s deft sense of humor, honesty, and deep insight. Who wouldn’t want to know an underage teen who has the creativity and moxie to dress up in a nun’s habit to buy booze? Nash had me laughing while my heart was breaking, always wanting to turn the page, rooting for this brave, clever and wise woman on her journey to self-realization.
August 1, 2025
Collateral Stardust is funny and sharp, but also deeply vulnerable. It takes us behind the scenes of old Hollywood—but what stayed with me most wasn’t the glamour or the gossip. It was the emotional honesty.
Nikki Nash writes with such clarity about longing—for love, for visibility, for safety. Sex becomes a way to feel chosen. Substances, a way to get through. And Warren Beatty—he’s not the goal. He’s not even really the love interest. He’s a symbol. A way for her to chart who she was becoming.
This isn’t a redemption arc in the Hollywood sense. It’s more complicated. She doesn’t tie things up with a bow. She reckons. With her choices. With her mother’s legacy. With the ache to be wanted.
And in the end, what she finds isn’t just grace. It’s something she’s grown into—earned through survival and self-understanding.
Collateral Stardust is raw, at times laugh-out-loud funny, and ultimately very wise. I finished it in one sitting, and it’s still echoing in my head.
Nikki Nash writes with such clarity about longing—for love, for visibility, for safety. Sex becomes a way to feel chosen. Substances, a way to get through. And Warren Beatty—he’s not the goal. He’s not even really the love interest. He’s a symbol. A way for her to chart who she was becoming.
This isn’t a redemption arc in the Hollywood sense. It’s more complicated. She doesn’t tie things up with a bow. She reckons. With her choices. With her mother’s legacy. With the ache to be wanted.
And in the end, what she finds isn’t just grace. It’s something she’s grown into—earned through survival and self-understanding.
Collateral Stardust is raw, at times laugh-out-loud funny, and ultimately very wise. I finished it in one sitting, and it’s still echoing in my head.
August 19, 2025
Collateral Stardust, the coming of age memoir by Nikki Nash, tells of her unconventional Hollywood upbringing and more. As a young teen, Nikki fantasizes about Warren Beatty and somehow, once she is of age, manages to manifest a real relationship with Beatty!! Lots of fun TV & movie tidbits are sprinkled throughout, including a friendship with Jack Nicholson. Nikki writes honestly of her addictions and obsessions, her candor makes the reader cheer for her successful recovery. Her writing style and stories are quite entertaining. I really enjoyed reading Collateral Stardust!
December 25, 2025
This memoir is unapologetic in its honesty and portrayal of the last five decades as experienced by Nash. There is a melancholy yet ironic humor in her telling of the incidents that form the melody line in her life. The leitmotif of collateral stardust more than satisfies if you are looking for glimpses of celebrity. But there is always the sense that this is a very subjective viewpoint—and despite how far she has come in her path to self-awareness, she may be an unreliable narrator for the events of her own life.
August 28, 2025
While the Hollywood milieu and Nash's proximity to famous entertainers, consistently portrayed as very real, ordinary people, who happen to be globally recognizable in name and face, makes for a fascinating who's who, what makes this memoir extraordinary is the sheer pluck and resilience of Nash, and her very relatable humanity and vulnerability. No topic is off limits as she excavates her own high standards, disappointments and flaws through the lenses of her work in the television industry, romantic relationships, addictions and family dysfunction, not necessarily in that order. Written with exceptional prose, razor sharp humor and tender pathos, this memoir is ultimately a reflective recounting of fate, acceptance, growth and compassion. Come for Warren Beatty, stay for the rest.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews