Character Breakdown

by Zawe Ashton

Cult heroine Zawe Ashton brings us a unique look at life, work and the absurdities of contemporary life.

Zawe Ashton has been acting since she was six. She has played many different roles, from ‘cute little girl’ to ‘assassin with attitude', Oscar Wilde’s Salome to St Trinian’s schoolgirl by way of Fresh Meat’s Vod.

To stay sane, an actress must tread a high-wire between life and art, keep sight of where a character ends and the real person begins. So she doesn’t lose herself completely.

In Character Breakdown, Zawe scrolls through a version of her life. Or is it a version of her art? Or something in between. In it, she encounters glamour, horror, absurdity and questions like: is a life spent more on performance than reality any life at all?

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Audiobook, Biography, Feminism, Book Club

311 pages, Hardcover

Published April 4, 2019

Reviews

[Emily B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down.

The first chapter sort of lost me but then the one about the shampoo pulled me back in.
I liked the honesty of the book but it was missing something for me. Prehaps there wasn’t enough quite enough emotion for me?
However It’s a short book so I would recommend reading it.

[Latkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The actress and playwright Zawe Ashton recounts scenes from her own life in this book which treads the line between fiction and memoir. Told in two, alternating styles, it cuts from descriptions of the roles she’s played from an early age (the ‘character breakdown’ is a brief description of the character and what they are looking for in an actor), and scenes from her later life, which are produced in a script / screenplay format. These scenes see her wrestling with her life as an actress, and trying to make it in Hollywood. Funny, arch and at times heartbreaking, we follow Zawe as she deals with the inherent sexism of the acting world, and its thinly-veiled racism. We hear about the disappointment of discovering that Wash ‘N’ Go doesn’t work on her hair, the thrill of finding herself with the cool, bullying kids at school in the wake of her first TV appearance, coping with the death of her aunt whilst still doing a full day’s acting, entering the bizarre fashion game of the red carpet, and more. It’s a fresh and different take on the role of the actor in the modern world, told in a bold and original way.

[Charlott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Character Breakdown" usually refers to a brief description of a character in a film or play script. In Zawe Ashton's memoir-fiction hybrid it does allude to that meaning but could also be understood differently: The actress, the I, the protagonist, she is heading to a breakdown.

Character Breakdown switches between prose and scenes which are written like a script, tells the story of an actress (Zawe?) who landed her first roles as a child. Through the recollection of different roles (or the events around different roles), we see the protagonist growing up. This book is a wonderful meditation on the realities of the film/ tv business, showcasing all the different ways BWoC are kept outside (from beauty norms to sexual harassment, from limited roles to being deemed difficult solely by existing) but also asks bigger questions about the roles we all perform in our daily life and how to not lose yourself.

Zawe Ashton most recently was in the series Wanderlust and the movie Velvet Buzzsaw, but she has been a writer (most notably of plays) for a long time too. This book is not a straight-forward memoir, it is not a gossipy tell-all, instead, it is an intelligent - and often funny - depiction of the lived realities of an actress (I might never see red carpets in the same way). I flew through the book and really enjoyed it. There were some minor parts I wish were written slightly differently but nothing which actually limited my enjoyment.

I received a review copy from the publisher.

[landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zawe Ashton is a brilliant woman. I knew this going into the novel. However, I was not prepared for just how incredibly real she is. There is not a veil over her words, experiences. Character Breakdown is genuine, gritty, with a hint of social commentary that makes the reader think. Honestly, if you get the chance to read this, I would not pass it up. Perspective is an incredible gift given on the side, topics shied away from by our society are openly embraced. Read Character Breakdown. "Some days, I feel like a human woman walking down the street, pretending to be a human woman walking down the street."

[Pooja · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books you pick up with the knowledge that they will alter your life in some way and this is one of them. Zawe Ashton’s book is laid out into two formats: as a script that depicts the protagonists (we can only assume it’s a fictionalised version of the author, heavily influenced by her real life) present life and as a character breakdown followed by the past events that have led her to her current frame of mind. This book doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities that come with choosing a creative career path, particularly being a performer where the predominant reliance is on appearances. She highlights how for those in the creative industry, it is a compulsion rather than a desire to create art, often to the detriment of the one who is creating the art. In wonderful prose, Ashton describes the subtle and not so subtle sexist and racist discrimination she has encountered at auditions and on set, from being told to wear a tight fitting top that shows her stomach, to being deemed as ‘aggressive’. All of this has broken down the protagonists’ sense of self and she feels that she is constantly acting. ‘Character Breakdown’ then means the collapse of identity which leaves one feeling like there is a void and they are constantly filling it with different characters. Overall, I got a lot out of this book and it made me feel seen. Thank you Zawe Ashton!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

funny, insightful, cool, sad, interesting… there aren’t enough adjectives! deeply personal and yet completely depersonalised - i loved everything about this book (especially the format)

[Angelique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more of a 2 star in terms of enjoyment. From the first chapter, which I had a hard time reading, I knew it wasn't for me. I love Zawe Ashton, from Fresh Meat to her episode in Misfits, Not Safe for Work and her stellar performance in Betrayal. I thought this would be a funnish, light read about her experiences in all those. But it's written in one tone and reads as self pity, which had me questioning is someone forcing her to act? It's painful for her from age 6 all the way through to end where she tells the producer she isn't acting anymore.

The industry is sexist, racist and treats people like things and she has every right to not like it. I just didn't want to read a book about much she didn't want to do the thing that I admire her for.

[iina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest and bold without doing it for shock value, Character Breakdown breaks down a career and parts of a life, melting fact and fiction to expose the reality of an actor, the sexism and racism rampant in the industry, and the vulnerabilities of being and growing in our time, especially as a woman. Told through two different, alternating styles, the book is a thought-provoking yet surprisingly easy to read in a short stretch of time. Also, very funny.

Thank you Vintage for gifting me a copy of this book.

[Gareth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This semi-autobiographical, kinda-fictional account from actor and director Zawe Ashton rockets along, with all too plausible accounts of the expectations and nonsense an actress encounters punctuated by breezy scripted interludes and devastatingly self-effacing wit. If the poignantly grim moments related here are drawn from real life, then it’s an incredibly vital piece of work that sheds light on an industry that honestly kinda sucks. If they’re made up wholesale, she should write novels. Either way, it’s a hugely engaging and memorable read.

[eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

once i understood what was going on this was quite good, but the form was initially very confusing which is not what you want
i also felt like there should have been more idk? it ended so abruptly
but an okay memoir with an interesting form! i loved the hair chapter

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. I’ll probably listen a couple of times before I have to give this back to the library. She writes so wonderfully. Best book I’ve read all year

[Foxglove · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am someone who firmly believes in giving people a chance before judging based on one piece of writing, or the equivalent in daily life. I didn’t like either of Ashton’s plays, but I truly did want to like this book. Thankfully, I didn’t have to try very hard.

Ashton’s writing style, though off-putting in both Skunk and For All The Women Who Thought They Were Mad, works fantastically well here. The writing doesn’t need to be connected because we are jumping from event to event, from one point in time to another, rather than going through a story in the way a play does – smoothly, typically. In Character Breakdown, Ashton’s writing can be disjointed if she wishes and it’s great.

The heavier topics that the writer failed to examine in FATWWTTWM come up here, and at no point do those topics feel unimportant or poorly explored. It was much easier to connect with the material presented here because everything felt so much more human and real, unlike the near-alien feeling of the aforementioned play. Ashton is much better at weaving the themes into a story here, rather than just having the heavier topics floating overhead in a way that feels unnatural. I care about the occurring events in Character Breakdown. I care about the people.

Unlike with the strange and off-putting humour in Skunk, I did also enjoy the jokes, if you can call them that. Unfortunately, some of the odd choices do still make an appearance, but these are toned down significantly in Character Breakdown. There are still some very uncomfortable attempts at humour, particularly in the first few chapters, but a majority of the jokes land well.

If Ashton ever reads this review, I hope she knows that, despite my low ratings of her plays, I don’t dislike for the sake of disliking. I would genuinely love to read a full-length novel by her, if it’s anything like this book. As a side note: I hope Ashton’s okay. There are a multitude of red flags in here that worry me, and those red flags only get brighter the further into the book you read.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books about acting and the industry
recommended by Spotlight staff.

Time spent sitting with a book is never wasted. It’s a chance to relax, contemplate, and absorb information entirely at your own pace. When we have time on our hands it’s also an opportunity to branch out and learn more about any number of topics.

There is a vast array of fantastic stories to learn from, be they from fellow performers, teachers, theatre-makers or people who can shine a light on what happens behind the scenes. We've read quite a few of them so we thought we'd share some of our book recommendations with you! Not only are these titles a great read, but you may also learn something that could help your career too.

Books by Performers

1. Character Breakdown by Zawe Ashton
2. Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: And Other Lessons in Life by Michael Caine
3. Life in Parts by Bryan Cranston
4. Behind the Scenes by Judi Dench
5. What's My Motivation? by Michael Simkins
6. Bossypants by Tina Fey

Behind the Scenes Books

1. Balancing Acts: Behind the Scenes at the National Theatre by Nicholas Hytner
2. Quentin Tarantino: Interviews
3. The True Adventures of the World's Greatest Stuntman: My Life as Indiana Jones, James Bond, Superman and Other Movies by Vic Armstrong

Books about Acting Techniques and Tips

1. Stella Adler: The Art of Acting by Howard Kissel
2. Presence: How to Use Positive Energy for Success in Every Situation by Patsy Rodenburg
3. Secrets of Performing Confidence: For Musicians, Singers, Actors and Dancers by Andrew Evans
4. A Life-coaching Approach to Screen Acting by Daniel Dresner
5. Surviving Hollywood: How to Ensure the Acting Industry Doesn't Chew You Up and Spit You Out by Julia Farino

[Lara A · Rating 4 out of 5]

The peculiar thing about actresses being held up as figures of admiration is that being an actress sounds so horrible. If you did not already think that, you will after reading this.

Many years ago, I read an article by the author Lauren Henderson* in which she discusses reading an interview with Jennifer Connelly. In the interview, Connelly picks at a salad (with no dressing) and discusses her latest film, except for the scene of sexual abuse which was too horrendous to talk about. Henderson response was "And we are meant to envy these women?!".

It is a quote that has stayed with me and it makes Character Breakdown a difficult book to review. Firstly, Ashton is an excellent writer. Vivid without being florid, realistic without being crass. I really hope she writes more. A lot more, because I would devour a novel written by her.

Yet, she is writing about a world I find deeply unpleasant and thus, while I enjoyed her writing, the subject matter was sometimes a struggle. I read it pretty much in one sitting because I feared that if I put it down, I wouldn't want to return to it. I'm glad I did, Ashton's words and writing are worth persevering with. I just hope she writes more of them.

*Lauren Henderson's Sam Jones Mystery Series is an overlooked 90s gem of a series.

[Sophy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm.

I'm not entirely sure what Ashton was trying to reveal in this title. It feels as though she was letting us see some of herself but always hidden behind a veil of surreality.

We get isolated snippets of a childhood where being a POC results in bullying, victimisation and terribly desperate feelings of wanting to belong.

We get an experimental look at some of the awful casting calls she has attended, having to show her body, being kissed and "handled" without consent, a possible near rape disguised as an audition.

We hear nothing of her accomplishments as a writer, producer or director however.

Throughout, Ashton hints that she never feels she can live a genuine life, like she is being watched or is acting her own life out all the time. How funny then for her book to present in the same fashion. It makes us wonder, what is real of her experience and what is not?

[Alli_aye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I pick this up because I wanted to know more about the woman who married Tom Hiddleston? Yes.
Dodgy reason to read a book but I’m so pleased that I did. I loved the structure of this book. Performed by the author is a cool way to experience it

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ADORED this book. So different, so immersive

[ManarSaif · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven’t actually finished this book cuz it’s pure trash I’m sorry

[miaaa.lenaaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been good but the writing wasnt, it read like a gcse drama student sorry

[Carla (Memorie di una lettrice notturna) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Character Breakdown’ is usually a brief description of a character in a film or play script. In this memoir- fiction hybrid the brilliant actress and playwright Zawe Ashton switches from prose to scenes, which are written like a script, and tells the story of her career as an actress. She begins from her first role as a child to her stragglers to make it in Hollywood. Told in a bold, original way, she recounts events, (some of them very intimate) which are sometimes heartbreaking and tough, sometimes funny and intense. It is an intelligent, thought provoking book about how the Hollywood environment works and how to remain truthful to yourself in spite of the difficulties that this kind of career impose. Some issues the actress face throughout her life are dealing with a sensitivity and tact you don’t expect, revealing that not all that glitters is gold especially in the showbiz.I personally saw her in ‘Betrayal’ and was pleasantly impressed by her acting
so that I decided to purchase her book.

[Rox · Rating 3 out of 5]

The method style that Zawe choose to use, alternating chapters between prose and script was a really unique way to tell her story. It made the book carry real emotion, as it felt like watching it as a play. Thank you for sharing your story with us, around race, sexism within your industry, grief and many more. It also switches between fiction and non fiction which I found a little jarring but i'm sure some people would really enjoy.

It is definitely a great read if you as missing theatre productions or any kind of fringe performance.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always admired her work on screen so was very intrigued to read this memoir. The format is not a traditional linear memoir, which I appreciate. She recalls auditions, conversations and events from school age through to adulthood. In the process she touches on bullying, body image, racism, misogyny and anxiety. A raw and revealing insight into (some of) her life - although I now know more about her insecurities and the many challenges she’s faced in her career to date, I feel there is much more still to be shared with readers and admirers of her art.

[Jo Berry ☀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a little while to get into this book because of the style, which is more a series of vignettes and doesn’t have a continuous flow. Also, the opening section about, ‘Lana, The Lady of Many Adjectives’, made no sense (to me at least). I even came back and reread that first part when I’d finished the rest of the book, but I still didn’t understand what it was meant to be telling me.

But aside from that, it was a very interesting look at Zawe Ashton’s life as an actress from childhood roles, to the red carpet. There was a lot of warmth and dry humour in her writing and Ashton came across as a genuinely likeable person.

I enjoyed reading it and I’d particularly recommend it to any young actor or actress starting out in their career, as the book contains a lot of Ashton’s experiences in the industry that might help prepare them for the realities of the job.

[Mancman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t followed her career assiduously, but I’ve always enjoyed this actress’ performances that I’ve seen.
It’s an interesting style of writing, with “preambles” in the form of conversations, and then anecdotes about her roles, auditions and experiences.
There were some genuine laugh out loud moments in here, particularly around her first red carpet attendance.
It’s an honest and open romp through her life and fascinating to boot.

[Josie Rushin · Rating 3 out of 5]

memoir / non-fiction by actress. I think my expectations were somewhat low going into it - I’m always a bit skeptical when a celebrity writes a book. therefore due to this, i enjoyed the book but it didn’t blow me away. i enjoyed how it was structured, taking us chronologically through her life and acting roles. i came away with a greater appreciation for the actress and therefore would recommend the text for anyone familiar with her career.

[Erin 🫶🏻 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely really enjoyed reading this book as I’m a big fan of Zawe Ashton herself and reading about her life and how acting has affected her and made her who she is has really inspired me honestly, it was emotional and made me tear up a few times, and I love the presentation of the book the different font changing (I LOVED THAT!!) definitely will read this book multiple times, would recommend this book to young adults like 16+ as their is some topics that are for the older people.

[Aurora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its my first book after my reading hiatus. And I love the style of how Zawe wrote this. Though the approach was fiction, I can feel the scenes, the experience,if not metaphorical or completely substituted, in terms of facts and people involved, it makes me feel for the main character,which is 'Actress'.

It gives you the POV feeling of a person striving to find their footing in the industry, which somehow gives you an idea on how it can be difficult especially if you're a person of color.

[Róisín · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual memoir/fiction hybrid, Zawe Ashton’s Character Breakdown was compulsive reading. Split into short sections, it is revealing while keeping Ashton herself unknowable and separate from the Actress in the script sections. Recommended for fans of hers or someone looking for a quick, compelling read that breaks the memoir mold.

[Miranda Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re an actor, a women, a women of colour, a women of colour who acts or just a human being of any sex/job this is a must read! The book it written in an usual form and makes for a compelling, vulnerable, humorous and totally generous read. I feel like I’ve just peered into Zawe Ashton’s soul.

[Jen Tidman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoir or fiction? In chapters alternating between prose and script, actress and playwright Zawe Ashton recounts a journey from TV adverts, to kids' dramas, to Channel 4 comedies, to stage performances and to Hollywood. In doing so she highlights the pressures on young female actresses, the predatory behaviour and sexual harrassment in the industry, and the racism encountered by women of colour.

This is no gossipy, name-dropping memoir, but instead a carefully crafted and beautifully written account of the lived realities of working in TV, film and theatre. By blurring the line between fiction and non fiction, Ashton is able to weave a clever, funny, vulnerable heartbreaking and compelling narrative.

I really enjoyed this and definitely recommend it, even if you don't usually read autobiographies.