Actress

Dublin-based novelist Norah O’Dell is the only child of the magnetic Irish actress Katherine O’Dell, who passed away with her reputation somewhat tarnished by scandal. An interview with a young scholar researching Katherine’s career calls up memories for Norah that reveal how both women shaped each other’s lives. Norah addresses her comments and conclusions sometimes to the young scholar and sometimes to her husband, and sometimes she writes to herself, which encourages Norah to consider the many and complicated dimensions of her mother’s life. Her memories also lead to new discoveries about her mother, which speak to questions Norah has about her own existence, including the identity of her father. Through her explorations, Norah begins to appreciate and celebrate the fragile but enduring love of family.