A Mind of My Own
Published on 23. October 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-3985-5337-8 (ISBN)
Description
THE INSTANT BESTSELLER
'Vivid, bright and beautiful' - Guardian
'Wonderful. I wish I'd written it - I couldn't put it down' Miriam Margolyes
Kathy Burke is one of Britain's most distinctive voices. Even as a fearless kid in Islington, she did things her own way; roaming the estate that raised her to find her own path. A place at the Anna Scher Theatre in her teens changed the course of her life, and she found unimaginable success as an actress and writer - and national fame. But the rare gift that has always set her apart, beyond the stage or screen, is her ability to see the truth and tell it like it is.
This spellbinding memoir is not just Kathy's story, but the story of her class, her gender and her time.
A Mind of My Own is funny, profound and deeply entertaining.
'This is a book about being raised as a feral, motherless child; starting work at 17; immortalising several of this country's most endearing catchphrases; triumphing at Cannes; being told you're a genius by Peter Cook; and, at one party, accidentally taking some of Shaun Ryder's crack, then attempting to set fire to a woman's arse' - Caitlin Moran, Times Magazine
'Glorious, very funny and no-nonsense, just like Kathy Burke' - Jo Brand
'Vivid, bright and beautiful' - Guardian
'Wonderful. I wish I'd written it - I couldn't put it down' Miriam Margolyes
Kathy Burke is one of Britain's most distinctive voices. Even as a fearless kid in Islington, she did things her own way; roaming the estate that raised her to find her own path. A place at the Anna Scher Theatre in her teens changed the course of her life, and she found unimaginable success as an actress and writer - and national fame. But the rare gift that has always set her apart, beyond the stage or screen, is her ability to see the truth and tell it like it is.
This spellbinding memoir is not just Kathy's story, but the story of her class, her gender and her time.
A Mind of My Own is funny, profound and deeply entertaining.
'This is a book about being raised as a feral, motherless child; starting work at 17; immortalising several of this country's most endearing catchphrases; triumphing at Cannes; being told you're a genius by Peter Cook; and, at one party, accidentally taking some of Shaun Ryder's crack, then attempting to set fire to a woman's arse' - Caitlin Moran, Times Magazine
'Glorious, very funny and no-nonsense, just like Kathy Burke' - Jo Brand
Reviews / Votes
'One of the misconceptions about working-class life is that it is all grey skies and kitchen-sink misery. Burke's memoir has its painful moments, but the joy radiating from it is palpable and invigorating' * <i>Guardian</i> * 'Remarkable' * <I>Financial Times</I> * 'A delight' * <I>Stylist</I> * 'Glorious, very funny and no-nonsense, just like Kathy Burke' -- Jo Brand 'Funny, heartbreaking, passionate and triumphant. This is a disarming testimony by one of Britain's greatest working class heroes and artists' -- Steve McQueen 'A cracker' -- Dawn French 'Beautiful, heartbreaking and whipsmart. An absolute belter' -- Roisin Conaty 'Brilliant stories . . . Peter Cook once called her a genius and it's hard to dispute by the end of the book' * <I>Irish Times</I> * 'From feral five year old to foul mouthed National Treasure, Kathy takes us through the downs and ups of her extraordinary life . . . I'll probably get a bollocking for this!' -- Paul Whitehouse "I went into the book expecting to like Kathy Burke and came out with a great deal of affection for this generous, unpretentious and shrewd person. Above all, what I really enjoyed about A Mind of My Own was Burke's fiery spirit, which shines through in every chapter, including the one detailing her interactions with frontman of The Pogues Shane MacGowan. The singer only ever greeted her by saying, "Alright, stupid?" She was not cowed, though, answering, "Yes, thanks for asking, prick." A mind and mouth of her own." -- The Independent * <I>Books of the Month</I> *More details
Edition
Export/Airside
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Simon & Schuster Ltd
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 153 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-3985-5337-8 (9781398553378)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Kathy Burke began her career as an actor in 1982. In the 1990s, she became known for recurring roles on French and Saunders and The Harry Enfield Show as both Waynetta Slob and the beloved Perry. In 1997 she won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her work in Gary Oldman's Nil By Mouth, and in 1999 she starred in BBC sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme. Bored of acting, she took a 'break' to focus on directing which has been her main job for the past twenty years. Her theatre credits include Out in the Open by Jonathan Harvey, The Quare Fellow by Brendan Behan, born bad by Debbie Tucker Green, and Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde. Her short film, Better Than Christmas for Sky Arts led to her writing a four part semi-autobiographical mini-series, Walking and Talking. She directed a four part TV drama, Holding based on the novel by Graham Norton, and has presented three Channel 4 documentaries. As an actor, she has returned to the screen occasionally, for her role in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and most recently in Steve McQueen's Blitz. She has hosted 100 episodes of the podcast Where There's a Will There's a Wake. Born and bred in Islington, she still lives there today. A Mind of My Own is her first book.