Heather Mitchell is an actor whose chameleon-like ability to assume a character means that although she is slim and tiny, she seemed tall and militaristically straight-backed as Catherine McGregor in Priscilla Jackman’s play Still Point Turning. As Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Suzie Miller’s RBG: Of Many One, she was initially youthfully zesty before gradually shrinking to hunched, aged defiance. Her fans would have favourite memories, by turns bawdy, tender, raucous, serene, heartbreaking or hilarious from any number of Australian films and stage plays. And now, we learn she can also write – with similar grace, fire and dexterity. If she weren’t such a delightful human being, one could be quite cross.

Her memoir Everything and Nothing has seen her appearing all over the country this year in a new role: serious author. The book is always honest, often harrowing, invariably illuminating and as interesting, humane, intelligent and sharp as Mitchell is in person. Divided into three sections – Girl, Woman and...