Despite numerous obstacles, small-town girl Lenore Zann caught the acting bug early. She was “discovered” at 19 and chosen to play Marilyn Monroe in a rock opera based on the life of the tragic movie star. Her powerhouse performance kickstarted her career, leading to hundreds of acting credits in film, TV, theatre, radio, and animation, including her iconic portrayal of Rogue in the very popular animated series X-Men: The Animated Series.
In A Rogue’s Tale: A Memoir, the multi-talented Zann recounts her life story from childhood to present.
Hye’s Reflections
I am a huge fan of the X-Men comics and animated series and the character of Rogue has been a favourite. She is complicated and complex. She questions her super powers but also comes to accept them over time. Just like the character she voices, Zann is a person with a complex yet fascinating life.
As I read this memoir, I could not help but be impressed by Zann’s perseverance. Throughout the book, we hear about famous and not-so-famous people in the industry and the role they played in her career. Since her teenage years, Zann has not stopped working.
Where does she get the energy? Since childhood she has had a curious and self-assured personality that has helped her navigate the acting and political worlds quite well, in my opinion. It is clear her journey has not been always easy but she has managed to learn many valuable lessons along the way.
Zann has experienced moments of trauma, introspection, and success. It makes sense she is ready to ‘sit down’ and write about these. The memoir is very honest and candid about her life as a means to connect with us, the readers. I appreciated many of the introspective notes within it, as it they are what made me connect with Zann on a personal level.
A Rogue’s Tale reveals the good, the bad, and the ugly in show business. Like her iconic character Rogue, Lenore Zann’s determination to stand up not only for herself but for others, is a lesson in how to roll with the punches and to awaken one’s inner superhero. It is an engaging read.
Interview with Lenore Zann
In lead up to her book launch in Canada, I had the pleasure of speaking with Zann. She graciously shared about her writing experience and what she is working on next.
Images courtesy of Lenore Zann.
