Kelly Bishop (Carole Bishop) started her career in show business as a dancer. She started off as a ballet dancer but later moved to Broadway and eventually ended up in film and TV (this is where the name change comes in).
Kelly tells the story of her career and her personal life in this memoir: The Third Gilmore Girl.
One of Bishop’s most iconic roles was that of Emily Gilmore, the mother of Lorelai Gilmore in Gilmore Girls. The woman I initially saw as the villain of the show. Now that I’ve rewatched the series a few times, I have changed my opinion on her character a little. In my opinion, she loves her daughter dearly, but Lorelai is too independent and has trouble dealing with a somewhat controlling mother.
Gilmore Girls is one of my all time favourite TV shows: it’s clever, the characters are fun and interesting (even the grumpy and villainous ones). I think it’s time for a rewatch again!
Kelly also played the mother of Baby (Jennifer Grey) in Dirty Dancing and the character Sheila in A Chorus Line is based on her. She explains how that came about in this book as well.
She tells us about the love of her life, Lee, and their life together up until his passing away (or leaving as she calls it). That chapter was heartbreaking!
I absolutely adored this memoir. I felt I was there for A Chorus Line and all major events in Kelly’s life!
Read for the ShelfReflection Reading Challenge 2026
Prompt 18: A memoir by a person you’ve seen as a villain
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
