UNTIED

“IrememberSarahaskingme,whenI’djustbeguntherapywithher,whatIlookedforinaman.Afterafewmomentsofsilent,tensedeliberationIhadit.‘Hair,’Iblurted.‘Hehastohavehair.’”MeredithBaxterisabelovedandiconictelevisionactress,mostwell-knownforherenormouslypopularroleashippiemom,ElyseKeaton,onFamilyTies.Herwarmth,humor,andbrilliantsmilemadeheroneofthemostpopularwomenontelevision,withmillionsofviewersfollowingheronthesmallscreeneachweek.Yethersuccessmaskedatumultuouspersonalstoryandaharrowingprivatelife.Forthefirsttime,Baxterisreadytoshareherincrediblehighs,(workingwithRobertRedford,DorisDay,LanaTurner,andthecastofFamilyTies),andlows(athornyrelationshipwithhermother,adifficultmarriagetoDavidBirney,aboutwithbreastcancer),finallyrevealingthewomanbehindtheimage.FromherchildhoodinHollywood,growingupthedaughterofactressandco-creatorofOneDayataTimeWhitneyBlake,Baxterbecamefamiliarwiththeupsanddownsofshowbusinessfromanearlyage.Afterwholeheartedlyembracingthe60scounterculturelifestyle,shewasforcedtorelyonheractingskillsafterherfirstdivorcelefthera22-year-oldsinglemotheroftwo.BaxterbeganherprofessionalcareerwithsupportingrolesinthecriticallypannedhorrorfilmBen,andinthepoliticalthrillerAllthePresident'sMen.Morelucrativeworksoonfollowedonthesmallscreen.BaxterstarredwithactorDavidBirneyasthetitlecharactersincontroversialsitcomBridgetLovesBernie.Whiletheseriesonlylastedayear,herhigh-profileromancewithBirneylasted15volatileandunhappyyears.Hidingtheworstofhersituationfromeventhoseclosesttoher,Baxter’scareerflourishedasherself-esteemandfamilycrumbled.HersuccessfulrunasNancyonFamilywasfollowedbyherenormouslypopularroleonFamilyTies,anddozensofwell-receivedtelevisionmovies.AfterabitterdivorceandcustodybattlewithBirney,Baxterincreasinglyreliedonalcoholasarefuge,andherespeakscandidlyofherdecisiontotakeherlastdrinkin1990.AndwhileanotherruinousdivorcetoscreenwriterMichaelBlodgetttaxedBaxter’sstrengthandconfidence,shehasemergedfromherexperienceswiththerenewedself-assurance,poise,andunderstandingthathaveenabledhertofindaloving,respectfulrelationshipwithNancyLocke,andtospeakaboutitopenly.Toldwithinsight,wit,anddisarmingfrankness,Untiedistheeye-openingandinspiringlifeofanactress,awoman,andamotherwhohascomeintoherown.