The Write Side of Hollywood Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks published "Uncommon Type" in 2017. It is a collection of short stories rather than an account of his film career. A typewriter appears in every story, although its importance varies from one tale to another. His film clue points to Woody, the cowboy toy he voiced in "Toy Story" (1995). Woody has to get used to sharing his owner's attention when a new toy, Buzz Lightyear, arrives.

Answer: Julie Andrews

Julie Andrews wrote "Mandy", which was first published in 1971 under the name Julie Edwards. The story follows an orphan who discovers a deserted cottage and tries to make it a place of her own. Its themes include loneliness, friendship and the wish to belong somewhere. Andrews played the title character in "Mary Poppins" (1964), the nanny who brings magic into the Banks family's life. Writing for children became another part of her career alongside acting and singing.

Answer: Steve Martin

Steve Martin wrote "Shopgirl", a novella: a work of fiction shorter than a typical novel. Its central character, Mirabelle, works at a department-store glove counter and becomes involved with a wealthy older man. The book explores loneliness and the difficulty of understanding what another person wants from a relationship.

In "Father of the Bride" (1991), Martin played George Banks, who struggled to accept that his daughter was getting married. The book shows a quieter side of a performer often associated with broad comedy.

Answer: Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong'o wrote "Sulwe", a picture book illustrated by Vashti Harrison. Sulwe feels unhappy because her skin is darker than that of the people around her, but a journey through the night sky helps her see herself differently. The story deals with colourism, or unfair treatment based on skin shade, and learning to value yourself.

In "Black Panther" (2018), Nyong'o played Nakia, a Wakandan spy who wanted to help people beyond her country's borders. The book gave her another way to tell a story about identity and belonging.

Answer: Ethan Hawke

Ethan Hawke published his novel "The Hottest State" in 1996. It follows William, a young actor, as he falls in love with Sarah and struggles with the relationship. The story focuses on the excitement and hurt of young love rather than offering a guide to Hawke's own life.

In "Gattaca" (1997), he played Vincent, a man who assumes another person's identity to pursue his dream of space travel. Hawke's work as a novelist sits alongside his acting career.

Answer: Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis wrote "Today I Feel Silly", with illustrations by Laura Cornell. Its full title continues with "& Other Moods That Make My Day". The rhyming picture book follows a child through feelings such as joy, sadness, anger and confusion, showing that moods can change. Curtis played Tess Coleman opposite Lindsay Lohan in "Freaky Friday" (2003), in which a mother and daughter switch bodies. Both the book and that film give feelings and understanding other people an important place.

Answer: Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey published "Greenlights" in 2020. Drawing on diaries he had kept for years, he brought together memories, reflections and lessons from his own life. The title uses green traffic lights as an image for finding a way forward, including through difficult experiences.

In "Interstellar" (2014), he played Cooper, a pilot who leaves Earth on a mission to find a future home for humanity. Unlike the fictional space journey in the clue, the book looks back at the actor's personal experiences.

Answer: Isla Fisher

Isla Fisher wrote "Marge in Charge", illustrated by Eglantine Ceulemans. Marge is an unusual babysitter with rainbow-coloured hair who brings surprises into the lives of Jemima and Jake. Fisher developed the idea from the bedtime stories she told her own children.

She played Rebecca Bloomwood in "Confessions of a Shopaholic" (2009), a comedy about a woman whose shopping habits land her in debt. That film was based on Sophie Kinsella's books; Fisher's own writing credit here is for "Marge in Charge".

Answer: Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher wrote "Postcards from the Edge", a novel about an actress named Suzanne Vale. The story follows Suzanne through rehabilitation and her return to life outside the clinic, using humour to explore difficult experiences. It was later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine, released in 1990. Fisher herself played Princess Leia in "Star Wars" (1977), helping the rebels fight the Galactic Empire.

The novel is fiction, so Suzanne should not simply be treated as Fisher under another name.

Answer: Alan Rickman

Alan Rickman's diaries were published after his death as "Madly, Deeply" in 2022. They include notes about acting, travel, friendships and everyday life, giving readers a view beyond his screen roles. The volume includes a foreword by Emma Thompson and an afterword by Rima Horton. Rickman played Hans Gruber, the criminal mastermind who took over a Los Angeles skyscraper, in "Die Hard" (1988).

This entry concerns his own diary writing, rather than a biography written about him by someone else.