Born with Teeth
A Memoir
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Born with Teeth
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Narrated by:
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Kate Mulgrew
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Written by:
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Kate Mulgrew
About this listen
Audie Award, Narration by Author, 2016
Raised by unconventional Irish Catholics who knew "how to drink, how to dance, how to talk, and how to stir up the devil", Kate Mulgrew grew up with poetry and drama in her bones. But in her mother, a would-be artist burdened by the endless arrival of new babies, young Kate saw the consequences of a dream deferred. Determined to pursue her own no matter the cost, at 18 she left her small Midwestern town for New York, where, studying with the legendary Stella Adler, she learned the lesson that would define her as an actress: "Use it," Adler told her. Whatever disappointment, pain, or anger life throws in your path, channel it into the work.
It was a lesson she would need. At 22, just as her career was taking off, she became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter. Having already signed the adoption papers, she was allowed only a fleeting glimpse of her child. As her star continued to rise, her life became increasingly demanding and fulfilling, a whirlwind of passionate love affairs, life-saving friendships, and bone-crunching work. Through it all Mulgrew remained haunted by the loss of her daughter until, two decades later, she found the courage to face the past and step into the most challenging role of her life both on and off screen.
We know Kate Mulgrew for the strong women she's played - Captain Janeway on Star Trek; the tough-as-nails Red on Orange Is the New Black. Now we meet the most inspiring and memorable character of all: herself. By turns irreverent and soulful, laugh-out-loud funny and heart-piercingly sad, Born with Teeth is the breathtaking memoir of a woman who dares to live life to the fullest, on her own terms.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2015 Kate Mulgrew (P)2015 Hachette AudioWhat the critics say
What listeners say about Born with Teeth
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Leslie
- 2017-10-20
Great autobio of a favorite actress and yet......
I love Kate Mulgrew. Ryans Hope, Voyager and OITNB. Never had the honour of seeing her on stage, but she's a great TV actress to me. The stories of her family, her life and how they intertwine are interesting yet.....even though this is HER story and read by Kate herself, I felt like she was disengaged from her own tales. Like she was again performing the story of another person. It didn't feel like she was connected and honoring her life with feeling for the characters in it (including herself) Maybe as a trained actress, she was performing...but I would have preferred a reading with more 'feels'.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Danika
- 2025-03-19
A Memoir That Grabs Hold and Doesn’t Let Go
Kate Mulgrew’s Born With Teeth is not just a memoir—it’s an experience. A force of nature wrapped in prose, it is raw, poetic, and deeply personal, pulling readers into the turbulence of her life with an honesty that is both breathtaking and, at times, brutal.
From the very first page, Mulgrew’s voice is distinct. She doesn’t just tell a story—she performs it. Her writing carries the same presence and intensity that she brings to her acting, weaving a narrative that is both deeply literary and profoundly human. She is unflinching in her recollections, refusing to soften the sharp edges of her past. Love, loss, ambition, and sacrifice—she lays it all bare with a fearless vulnerability that commands respect.
As a big sister, some parts of this book moved me to tears. Kate captures the raw, complicated beauty of family in a way that lingers long after the final page. And then there’s that chapter—the one that blindsides you, the one that leaves you breathless. She didn’t have to say it outright, but make no mistake—Kate Mulgrew’s words will emotionally wreck you. And she delivers.
I originally read this book in four days because I simply could not stop, and now, hearing her narrate it on Audible? It’s an entirely new experience. Her voice adds another layer of depth, sharpness, and wit—turning an already unforgettable memoir into something even more powerful.
This memoir is not for the faint of heart, but it is for those who appreciate storytelling in its most visceral, unfiltered form. It is for those who have loved fiercely, lost deeply, and clawed their way back to themselves. Mulgrew does not seek to make herself likable or perfect—she seeks only to tell the truth. And that truth, in all its beauty and pain, is what makes Born With Teeth a masterpiece.
10/10. Highly recommend, but proceed with caution—this book does not let go easily.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Chris Hope
- 2024-01-27
Moving
Even as an emotional person, I don't think I have actually been moved to tears by a memoir before, but this one did it
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2023-05-27
Loved this memoir
I did not know who Kate was before listening to her story. Really enjoyed getting to “know” her
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- PadreMarco
- 2022-12-02
Captain Kate!
Kate Mulgrew reads her Memoir with the same dedication as she writes it - with passion and theatricality. It’s a great Book read by the author.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Todd Herron
- 2018-03-02
This book is a Love Letter to Tim Hagan
Published in the year of their divorce, this book is entirely a Love Letter from Kate Mulgrew to Tim Hagan.
And they have one of the truly great romances for the ages. (Give me an hour with both of them and I'll get those two lovebirds back on track!)
Brilliantly and dramatically written and spoken, this utterly charming Love Letter comes with a side order of STAR TREK and massive dollop of regret and joyful reconciliation flowing from a young Kate Mulgrew's decision to put her daughter up for adoption.
One also senses that Ms Mulgrew's entire life is a stage -- with quite a cast of characters -- and that she lives her extraordinary life through a dramatic lens; not to say that she is dramatic in the pejorative sense of creating unnecessary turmoil and emotion but rather that her dramatic lens allows her to savour poignant moments exquisitely and with a rare and wonderful grace, poise, and humour that her family, friends, and fans around the world have come to admire.
Engage!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Heather
- 2021-03-01
What a great read!
Kate Mulgrew has had a fascinating life and tells it wonderfully. I absolutely enjoyed listening to this book!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2018-07-13
Beautifully written
Kate Mulgrew paints a vivid portrait of her life growing up Irish Catholic, becoming an actress and giving up her child. Her voice is soothing and so pleasant to listen to. Very well done.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Melody L. Evans
- 2021-08-13
Well written
Enjoyed this book. Well done! Enjoyed the story telling. Didn’t know anything about Kate so really enjoyed the story
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Roberta W
- 2022-12-22
Captain
Well written memoir, read by the author (I love her voice!). I enjoyed the story behind her starting her role as Captain Janeway.
Don’t be too quick to stop listening at the end: there is a lengthy interview that is quite good.
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