Photo: John Glover
I first featured Madleen Kane on this blog in October of 2016. She told me at the time she had written her memoirs, titled ‘Rough Diamond’ and that I wouldn’t believe how her life had gone and what she’d been through as a young teenage model and international singing star. Of course, it made me want to read her book immediately. You can see the photos we took and read my interview with her here.
Now in June of 2018 the book is published and available for order directly from Madleen herself on her website www.madleenkane.com. Madleen has given me an EXCLUSIVE first look at the book and talked with me about the experience of writing this book. Before you read our conversation, here is a small excerpt from her book.
London Film Screen Deception (part of Chapter Three)
“Madleen Kane Memoires”
(Return from New York from chapter two)
Pages 43, 44, 45, 46, 47
I return home with plenty of nice gifts for my parents and younger sisters. My work-trip to New York was the longer amount of time I had ever been away from home. And, although I was getting used to my long absences and beginning to feel independent, I was still happy to be home. I guess its true that, “there’s no place like home.” But, this time, my stay would be short-lived.
Inger, my agent, had arranged a trip a trip to London for a casting screen test for a mayor motion picture. I felt. like the luckiest girl in the world! Within two short years of modeling, my life had changed so radically and now I had an opportunity to act in a movie! Keep in mind, how ever, I was still 15 years-old.
And in September 1973, I was lucky enough to briefly meet a movie producer. The producer was a wealthy Egyptian businessman with residences and offices in London. His name was Mohamed al Fayed. In August 1997, Mohamed Al Fayed become a household name. He was the gather of Dodi Al Fayed, the man who died in a car accident in Paris-the same car accident that killed Diana, Princess of Wells. Before the accident, however most people didn’t know who Mohamed Al Fayed was. Mohamed was a billionaire who own, among many other things, the famous English department store Harrods.
Mohamed would often visit Sweden- at least twice a year- in search of beautiful young girls to act in various films. He appeared to be quite close to Inger, my agent. I saw them with their heads together and laughing shortly before my “official interview”
After the interview, I started to dream big-real big, I could literally see my self starring in a blockbuster movie with adoring fans clamoring to get my attention. I couldn’t stop thinking about Hollywood movies starts and their glamorous Beverly Hills lifestyles. Truthfully I had always been a daydreamer, but this … well, this was beyond even my wildest dreams.
When I arrived at Heathrow Airport, a young good looking and well dressed driver was waiting for me. He held a sign with my first name handwriting on it. I approached him and introduced myself. He then took my suitcase and escorted me to a brand new black Rolls Royce. As I made my way to my “carriage.” I couldn’t help but notice that people were staring at me as if I was already a big-time movie star! I love it.
About forty-five minutes later, we reached my destination.
My living quarters were located at Park Lane. Mayfair, a prestigious and elegant area in central London. My first impression of London was that it seemed dark. I fact, mostly everything in the city was black and white. Dreary. But. The three-level townhouse consisted of gorgeous Victorian architecture, complete with a well-designed front door. My driver opened the car door for me and walked me to the front door of this grandiose residence.
He smiled and said, “Your luggage, madam, will be in your room within few minutes.”
I was so dumbstruck and in awe that I could barely thanks him. I knock on the door, and an English woman in her forties opened it. She was a blond, older-looking lady, with light colored eyes, and hard as steel facial featured. She wore a black and white uniform. “Welcome, my name is Doris.” She said with superficial, but polite smile.
In truth, I didn’t feel welcome at all by this strange woman. But, the inside of the house, though. Was beautiful- just as imagined. Still, the opulent gold decorations seemed a little garish. the floor was covered in what I assumed were expensive Persian rugs. I didn’t know anything about expensive rugs, but they seemed too precious to even walk on. After witnessing all of this. I couldn’t help but wonder if everyone in the movie industry lived so lavishly.
Doris took me up on the elegant spiral staircase and showed me to y room on the second-level of the house. It was a huge room, decorated with classic English furniture, including a queen –size bed. Massive windows decorated with long long, silky, light-green curtain lined the walls. I opened the curtain to look outside. Outside my windows was the street lined with elegant buildings.
The architectural style for each building was Victorian. A few cars traveled down the street. It has always tickled me how the English drive on the left side of the road. I didn’t realize that Swedes also use to drive on that side of the road, but now drive on the right like Americans. It starred to get dark, so I close the curtain and explored my room more closely. The bathroom was also luxurious with lots of shiny mirrors. Gold dominated the knobs and knick-knacks, as well as the towel hanger. I needed to use the bathroom, but I was almost too afraid to flush the toilet for fear that the noise would be inappropriate for such exquisite surroundings.
When I came out the bathroom. I found my suitcase by the bed. I removed my clothes from it and placed them in the walk-in closet. Then, I settled in, turning on the big screen TV. About thirty minutes later, Doris knocked on my door, and asked if I was hungry. I wasn’t really hungry but didn’t dare say so, for fear of offending my host, so I told her yes, and asked for a sandwich and a soda. She returned promptly with the meal. And, after devouring the sandwich and the orange soda, I decided it was best to get a good night’s rest.
As I lay in bed , I realized that Inger hand’t really told me anything about the movie or the producer, I wondered if the Arab man I’d met in her office a while back was the producer. After a few minutes, however, I fell sleep, imagining a variety of glamorous scenarios involving my mystery host> In the morning, Doris brought breakfast to my room on a shining silver tray…
Trust me, it only gets better and better as you read the book. There are so many stories that will surprise and even shock you. Our darling Madleen has been through a lot in her life, but she is a survivor and an inspiration. She talked to me about the process of writing her memoir. Read our conversation below.
Photo: Alan Mercer
Alan Mercer: What made you decide to write this book?
Madleen Kane: It was not easy for me to decide to write this book, but I felt I needed to do it for my fans, for me, and my family, it was in my mind for many years.
AM: Did you question how much you should share and reveal about yourself?
MK: No, I did not question that, never from the moment I decided to write it. It was clear to me that I should share all of it and the truths. No make-up, cosmetics or flowers to make it a pretty lecture, just RAW.
AM: What is the purpose of publishing your memoirs?
MK: Well, I thought about other young women to help if you will or inspire them about life in general. I also want to help people regarding substance abuse, sex abuse, and how important it is to keep your family together.
AM: Sometimes keeping the family getting along is impossible, no matter how hard you try.
MK: Trying is not enough. Keep self-reflecting in your actions and fulfill your parent’s duties with love and understanding.
AM: How did you know what to put in the book and even more, what to leave out?
MK: When I first began writing my first draft of the book it was long with many anecdotes regarding all kinds of abuses by men and people in general, some of them famous people. So, I decided to edit and do my second draft, I did three drafts altogether until I settled for this version published today, it’s 250 pages and it’s straight to the point.
AM: Can you share a story from your modeling days that isn’t in your book?
MK: I remember my first experience in New York with photographers when I was only 15 years old and in one photo shoot the photographer began to touch me all over in my private parts and I felt very uncomfortable, but I didn’t know if this was normal or not, so I asked the other models if it was normal. They told me not at all and I should have reported this to the agency.
AM: Unfortunately, you must have lived through that one more than a few times.
MK: Yes, I do have a few anecdotes like that story, but I did not put them in my book. Maybe one day I will write my biography and tell about other things. I believe this book “Rough Diamond” has enough stories like it is.
AM: You tell a few very frightening stories from your life. Did writing about any of them spark any emotions again?
MK: Yes, it was not easy writing about some of it, remembering such stories made me cry more than a few times. These are things I will never forget in my life and it did affect me then and still affects me today.
AM: Did you find it cathartic to relive those harrowing drinking days again?
MK: Absolutely, I feel a certain relief today after writing this book. I feel like I don’t carry that heavy weight anymore, it’s all out, and I’m sober. I’m clear in my mind and that sounds all nice but I’m still fighting and probably I will fight for sobriety the rest of my life but being sober is the best feeling in my mind, spirit and body. It’s too late for regrets for my catastrophic drinking days, what counts is today and tomorrow. The past is gone.
AM: Do you feel like your life will remain calmer and more centered from now on?
MK: My life has already changed 360 degrees. I’m in a new process of creativity, and yes I’m calmer and enjoying feeling healthy.
AM: Do you want to get married again?
MK: Well if the right man comes along, who knows, that door is open.
AM: Your book would make a great movie. Is this something that interests you?
MK: This book would make a great movie for sure, it’s no ‘A Star is Born.’ No, this is reality, no fantasies.
