Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s daughter, Melissa Newman, is unveiling a new book chronicling her parents’ relationship titled, “Head Over Heels: A Love Affair in Words and Pictures.”
The new book will be released during an event at the Westport Library today at 7 p.m. The library called the Newman family a “Westport intuition” in a news release and said it was fitting the book would be released on-site.
In the release, Melissa Newman described how music, visual art and drama were entrenched in her family DNA and described being an insider to her parents’ artistic process as “fascinating.” She added that she created the book believing she brought a “distinct perspective to make something unique” despite her parents’ notoriety.
The two titans of Hollywood met during a 1953 Broadway production of “Picnic” and married five years later. Melissa is one of three daughters the couple had. Both Paul Newman and Woodward earned numerous accolades for their work in TV and film over the years, including multiple Oscars awarded to each.
The infamous couple persisted as two massive faces of the entertainment industry for years and worked on more than a dozen movies together during their careers. They stayed married until Paul Newman’s death in 2008.
The book will feature more than 100 photos of the couple — many of which have never been published before — in addition to handwritten notes, letters and other insights into the life of the Hollywood power couple.
During the event at the Westport Library, Melissa Newman will join in conversation with her longtime friend and filmmaker Doug Tirola, also a resident of Westport. The two will discuss the new book and share observations about her parents’ careers and relationship. The event is free, but prior registration is required through the library’s website. Newman will also be signing copies of the book, which can be purchased at the event.
This is not the first book released about Newman in the last year. In January, a photography collection, “Paul Newman: Blue-Eyed Cool,” was released. Photos in the book show Paul Newman and Woodward in behind-the-scenes shots and some at their home in Westport.