Actress Reveals Juicy Secrets in Debut Memoir

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Actress and author Ione Skye opens up about her life in her debut memoir, released March 4, detailing her childhood, relationships, and career experiences.

In the memoir, Skye, 51, recounts her dating experiences, including a turbulent romance with rocker Anthony Kiedis at the age of 16. She mentions that Kiedis, who was struggling with a heroin addiction at the time, was an influential part of her teenage years.

In a candid discussion with PEOPLE, Skye explains her motivations for revealing her story. “I think as you get older, you feel freer just taking chances creatively and not worrying so much about everybody being happy,” she states. Her decision to speak openly comes after years of reflection on her experiences.

One of the memoir’s highlights is Skye’s marriage to Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys. They wed in 1992 and later divorced in 2000, a split complicated by Skye’s exploration of her bisexuality and subsequent affairs. She recalls informing Horovitz about his mention in her memoir: “I wrote to Adam; he’s private, but also such a big part of my story so he couldn’t not be in it,” she shared.

Skye expresses nervousness about the impact her memoir may have on her past relationships, notably with Kiedis. She notes, “I’m not in touch with him. I’m a little nervous over what he’ll think of the book.”

Among her notable contemporaries, her Say Anything co-star John Cusack read a draft of the memoir and humorously remarked, “You made the experience sound so meh!” Skye clarified, “I felt a little bad, but, oh well.”

The memoir also touches on her close friendship with the late River Phoenix, describing him as a “brother” during their work together on the 1988 film A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon. Skye fondly remembers her initial crush on him during filming.

Reflecting on her literary journey, Skye describes the process of writing her memoir as both challenging and rewarding. “It’s almost like motherhood, in that you know it’s going to be a huge experience, but you don’t know how big until you get there,” she says. “But it’s one of my favorite projects I’ve ever done.”

Skye lives with her husband, Australian rocker Ben Lee, and their daughter Goldie, 15, alongside her older daughter, Kate, 24, from a previous relationship. “My husband knew everything,” she mentions, expressing her appreciation for Lee’s support throughout her writing process.

Ione Skye’s memoir promises to be an insightful glimpse into a life lived in the public eye, blending honesty with nostalgia.