Hollywood icon Liza Minnelli has never been shy about speaking her mind. But in her revealing new memoir, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, the legendary performer offers one of the most candid portraits yet of her turbulent personal and professional life.

The book pulls back the curtain on several deeply personal chapters—from a volatile, drug-fuelled affair with acclaimed director Martin Scorsese to her difficult working relationship with Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman during the making of the 1975 film Lucky Lady.

Minnelli’s recollections offer a rare glimpse into the chaos and glamour of 1970s Hollywood. Behind the dazzling lights and musical triumphs were intense emotions, explosive personalities, and personal struggles that would shape her life and career for decades.

Inside Liza Minnelli’s Memoir: The Hollywood Bombshell That’s Capturing Headlines

Released in March 2026, Minnelli’s memoir immediately sparked widespread media attention in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

The book chronicles the Oscar-winning performer’s remarkable life—from growing up as the daughter of legendary actress Judy Garland to navigating fame, romance, addiction, and the pressures of Hollywood stardom.

Among the memoir’s most talked-about revelations is Minnelli’s passionate but destructive affair with Scorsese during the late 1970s, a relationship she describes as emotionally intoxicating and ultimately damaging.

She also opens up about difficult professional relationships, including a tense working dynamic with Hackman on the set of Lucky Lady, which she says made filming uncomfortable.

These candid confessions have reignited interest in Minnelli’s remarkable yet turbulent career.

The “Self-Destructive” Romance With Martin Scorsese

Minnelli’s relationship with Scorsese began during the production of the 1977 musical drama New York, New York.

At the time, both were already married—Minnelli to producer Jack Haley Jr. and Scorsese to writer Julia Cameron. Despite this, the two quickly became romantically involved.

Minnelli describes the affair as an example of “amour fou,” a French phrase referring to an obsessive, passionate love that spirals out of control.

“Two lovers are entwined. They can’t let go when things get out of control,” she writes, explaining how the relationship became a powerful emotional obsession.

The actress says their connection was intense from the start. They were both deeply passionate about cinema and possessed strong personalities that often clashed.

According to Minnelli, their romance became widely known on set—what she called “the worst-kept secret” among the cast and crew.

A Relationship Fueled by Passion—and Drugs

Minnelli does not shy away from discussing the darker side of the relationship.

She reveals that during the filming of New York, New York, both she and Scorsese began using cocaine heavily, something she says quickly escalated beyond recreational use.

“Marty became a heavier and heavier user of cocaine,” Minnelli recalls. “It seemed that it was no longer recreational for either of us.”

The drug use eventually became constant, taking place not only off set but also during production.

According to Minnelli, the pair were “constant companions,” spending nearly every moment together. Their creative collaboration and personal lives became deeply intertwined, which she now believes intensified the destructive nature of the relationship.

She even joked that their romance had “more layers than a lasagna,” reflecting the complicated emotional and personal dynamics involved.

Ultimately, the relationship became what Minnelli described as a “runaway train”—one that neither of them seemed able to stop.

Explosive Arguments and Public Drama

The relationship was not just passionate—it was volatile.

Minnelli recounts an explosive confrontation in Manhattan when Scorsese discovered she had also been involved with legendary ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov.

The confrontation reportedly happened in front of her husband, Haley Jr., leading to intense personal conflict and eventually contributing to the end of her marriage.

While Minnelli and Scorsese eventually parted ways, the emotional scars lingered for years.

In fact, she writes about a brief and awkward encounter decades later at the 2014 Academy Awards.

When Minnelli approached Scorsese to say hello, she says he turned away.

“It was very sad,” she wrote, suggesting that their complicated history had never truly been resolved.

The Aftermath: Addiction, Recovery and Career Turning Points

The late 1970s proved to be a turbulent time for both stars.

Their film New York, New York struggled at the box office and faced production difficulties.

Around the same time, both Minnelli and Scorsese were grappling with addiction issues.

Scorsese’s substance abuse eventually led to hospitalization, a crisis that prompted intervention from actor Robert De Niro. De Niro encouraged the director to channel his struggles into filmmaking, which eventually resulted in the iconic movie Raging Bull.

Minnelli also faced her own battles with substance abuse over the following decades.

Despite several difficult periods—including a near-fatal health crisis in 2000—she later achieved long-term sobriety, something she now describes as one of her proudest accomplishments.

Liza Minnelli’s Difficult Experience With Gene Hackman

Another surprising revelation in the memoir involves Minnelli’s experience working with Hackman on the 1975 film Lucky Lady.

The movie, directed by Stanley Donen and co-starring Burt Reynolds, was set during the Prohibition era and centered on three smugglers involved in a complicated love triangle.

However, Minnelli claims the atmosphere on set was far from harmonious.

According to the actress, Hackman was dismissive toward her during filming.

“I don’t like to whine, but Stanley later shared publicly that Gene was very dismissive of me during the film,” Minnelli writes.

She added that the lack of chemistry between them made the filming process uncomfortable.

“It’s hard to go to work when the chemistry is absent. I think it’s fair to say that Gene was downright rude.”

The Film That Failed to Win Over Critics

Despite its star-studded cast, Lucky Lady struggled both critically and commercially.

Reviews at the time were largely negative, with some critics describing the film as chaotic and lacking humor.

For Minnelli, the difficult on-set dynamic only made the experience more challenging.

The film’s disappointing performance ultimately marked another complicated chapter in her already eventful career.

Timeline of Key Events

Year	Event	Key Figures	Details
1975	Filming of Lucky Lady	Liza Minnelli, Gene Hackman, Burt Reynolds	Minnelli later claims Hackman was dismissive and rude on set
1977	Production of New York, New York	Liza Minnelli, Martin Scorsese	Their passionate affair begins during filming
Late 1970s	Substance abuse issues	Minnelli, Scorsese	Both reportedly become heavy cocaine users
1979	End of Minnelli’s marriage	Jack Haley Jr.	Personal fallout following affair
2014	Oscars encounter	Minnelli, Scorsese	Awkward reunion suggests lingering tension
2026	Memoir release	Minnelli	Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! reveals personal stories

A Hollywood Legend Still Telling Her Story

At nearly eight decades in the spotlight, Minnelli remains one of the most iconic performers in entertainment history.

From her Oscar-winning role in Cabaret to her unforgettable stage performances, she has built a career defined by resilience and reinvention.

Her memoir offers an unfiltered look at the triumphs and turmoil behind that success.

While some of the stories—particularly about Scorsese and Hackman—may surprise readers, they also reveal the raw honesty that has long defined Minnelli’s personality.

As she reflects on decades of fame, heartbreak, and survival, one thing becomes clear: the Hollywood legend is finally telling her story on her own terms.