Elizabeth Ann Hanks, the daughter of acclaimed actor Tom Hanks and his first wife, Samantha Lewes, has recently shared her poignant childhood memories in her new memoir, The 10: A Memoir of Family and The Open Road. In this deeply personal narrative, Elizabeth explores the complexities of her upbringing, particularly in the aftermath of her parents’ divorce, revealing experiences marked by “confusion, violence, and deprivation.”
In her memoir, Hanks, who writes under the pen name E.A. Hanks, reflects on her challenging relationship with her mother and the emotional toll the divorce had on her and her brother, Colin Hanks. Her book delves into the impact of her parents’ split, which occurred over 40 years ago, on her formative years. In excerpts released by People, she recounts, “I would visit my dad and stepmother (and soon enough my younger half brothers) on the weekends and during summers…”
Although Elizabeth was born in Los Angeles, her childhood memories of the city are sparse. Following the divorce, her mother moved her and Colin to Sacramento without informing Tom Hanks, which led to feelings of abandonment. “My dad came to pick us up from school, and we’re not there,” she recalls, highlighting the confusion that characterized her early years.
Elizabeth describes her time in Sacramento as tumultuous and filled with instability. After their parents’ divorce, her mother gained primary custody, and Elizabeth lived through years of chaos. “From 5 to 14, years filled with confusion, violence, deprivation, and love, I was a Sacramento girl,” she states, reflecting on the hardships she faced.
In her memoir, she suggests that her mother may have struggled with undiagnosed bipolar disorder, leading to episodes of extreme paranoia and delusion. Elizabeth recalls challenging living conditions, saying, “The backyard became so full of dog st that you couldn’t walk around it; the house stank of smoke.” These vivid descriptions paint a picture of the neglect that impacted her upbringing.
Things took a darker turn when a physical incident prompted a change in custody. Elizabeth writes about the moment when her mother’s emotional violence escalated to physical violence, leading to her and Colin being placed in their father’s custody. “One night, her emotional violence became physical violence,” she explains, marking a significant shift in their family dynamic.
After the custody arrangement changed, Elizabeth found herself living in Los Angeles and visiting Sacramento only occasionally. This transition was not just a geographical shift but also an emotional one, as she navigated her new life away from the chaos she had known.
Elizabeth's memoir also touches on the loss of her mother, who passed away from lung cancer in 2002. At just 19 years old, Elizabeth was left with many unanswered questions about her mother’s life. “In the years since my mother died, and all the questions I had for her—where was she born, how was she raised, what happened to her that set her life on such a disturbed and volatile path—gathered dust,” she shares in an Instagram post announcing her book's release.
In an effort to make sense of her complicated past, Elizabeth retraced a significant road trip she once took with her mother. “When I was 14, my mother and I drove across America along Interstate 10 to Florida,” she recalls. In 2019, she embarked on a six-month journey to follow that same route, hoping to capture her experiences and emotions in her memoir.
Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes divorced in 1985, a decision that significantly affected their children. The couple met in the mid-’70s while studying theater at Sacramento State University and welcomed two children before their marriage ended. While Lewes never remarried, Tom Hanks found love again with actress Rita Wilson, whom he married in 1988. Together, they have two sons, Chet and Truman Hanks.
Elizabeth Ann Hanks's memoir has garnered attention online, with many praising her for her honesty and vulnerability. Readers have commended her for “being real,” resonating with those who have experienced similar challenges in their own lives.
Overall, E.A. Hanks's memoir provides an intimate look into the life of a woman grappling with her past while navigating the complexities of family dynamics, mental health, and personal growth. As she shares her story, she invites readers to reflect on their own experiences and the enduring impact of family relationships.
