“Insecure”'s Jay Ellis Stapled His Hand to ‘Profess My Love’ to Third Grade Teacher: ‘My First Heartbreak’ (Exclusive)
The actor shares the story in his new memoir, ‘Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me?)’, out July 30
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Jay Ellis in 2024Jay Ellis is sharing his story in a new, ‘90s nostalgia-infused memoir.
Speaking at a pre-publication event for his forthcoming memoir, Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me?), the Insecure and Top Gun: Maverick star, 42, shared a specific story that stood out to him throughout the writing process: one involving his mischievous imaginary friend and a former teacher.
“My first love was my third grade teacher, Ms. Calloway,” the actor told PEOPLE. “Mikey, my imaginary friend, told me to staple my hand because if I stapled my hand, then I would get to sit in the chair next to Ms. Calloway's desk, and then I could profess my love to her and tell her why I was the man that she should be with in third grade.”
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Jay Ellis in 2024“It was my first heartbreak,” he added.
Earlier this year, the actor announced the summer publication of the debut memoir. Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend puts Ellis’ childhood imaginary friend, Mikey, in the spotlight. Mikey kept Ellis company throughout his military family’s frequent moves during his childhood, and stood by his side through difficult moments in Ellis’ life, such as losing his cousin.
The book is an ode to childhood wonder, and the importance of keeping it alive, even in adulthood. Ellis said that switching gears from acting to writing was challenging, even though the subject matter was familiar.
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Jay Ellis in 2024“Writing is hard. Writing is so hard. It's very much challenging,” Ellis said. “I think as a performer, I get the words, and then I breathe life into those words, and I get to create a character. Absolutely love that, adore that. I hope I do that until the end. When you have to write it, it's a completely different thing.”
There's another element to writing that Ellis didn't foresee.
“I think there's a vulnerability thing, too, that I didn't clock,” he added. “I was going to have to open up in a way where it was me opening up versus me performing a character who's opening up.”
Related: 'Top Gun: Maverick' Star Jay Ellis Says He Flew Tom Cruise's Christmas Cake to His Mexico Vacation
“It was a beautiful thing. It was fun. It was terrifying. It was miserable,” he said. “My editor, God bless her soul, she went through all of it with me and I'm grateful for it.”
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Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me?) will be published on July 30 and is now available for preorder, wherever books are sold.
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