The famous Hollywood actor’s second child said her mother was always very mysterious. Growing up with her mom was very different from the way her dad raised her.
Elizabeth Anne Hanks, who goes by E. A., wrote a book called “The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road.” In the book, she talked about her childhood with her mother, Samantha Lewes, who she believed had bipolar disorder and often seemed paranoid and confused.
The writer’s famous father, Tom Hanks, spoke about her book during a red carpet interview with “Access Hollywood” at the premiere of “The Phoenician Scheme” in May 2025. When asked how he felt about the memoir, he said:
“It’s a pride because, I think, she shares it with me, she’s been very open about what the process is.”
“I’m not surprised that my daughter had the where with all, as well as the curiosity, as well as, I’m going to say, perhaps, the shoot herself in the foot, where with all, in order to examine this thing that she was incredibly honest about,” added the father of four.
He explained that everyone comes from complicated and imperfect lives, even if it might seem like someone with a famous last name works for a major global company. The veteran actor noted that his child understands this well and embraces every part of it. He described her as a brave and thoughtful writer and is proud to call her his daughter.
Before her father’s recent remarks, E. A. had already opened up in an earlier interview about how her journey began. When asked if she told her family about the book, she responded:
“Yeah, I think before I set out on this trip, the first thing I had to do was talk to my father and brother. Not necessarily ask for permission, but certainly kind of test out the thickness of the ice.”
She thought carefully about how sharing her story might touch the lives of those closest to her. Tom and Colin were the first to read her work. Speaking about their reaction, E. A. said:
“And the best thing that I can say is that they found it to be an accurate description of who my mother was and their experiences of her as well.”
E. A. mentioned that Tom once told her she had been up the tramway while Samantha was pregnant with her. She explained that any detail about her biological family felt like finding a lost piece of something important, saying it was like discovering “a scrap of paper from a presumed-lost sacred text.”
In “The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road,” E. A. took readers on a personal journey that lasted six months, driving from Los Angeles to Palatka, Florida. Her goal was to uncover more about her mother’s life and try to understand the struggles she faced. The road trip followed Interstate 10, a path filled with memories tied to Samantha’s past.
Back in the 1970s, Tom and Samantha, born Susan Dillingham, met while studying theater at Sacramento State University. Their bond grew quickly, and in 1978, they tied the knot. The couple had two children — Colin, who is now 47, and E. A.
Their marriage lasted five years before ending in 1987. After the split, the actress was given primary custody. Colin and E. A. visited Tom on weekends and during the summer. Things changed suddenly when Samantha, without any warning, moved the children from Los Angeles to Sacramento.
“My dad came to pick us up from school and we’re not there,” E. A. said. “And it turns out we haven’t been there for two weeks and he has to track us down.” Although Samantha was never formally diagnosed, E. A. believed her mother had bipolar disorder and often showed signs of paranoia and delusion.
After sharing how Tom had to search for them, E. A. offered more details about life with Samantha during those early years. What followed was a childhood filled with sharp contrasts — moments of care mixed with fear and unpredictability.
In an excerpt shared with People, E. A. wrote, “I am a kid from the First (non-famous) Marriage.” E. A. said the only times she saw both parents together were at Colin’s and her own high school graduations. She kept one photo of them with her in the middle, noting her mother’s wig was a bit off.
