Wife of comedian Denis Leary skewers celebrity (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The wife of comedian Denis Leary sendsup Hollywood, marriage and celebrities in her new novel that isbased on her experiences of dealing with her husband's fame andobservations of film stars.

Ann Leary's first novel, "Outtakes From A Marriage," whichwas recently released in the United States, was written after25 years of watching her husband, a libertarian stand-upcomedian and actor, rise from obscurity to wide recognition.

"It's a story about marriage and it is also a look at whathappens to people when they become famous," she said.

Leary decided not to write about her real life, living in asmall town in Connecticut with her husband, because she said itwas not very compelling.

"We are not the most exciting people," she explained.

The novel, which Publishers Weekly said shows "an eye forthe comedy of manners of the rich and idle" comes four yearsafter her memoir "An Innocent, a Broad" about the real-lifestory of the premature birth of son Jack in London and livingin the British capital for several months.

"Outtakes from a Marriage" centers more on the effects ofstardom on the celebrity, those close to them and the reactionsof the public -- including on the red carpet.

Leary, 45, has her own experiences on the red carpetincluding being swept aside and overhearing photographers'blunt comments while snapping her husband, who is currentlystarring in his own U.S. television show "Rescue Me."

"There is this energy on the red carpet that is quiteincredible, it is like a narcissists' convention, anarcissists' parade," Leary said, adding that some young starstend to grab attention out of the air.

"Then there are the gentle giants like the Morgan Freemansor the Meryl Streeps who are so gracious, who will stand up andoffer their chair even to a nobody like me," she added.

Leary described U.S. celebrity adoration as "fascinating,"saying Americans are more favorable toward their celebritiesthan other cultures.

She also admitted that in releasing the novel she takessome advantage of her husband's celebrity status. Leary jokedthat she felt like the wife played by Lucille Ball in the hit1950s TV show "I Love Lucy" who rides off the back of herhusband's show business success.

But she insisted fame was not a factor in any changes inher ever-evolving marriage.

"I wouldn't say his success in show business has changed usas much as maturing has," Leary said.

Reuters/Nielsen