Actress and debut author Sonya Walger, best known for her role as Penny Widmore on the iconic TV series Lost, faced an unimaginable loss earlier this year when her Malibu home was destroyed in the Palisades wildfire. The fire came just weeks after the publication of her first novel, Lion, a deeply personal and evocative story about her complex relationship with her father.
On the evening of January 6, hurricane-force winds began to batter Walger’s Big Rock neighborhood in Malibu. Walger, who has lived there for nearly two decades with her husband, TV writer and producer Davey Holmes, and their children, had an unsettling feeling that night. She had already made hotel reservations to avoid the heavy winds, and the couple decided that they would evacuate at the first sign of a fire. The following morning, Walger and her family left their home as thick, yellow smoke billowed across the ocean.
“That was the last time I saw our home,” she says. “We haven’t been back yet. I can’t… I just can’t face it.”
The fire, which destroyed her house, also claimed Walger’s cherished library, which included personal journals, cookbooks, and books she had collected over a lifetime. The loss was devastating, not only to her but to the tight-knit community of Big Rock, where her home had been a gathering place for friends and family.
“Our house was like our third child,” Walger reflects. “It was the place where people came for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter—any holiday, really. It was the house that everyone came to for meals and to stay. The loss is immeasurable.”
Despite this tragedy, Walger finds solace in the recent release of Lion, her autobiographical novel that explores her tumultuous upbringing. Published in February by New York Review Books, Lion tells the story of her early years with a glamorous but often-absent father, focusing on their complicated relationship rather than her time as an actress on Lost.
“I feel so fortunate to have Lion as this touchstone in a time when everything feels so uncertain,” Walger says. “It’s a piece of the world that can’t be burned, and that sense of continuity is incredibly reassuring.”
The novel, which Walger describes as fiction despite being rooted in real-life experiences, explores themes of abandonment, love, and the struggle to understand a parent’s flaws. “I wanted to inhabit these moments fully,” she explains, referring to her father’s larger-than-life persona—he was a Formula One driver, a polo player, and a globe-trotter known for his charm and reckless behavior.
“I had to write this book because I couldn’t bear for these extraordinary stories to disappear with him,” Walger says. “He was charismatic and captivating, but not necessarily the father figure one would hope for.”
While much of the novel centers on her father, Lion also features a poignant portrayal of her mother, who, despite her husband’s many shortcomings, loved him fiercely. In one section titled “Lioness,” Walger reflects on her mother’s sacrifices and dedication. Though Walger’s mother vowed never to read the book, she surprised her daughter by attending the book launch and reading the chapter aloud in her honor.
“My mum not only read the book but was there at The Strand for the launch,” Walger says. “It was an incredibly moving experience to have her in the audience when I read Lioness aloud for the first time.”
In addition to the emotional support from her mother, Walger has received a wave of kindness from friends and colleagues, particularly in the form of books. After losing her personal library in the fire, she has been overwhelmed by the generosity of others, with books pouring in from around the world, including a thoughtful collection from her publisher, New York Review Books.
“Barely a day goes by without a box arriving from someone who’s sending me books,” she says. “While you can replace things, it’s deeply meaningful to have them replaced by friends who understand the weight of the loss.”
In the face of overwhelming loss, Walger’s resilience shines through. As she navigates the emotional aftermath of the fire, the publication of Lion has served as a grounding force, reminding her of the power of storytelling and the importance of connection—both with her past and with others.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have Lion,” she says. “It’s a piece of me that can’t be taken away.”
