Academy Award–winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins delves into his illustrious film and theater career, difficult childhood, and path to sobriety in his honest, moving, and long-awaited memoir.
Born and raised in Port Talbot—a small Welsh steelworks town—amid war and depression, Sir Anthony Hopkins grew up around men who were tough, to say the least, and eschewed all forms of emotional vulnerability in favor of alcoholism and brutality. A struggling student in school, he was deemed by his peers, his parents, and other adults as a failure with no future ahead of him. But, on a fateful Saturday night, the disregarded Welsh boy watched the 1948 adaptation of Hamlet, sparking a passion for acting that would lead him on a path that no one could have predicted.
With candor and a voice that is both arresting and vulnerable, Sir Anthony recounts his various career milestones and provides a once-in-a-lifetime look into the brilliance behind some of his most iconic roles. His performance as Iago gets him admitted into the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and places him under the wing of Laurence Olivier. He meets Richard Burton by chance as a young boy in his art teacher’s apartment, and later, backstage before a performance of Equus as an established actor meeting his hero. His iconic portrayal of Hannibal Lecter was informed by the creepy performance of Bela Lugosi in Dracula and the razor-sharp precision of his acting teacher. He pulls raw emotion from the stoicism of his father and grandfather for an unforgettable performance in King Lear.
Sir Anthony also takes a deeply honest look at the low points in his personal life. His addiction cost him his first marriage, his relationship with his only child, and nearly his life—the latter ultimately propelling him toward sobriety, a commitment he has maintained for nearly half a century. He constantly battles against the desire to move through life alone and avoid connection for fear of getting hurt—much like the men in his family—and as the years go by, he deals with questions of mortality, getting ready to discover what his father called The Big Secret.
Featuring a special collection of personal photographs throughout, We Did OK, Kid is a raw and passionate memoir from a complex, iconic man who has inspired audiences with remarkable performances for over sixty years.
About the Author
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins CBE is one of Britain’s most recognizable and prolific actors. He began his career on stage, working under Laurence Olivier, before moving on to star in various critically acclaimed films. Throughout his six-decade long career, Sir Anthony is known for acclaimed appearances in notable films such as The Silence of the Lambs, The Remains of the Day, Marvel’s Thor, The Father, and many more. He most recently starred in Wife & Dog by award-winning director, Guy Ritchie. Sir Anthony has received numerous accolades for his outstanding performances, including two Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Laurence Olivier Award. He currently resides with Stella, his wife, in Los Angeles, California.
Praise For…
“A beautiful, poignant memoir” —Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The View From Lake Como
“Anthony Hopkins has quite a story to tell, one that is as much about his evolution as a human being as it is about his art....He has a lot to teach us about wounded, difficult men and how they can heal.” —Oprah Daily
“Inspirational, entertaining and rigorously honest.” —Robert Downey Jr.
“Beckettian…unflinching.” —Anthony Lane, The New Yorker
“Sensational, sparkling with its insights and wrenching in its sorrows.” —Meghan Cox Gurdon, Wall Street Journal
“[Hopkins has] given great thought to the big questions — the why of it all, and what it all means.” —David Marchese, The New York Times
“Unflinchingly honest” —USA Today
“He writes about being open-hearted and about manifesting one’s own future.” —Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times
“Unflinching.” —Bloomberg News
“Someday, your grandchildren will ask you where you were when you watched…my interview with Anthony Hopkins.” —Stephen Colbert
“A wonderful man, a wonderful book.” —Josh Brolin
“Makes me want to memorize my favorite poems, practice the piano, and maybe even grow old” —David Kleon
“A page-turner….What is revealed here is a mind that works methodically, if idiosyncratically.” —Washington Post
“He confronts every part of his life with equal candor” —Newsweek
“Significant honesty and thoughtful reminiscence, resulting in a rich, satisfying read.” —Kathleen McBroom, Booklist (starred review)
