Anthony Hopkins on Art, Addiction and Survival
Anthony Hopkins’ memoir looks back on his difficult childhood, extraordinary acting career and long path to sobriety. There is craft here, but also candour and vulnerability, making this more than a celebrity memoir: it’s a reflective account of talent, damage and endurance.
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We Did Ok, Kid
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Anthony Hopkins on Art, Addiction and Survival
Anthony Hopkins’ memoir looks back on his difficult childhood, extraordinary acting career and long path to sobriety. There is craft here, but also candour and vulnerability, making this more than a celebrity memoir: it’s a reflective account of talent, damage and endurance.
- Book Synopsis
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Ideal for readers who:
- Enjoy memoirs by iconic film and theatre figures
- Are interested in Anthony Hopkins's career, childhood and sobriety
- Like life stories shaped by Port Talbot, Hollywood and the stage
- Want an honest, emotionally charged read with real depth
We Did OK, Kid is an honest, moving and long-awaited memoir in which Academy Award-winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins delves into his illustrious film and theatre career, difficult childhood, and path to sobriety.
Born and raised in Port Talbot, a small Welsh steelworks town amid war and depression, Sir Anthony grew up among men who rejected emotional vulnerability in favour of alcoholism and brutality. A struggling student, he was seen by peers, parents, and teachers as a failure with no future. Then, on a fateful Saturday night, the 1948 adaptation of Hamlet sparked a passion for acting that set him on an unexpected path.
With candour and a voice that is both arresting and vulnerable, Sir Anthony recounts career milestones and offers a rare look into the craft behind his most iconic roles. His performance as Iago earns him admission to RADA and mentorship under Laurence Olivier. He meets Richard Burton first as a boy in his art teacher’s flat, and later backstage before a performance of Equus as an established actor meeting his hero. His portrayal of Hannibal Lecter draws on Bela Lugosi’s eerie presence in Dracula and the razor-sharp precision instilled by his acting teacher, while the stoicism of his father and grandfather informs his unforgettable King Lear.
The memoir also confronts the lowest points of his personal life. Addiction cost him his first marriage, his relationship with his only child, and nearly his life. That brink propelled him toward sobriety, a commitment he has maintained for nearly half a century. He reflects on a lifelong pull toward solitude and the fear of connection, and on questions of mortality as he approaches what his father called “The Big Secret”.
Featuring a special collection of personal photographs throughout, We Did OK, Kid is a raw and passionate account from a complex, iconic man who has inspired audiences 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.
- Product Details
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- ISBN
- 9781398547421
- Format
- Hardback
- Publisher
- Simon & Schuster UK Ltd., (04 November 2025)
- Number of Pages
- 368
- Language
- English
- Dimensions
- 24 mm
- Categories: