Anthony Hopkins to Debut ‘Raw and Passionate’ Memoir This Fall: ‘This Book Is My Story’

The Oscar-winning actor’s forthcoming memoir, ‘We Did OK, Kid,’ is slated to be published on Nov. 4.

Anthony Hopkins attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, Calif., on March 27, 2022. David Livingston/Getty Images

Academy Award-winning actor Anthony Hopkins is set to chronicle his acclaimed film and stage career, as well as his challenging childhood and journey to sobriety, in a new memoir debuting this fall.

Hopkins, 87, announced his forthcoming book, “We Did OK, Kid,” slated to be published on Nov. 4, in an Instagram video on Tuesday.

“I like it, and I think you will, too,” the Welsh actor said. “Have a read.”

In the memoir, from Summit Books, Hopkins will recount his career milestones and offer readers “a once-in-a-lifetime look into the brilliance behind some of his most iconic roles,” according to an official synopsis.

“Featuring a special collection of personal photographs throughout, We Did OK, Kid is a raw and passionate memoir from a complex, iconic figure who has inspired audiences with remarkable performances for over sixty years.”

A portrait of Hopkins is displayed on the book’s cover. The back features a picture of Hopkins and his father at the beach when he was a child—a photo the actor keeps saved on his phone.

“I often tell that boy: ‘We did ok, kid,’” Hopkins said in a statement. “I wonder how a boy from Wales, the son of a baker, got here. My entire life is a great mystery. This book is my story.”

Amongst his many illustrious stage credits, Hopkins is best known for his performances in “Julius Caesar,” “Macbeth,” “A Woman Killed With Kindness,” “Coriolanus,” “Pravda,” “King Lear,” and “M. Butterfly,” among other productions.

After landing his breakthrough film role in the 1968 historical drama “The Lion in Winter,” Hopkins went on to portray the brilliant serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 psychological thriller “The Silence of the Lambs.” The role, which he later reprised in “Hannibal” (2001) and “Red Dragon” (2002), earned him his first Oscar in 1992 for “Best Actor in a Leading Role.”

Some of his other unforgettable performances include “Howards End” (1992), “The Remains of the Day” (1993), “Legends of the Fall” (1994), “Nixon” (1995), “Amistad” (1997), “Hitchcock ” (2012), and “The Two Popes” (2019).

The actor’s portrayal of an elderly man living with dementia in the 2020 psychological drama “The Father” earned him his second Oscar award for “Best Actor” in 2021.

His other accolades include four BAFTA Film Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Laurence Olivier Award. In 1993, Hopkins was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to the arts.

‘We Did OK, Kid’

In addition to highlighting his many career highs, the actor’s memoir also explores some of the lowest points in his life, including his struggles with alcohol addiction.

“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,” the book’s synopsis reads.

“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.”

Sir Anthony Hopkins with his Cecil B. DeMille Award poses backstage during 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Jan. 16, 2006. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Hopkins has been married three times. He has a daughter, Abigail Hopkins, with his first wife, British actress Petronella Barker. Hopkins and his current wife, actress Stella Arroyave, have been married for more than two decades.

The actor marked 49 years of sobriety on Dec. 29, just two days before celebrating his 87th birthday.

“Forty-nine years ago today, I stopped [drinking], and I was having such fun, but then I realized I was in big, big trouble because I couldn’t remember anything, and I was driving a car drunk out of my skull,” Hopkins shared in an Instagram video at the time.

“Then, on that fateful day, I realized I needed help, so I got it. I phoned up a group of people like me—alcoholic—and that was it. It was over.”

Touching on his nearly five decades of sobriety, Hopkins said he has had “more fun these 49 years than ever.” He encouraged anyone struggling with alcoholism to seek the necessary support.

“If you do have a problem—having fun is wonderful, having a drink is fine—but if you are having a problem with the booze, there is help,” he said. “It’s not a terrible deal, it’s a condition ... get some help. There’s plenty of help around.”