Oscar-winning Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins will release his long-awaited memoir, We Did OK, Kid, this autumn. Scheduled for publication on November 4 by Summit Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, the book’s title is inspired by a cherished childhood photograph Hopkins keeps on his phone. The image, showing the actor and his father on a beach, has become a sentimental reminder of his past. In reference to the photograph, Hopkins often tells the young boy in the picture, “We did OK, kid,” reflecting on his journey from a small-town boy in Wales to an internationally renowned actor.
Hopkins, now 87, is best known for his iconic roles in films like The Silence of the Lambs, The Father, The Remains of the Day, and The Lion in Winter. In We Did OK, Kid, he shares his deeply personal story, offering insight into his childhood in Wales, his beginnings on the stage, and the complexities of his personal life. The memoir touches on his battle with alcoholism, which led to the breakdown of his first marriage, and his remarkable journey to sobriety, which has lasted for nearly five decades.
In the book, Hopkins delves into his internal struggles, including his fear of emotional connections and his tendency to isolate himself, a trait he inherited from the men in his family. As he reflects on the passage of time, he confronts existential questions about mortality and begins to explore what he describes as “The Big Secret,” a concept his father once referenced.
We Did OK, Kid is not just a memoir but a raw and passionate reflection on a life filled with triumphs, challenges, and self-discovery. Alongside his personal narrative, the book will feature a selection of photographs, providing a visual journey through his life and career. As a beloved and complex figure, Hopkins offers fans and readers an intimate look at the man behind some of cinema’s most unforgettable performances.
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