An actor in winter. Sir Anthony Hopkins will have a memoir out this fall
Sir Anthony Hopkins will have a memoir out this fall, its title inspired by a childhood picture.
'We Did OK, Kid' will be published Nov. 4 by Summit Books, a Simon & Schuster imprint.
'There is a photograph I keep on my phone of my father and me on the beach when I was a child. I often tell that boy: 'We did OK, kid,'" the Oscar-winning actor said in a statement released Tuesday by Summit. "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.'
Hopkins, 87, is known for such films as 'The Silence of the Lambs,' ' The Father,' 'The Remains of the Day' and 'The Lion in Winter.' According to Summit, he will also write about his childhood in Wales, his stage career and his personal struggles, including how his drinking destroyed his first marriage, and how he has remained sober 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,' the publisher's announcement reads in part.
'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 60 years.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
41 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Muckle Flugga by Michael Pedersen review – anything can happen on this remote Scottish island
Often thought of as the northernmost point of the British Isles, the Scottish island Muckle Flugga lies on the outer reaches of the Shetland archipelago. Norse legend has it that this craggy and almost uninhabitable place was created by two warring giants, obsessed with the same mermaid. While throwing boulders at each other, one of the rivalrous giants' missiles accidentally plopped into the sea: and so the island was born. A version of this mythic tussle is central to Michael Pedersen's debut novel. When the narrative opens, delivered in a lively present tense sprinkled with Scots, The Father and his 19-year-old son Ouse are the only residents on the island. The Father mans Muckle's lighthouse, and is as volatile as the waves he illuminates. A gossip from a neighbouring island describes him as irascible, with 'a viper in his throat and … a broken soldier's thirst for whisky'. Ouse, meanwhile, is 'a queer sort' 'who sounds as if he's been sooking helium out of party balloons … always staring off into the distance'. He's famed in the area for being an 'artiste', a dab hand at needlework with a reputation for producing beautiful handmade textiles. What unites father and son is that they take their stewardship of the island seriously. They are devoted to the extraordinarily various wildlife – puffins, gannets, sea otters, peacock butterflies – and hypnotised by the thrillingly chimeric weather. Unspoken grief for The Mother, who drowned two years before the story begins, also binds the two together. The Father assumes his only heir will eventually take over the family business. Enter Firth, a foppish twentysomething failed writer from Edinburgh with griefs of his own. Racked with self-loathing, he has vowed to kill himself after fulfilling a promise: to visit the enchanted isle of Muckle Flugga, much loved by his late grandfather. Almost as soon as he arrives, Firth is entranced by Ouse's mercurial demeanour, as he parses landscapes and seascapes alien to Firth's urban eyes. Firth is struck, too, by the blazing potential of Ouse's artistic talent. He wants to whisk him away to the mainland and make him a star. Thus begins the tug of war for Ouse's allegiance: The Father, familiarity and tradition yank one way, but Firth, possibility and the seductive unknown pull just as hard. This perhaps presents the plot as neat and fairly recognisable: a narrative of masculine archetypes vying for one-upmanship, with notes of The Tempest. But Pedersen introduces wild cards – spooky visions of religious zealots, a pumpkin-punching contest – that emphasise the strangeness of this remote place, so far away from the norms of the mainland that anything might be possible. Significant among these zany additions is the ghost of Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson. Stevenson – who came from a family of lighthouse engineers – acts as imaginary friend and confidant to Ouse. He counsels Ouse for his maternal loss and guides him through the decision about where his future might lie. Pedersen threads the apparition's dialogue with aphorisms from the real Stevenson's work and correspondence. The novel's most memorable feature, and perhaps most potentially divisive one, is its loudness. The characterisation of the villainous but vulnerable father, of the hapless city type and of the ethereal innocent is bold and broad – sometimes cartoonish. The setting, rich with images of the aurora borealis and storm-lashed shores, is almost psychedelic. But the narrative voice is loudest of all: constantly baroque, with the linguistic and emotional dials turned up high. Firth receives an unexpected letter, and the missive is 'a Pandora's box, a bete noire, a curse, a lifeline, an arch nemesis, a fairy godmother … a gift from the gods'. A flurry of snow after an exchange between the protagonists is 'a divine offering, the impetus for reconciliation under the auspices of a natural phenomenon'. Pedersen is known as a poet, and his wonder at the magic of language is evident in this self-consciously high style. In places, the linguistic busyness occludes the plot's more interesting undertones: the queer desire between Ouse and Firth, considerations about our place in and responsibilities to the natural world. But there is, ultimately, something immensely charming about this novel. It is weird, rambunctious and repeatedly demands the reader surrender to its particular wildness. Its generosity of spirit, its unrestrained warmth and humour – the brilliantly kinetic description of a surprise ceilidh is a case in point – steadily worked away at my scepticism. Like Ouse's flamboyant designs, inspired by the spectacular landscape around him, it is 'garishly alive'. Muckle Flugga by Michael Pedersen is published by Faber (£16.99). To support the Guardian, order your copy at Delivery charges may apply.
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Actor Jared Leto denies historical claims of sexual misconduct from nine women
One of the accusers alleges the star walked out of a room naked when she was just 16 STAR CLAIMS Actor Jared Leto denies historical claims of sexual misconduct from nine women Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ACTOR Jared Leto has denied historical claims of sexual misconduct. The star, 53, was accused by nine women, including some who were teenagers at the time. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up But he has rebuffed the Air Mail report in which model Laura La Rue said she was just 16 when the then 36-year-old began messaging her. Describing a visit to his home, she said: 'He was flirting with me. "He'd lean in close, then pull away.' She says he later emerged from a room naked. READ MORE SHOWBIZ NEWS breaking cover Jamie Borthwick seen for the first time since EastEnders suspension La Rue said: 'I thought maybe this was just what adult men do.' Leto starred as The Joker in Suicide Squad and won an Oscar and Golden Globe for Dallas Buyers Club. He is also the frontman to rock band Thirty Seconds To Mars. His representative said: 'Their communications contain nothing sexual or inappropriate and Ms La Rue later applied to work as his personal assistant.' La Rue denied she ever applied for the job. Jared Leto's band Thirty Seconds To Mars perform Closer To The Edge
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Demi Moore told 'this is not ok' as she divides fans after rescuing ducklings
Oscar nominated actress Demi Moore was slammed by some fans for how she interacted with the three baby ducks she rescued, amid concern for the welfare of the animals Actress Demi Moore has divided fans after revealing she has rescued three baby ducks. The 62-year-old animal lover, who is said to have nine pet dogs, took to Instagram to share a cute snap with the ducklings. Tucking the baby mallards into her jacket, a smiling Demi shared they had already made friends with her Chihuahua Pilaf, who she often shares photos of. Her daughters and granddaughter were also spotted getting to know the ducklings in a series of pics posted to her social media account. The Substance star captioned the post: "Duck, duck… Pilaf! We rescued three orphaned baby mallard ducklings! With the help and guidance of my local vet we are working to nurture them until they are old enough to be reintroduced to their natural habitat. It has been a messy joy, but Pilaf is loving her new friends." Though some of her celebrity followers like Paris Hilton and Jennifer Garner commented with heart emojis and Tom Hanks wife Rita Wilson wrote "Oh my goodness! How sweet is this?" - not everybody agreed with it. READ MORE: Demi Moore and Bruce Willis' daughter Rumer, 36, defends taking baths with her sisters One follower wrote: "This is not ok. Wild mallards should be rehabbed by wildlife rehabber. Her vet should have known that. Sorry.. cute but imprinted…" Agreeing, another replied: "Correct. Handling these ducks is not a good rehab practice. They should NEVER be subjected to all that handling." A third person commented: "Yeah this is messed up, these ducks need to go to a wildlife rehab." A fourth said: "Just because a celebrity thinks its cute doesn't make it right." While a fifth asked: "What happened to mom! If they imprint to you - there is no way you should release them. That will work against them in the wild as they follow humans around. Talk to a wildlife rehab facility." But others leapt to Demi's defence, with one writing: "Those ducks will most likely live because of her. And all you can do is b***h and complain. Get a life and follow someone else." Another chimed in: "What if a rehab person is actually filming this before taking them away….what if this is being filmed at rehab facility….what if….. I would give a person benefit of doubt before criticizing [sic] or attacking them. Three little ducklings following a person. That is all that you can say with certainty." The Mirror has reached out to Demi's reps for further comment on this story. Demi is known for her love of animals and is often spotted with what seems to be her favourite dog Pilaf. The pint-sized pooch - said to be a similar size to a guinea pig - even accompanied her famous owner to a recent awards ceremony. Pilaf was seen walking the red carpet with Demi at the Film Independent Spirit Awards back in February. Movie star Demi has joked Pilaf's fame is now so big it's eclipsed her own. She said: "The truth is, I am her accessory." She has also appeared on Jimmy Fallon's chat show with Demi. Introducing Pilaf to the audience, Demi shared: "This is Pilaf, the little mouse. She is a pound and a half. She's the runt of her litter. She's a magical creature." Jimmy replied: "She is. I met her backstage and her tongue permanently hangs out." Demi replied: "It does. She lost the teeth that hold it in, but it's part of her charm. Demi admitted she also sleeps with her dogs - and that might be why she's currently single. She shared: "If anybody saw my nighttime routine, if it was filmed, they would really see how eccentric I am. "I have to prop pillows so the ones that are this size have the ability to get under the covers. I have two beds for the little ones so that they have the beds within the bed. Hence why I'm single!"
