Anthony Hopkins (3) (1937–)

A review in the Washington Post called Anthony Hopkins' memoir a page-turner. I've long admired Hopkins as an actor, but I knew nothing about his personal life. A page-turner? That seemed an unlikely description for anybody's memoir.

I don't read many celebrity autobiographies--they tend to be plodding and self-serving--but I ordered this one on the strength of that review. And after a very quick read, I'd have to agree: not so much because of a quality of narrative excitement and suspense as show more on account of Hopkins' truly outstanding storytelling and an extraordinary ability to expose his own inner workings. It held my interest so keenly that I kept picking it up outside my usual daily reading hour.

What I found compelling was not so much the events of Hopkins' life and acting career as his way of recreating and revealing his private journey. From a reader's perspective, I have to say that his capacity for unsparing self-revelation is impressive.

This includes exposing his tumultuous passage through alcoholism, which wrought its damage in his life and, inevitably, the lives of others before he found his way to recovery.

As far as events go, though, he has an actor's instinct for both pacing and delivery. As unlikely a career as it seemed for the son of a baker in a small Welsh village, acting seemed to come for Hopkins and take him away. For all his self-doubt, self-isolation, and lack of external encouragement, he was surprisingly ready when opportunities found him. Reading and memory nurtured him from an early age, nourishing his otherwise repressed emotional being and readying him to voice the minds and hearts of persons depicted in a script. On both stage and screen, Hopkins possesses a true actor's skill for becoming a character. He credits the ability to find which parts of himself, for good or ill, belong to the character he is portraying.

Throughout the memoir, three themes dominate: loneliness, life and death, and a brisk readiness to dismiss adversities and just get on with it. Hopkins' insightful treatment of all three raises his memoir above the ranks of ordinary reminiscence and reaches to the hidden heart.

Here are a few select quotes:

"The readiness is all! That was it. The power to accept fate and, ultimately, death—therein lay strength." (page 130)

"Olivier had given me great advice: 'Nerves is vanity. You’re wondering what people think of you? To hell with them! Just jump off the edge.'” (page 140)

"Loneliness is something I cherish. Not so much being alone, but loneliness itself." (page 301)

"It’s none of my business what people say of me or think of me. I am what I am and I do what I do for fun and free. Because I love it. It’s all in the game, the wonderful game, the play of life upon life itself. There’s nothing to prove. There’s nothing to win; there’s nothing to lose. No sweat, no big deal. There are no big deals. Of myself, I am nothing, and of myself I can do nothing. It is the presence within that transforms and does everything. Of myself I am nothing.

"And so I go about this business doing the best I can with what I’ve got. I said it to myself over and over again, and I found that my new attitude opened me up to new roles and new experiences that enriched my life." (page 223)

I greatly appreciated the selection of readings in the back, which add a dimension not usually found in personal histories. They are worth many recalls. show less

For those who admire Anthony Hopkins, this is a wonderful treasure as he reflects upon his past in movies, on stage and with his personal life.

He hasn’t let go and is still working at 87. The Audible comes with his familiar voice which makes you feel like you’re one step behind him listening to every word. The hardback book includes some of the lines that are worth remembering along with the poems that touched his life. Both come with a taste of his truth and heartfelt love.

He was show more happy that the kid grew up to make his parents – and many others -- proud. Yes, he did okay – more than okay. show less

Autobiography of two time Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins whose childhood was unbelievable. He was constantly told he was stupid - by his parents and by his teachers. At one point in school he was asked to read a poem and the teacher told him he did good. That was the first praise he had ever gotten. He was a loner and did not have much confidence in himself but finally made it to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and eventually the stage. It was in films that he really shone (and show more which he prefers). Very good book. show less

Speak into the substance behind the many characters he played. The Silence of the Lambs is the role for which I remember him. His visage is unforgettable. It’s fun to see the personality behind the characters he played.