Who Was Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, a two-time Academy Award-winning Welsh actor, opened up about his difficult first marriage in his memoir We Did Ok, Kid, released on November 4, 2025. The memoir explores his accomplished career, personal challenges, and battles with alcoholism.
Early Marriage and Challenges
Hopkins married British actress Petronella Barker in September 1967 when she was 24. Barker, daughter of actress Pearl Hackney and comedian Eric Barker, appeared in productions such as Othello, A Flea in Her Ear, and The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes. Hopkins described their marriage as "the worst two years of my life," attributing their separation to "opposing personalities" and his drinking issues.
"What followed were the worst two years of my life."
"It was their 'opposing personalities' and my drinking problem that ruined the marriage."
Despite realizing they were not compatible, Hopkins found out too late that Barker was pregnant with their first child. The couple eventually separated in 1972 after a troubled relationship.
Summary
Anthony Hopkins' memoir reveals how personal struggles and incompatible personalities affected his first marriage, illustrating the complex human side behind his renowned acting career.
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