Who Was Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, a two-time Academy Award-winning Welsh actor, opened up about his difficult first marriage to Petronella Barker in his memoir We Did Ok, Kid, released on November 4, 2025.
Career and Personal Life
The Silence of the Lambs star shares insights into his successful career in film and theater, as well as his challenging childhood and battle with alcoholism.
Marriage to Petronella Barker
Hopkins married Petronella Barker in September 1967. He described their union as "the worst two years of my life," attributing the breakdown to their "opposing personalities" and his struggle with alcohol. By the time he realized their incompatibility, Barker was already pregnant with their first child.
About Petronella Barker
- British actress, daughter of actress Pearl Hackney and comedian Eric Barker
- Known for roles in Othello, A Flea in Her Ear, The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, and Miss Nightingale
- Married Hopkins at age 24
The couple separated in 1972 after a troubled marriage.
"What followed were the worst two years of my life."
Hopkins reflected candidly on the impact of their differing natures and his alcoholism on their relationship.
Author's Summary
Anthony Hopkins' memoir reveals the complexity behind his early struggles with marriage and addiction amid a stellar acting career.