Anthony Hopkins: The Unauthorized Biography

by Michael Feeney Callan

Book Overview

The first biography of the Academy Award-winning actor explains how Hopkins has struggled throughout his long career to balance his brilliant craftsmanship with erratic career decisions, emotional... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684196794
• ISBN13: 9780684196794
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Scribner Book Company
• Length: 359 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

A Great Talent Hobbled by Inner Demons!

Michael Feeney Callan's biography of Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins is not your typical cut-and-paste "and then he starred in..." movie actor bio. Rather it's an erudite, in-depth, psychological profile of a wonderfully talented actor whose professional and personal life has been ruled - and crippled by - lifelong feelings of insecurity. Hopkins' inner demons were created early on. An only child born in wartime Wales he grew up insulated and withdrawn, a bit of a dreamer with few friends. A demanding, workaholic father combined with all of the above to produce feelings of insecurity that plagued him most of his life. Pretty much of a failure academically, a chance visit to a local theatre group sparked the seemingly one and only passion in his life, acting. Callan spends 400-odd pages detailing Hopkins' tortured development as an actor and human being. There are obvious career highs - a featured player with Olivier's National Theatre in the early '60s, his big break opposite Katherine Hepburn in THE LION IN WINTER, eminently watchable performances in films like A BRIDGE TOO FAR, ELEPHANT MAN and THE BOUNTY, his definining moment-in-the-sun in 1991's SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and so on. Yet, as a person, Hopkins rarely seemed to enjoy any of it for long, his inner demon - which he labeled 'His Majesty the Monstrous Baby' -undermining whatever professional and personal achievements occurred. Hopkins' alcoholism didn't help matters along the way, which included a number of marriages and squandered friendships. Hopkins has apparently triumphed over his inner devils but... Callan's book is not an easy read. He is a masterful writer but the subject is depressing with the endless top-of-the-world/hitting-bottom cycles of Hopkins' life. A more selective use of material from interviews Hopkins gave over the years and and fewer reminiscences from his fellow actors and friends would have made Callan's points more effectively. Movie fans should take a look at ANTHONY HOPKINS, A THREE ACT LIFE. By book's end, you definitely know Anthony Hopkins...but with knowledge comes sadness. It's such a pity that this talented individual led the sad life described in this book.

Boring biography? NOT

I've always found biographies to be a bit on the dry/boring side, this one, however, is not. There was not a boring page in this book. I enjoyed it immensely and could barely bring myself to put it down. This biography covers Mr. Hopkins life from birth through his success in Silence of the Lambs. It gives you an in depth look at his youth/childhood/formative years, as well as following his every career move. It was definitely a worth while read.

Everything about Hopkins... and more

An amazing depiction of Hopkins, I got what I wanted out of it! Unlike most biographies, this one was a keeper. It was a page-turner, especially if you are interested in Hopkins. I just wish it was more up to date!