The renowned actor Sir Anthony Hopkins has candidly revealed the reasons behind the dissolution of his initial marriage to actress Petronella Barker. The pair experienced a tumultuous relationship from 1967 until their separation in 1972. Hopkins, a two-time Academy Award winner, confessed that he decided to leave their home because he feared the relationship might escalate into violence. Now 87, the esteemed Welsh actor has shared his life story in an autobiography titled “We Did Ok, Kid: A Memoir,” set to be published on November 4, 2025.

Within this revealing memoir, Hopkins delves into the peaks and valleys of his existence, shedding light on the unraveling of his marriage. He describes their volatile relationship, exacerbated by his struggles with alcohol. Reflecting on those times, he wrote, “In the evenings, I would buy whiskey from the local shop and return to the flat. My depression seemed endless, and alcohol became my comfort. I brooded while she raged.”

Despite the turmoil, Hopkins felt trapped by the marriage when Petronella discovered she was expecting their daughter, Abigail, now 57. He admitted to being “impossible to live with” and recounted their “frequent arguments,” as reported by the Daily Mail.

Recalling a particularly intense confrontation that marked the end of their union, Hopkins described returning from a film shoot in Scotland. Exhausted from the demanding days on set and the long journey home, he placed his suitcases in the hallway.

He recounted that Petronella immediately confronted him with “utter contempt,” mocking him as “Mr. Lord High and Mighty.” Hopkins wrote, “I had never resorted to physical violence, but in that moment, I was overwhelmed by such revulsion that I feared for both her safety and my own.”

The row was the impetus for him to pack his bags and leave that very night, and he confesses that while he did send financial support, he had zero contact with either Petronella or their daughter for years afterwards.

Describing it as his “greatest regret,” he reflected: “I feel absolutely sure that it would have been much worse for everyone if I’d stayed.”

Anthony married film production assistant Jennifer Lynton in 1973, but they divorced in 2002 after almost 30 years. He subsequently married antiques dealer Stella Arroyave in a private ceremony at his clifftop mansion in Malibu, California, in 2003.