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My Pressures: The Bizarrely True Story of Andy Serkis - The Must-read Memoir for Fans of The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Planet of the Apes
Not yet published
Expected 3 Nov 26‘The characters choosing the actor … Would they, I wonder? Would they choose me? If I told them my life story, what would they think? What would I even say? Where would I even start?’
When Andy Serkis was asked to write his memoir, he knew one thing for certain.
He wanted it to be a bit… different.
Sure, he’d tell the stories. He’d take the reader to his childhood divided between Ruislip and Baghdad. He’d tell them of his early days as an actor, and how he created the characters that made his name — Gollum, Caesar, Ulysses Klaue. And he’d take them behind the scenes of huge franchises like Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, the Marvel cinematic universe and Star Wars.
But soon he realised that his story wasn’t just about his own life. It was intertwined with the countless lives of extraordinary people, both real and imaginary, as well as strange creatures and emotional animals.
So, in this book, Andy invites us into a genre-defying conversation between actor and character, imagination and reality. And he provides an answer to a question that has been on his mind since the day he watched his cat coughing up a fur ball and making a noise that sounded very much like gollum…
What would Andy’s most iconic characters make of the man who brought them to life?
When Andy Serkis was asked to write his memoir, he knew one thing for certain.
He wanted it to be a bit… different.
Sure, he’d tell the stories. He’d take the reader to his childhood divided between Ruislip and Baghdad. He’d tell them of his early days as an actor, and how he created the characters that made his name — Gollum, Caesar, Ulysses Klaue. And he’d take them behind the scenes of huge franchises like Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, the Marvel cinematic universe and Star Wars.
But soon he realised that his story wasn’t just about his own life. It was intertwined with the countless lives of extraordinary people, both real and imaginary, as well as strange creatures and emotional animals.
So, in this book, Andy invites us into a genre-defying conversation between actor and character, imagination and reality. And he provides an answer to a question that has been on his mind since the day he watched his cat coughing up a fur ball and making a noise that sounded very much like gollum…
What would Andy’s most iconic characters make of the man who brought them to life?
388 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 6, 2026
About the author
Andy Serkis
24 books36 followersAndy Serkis is a British actor, producer and director best known for his role as the schizophrenic Hobbit-like creature known as Gollum in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Serkis returned to the role briefly in the first part of Jackson's The Hobbit Trilogy. On The Hobbit Trilogy trilogy, Serkis is the director of the second unit.
Serkis is known for mostly his Motion Capture work but has done live-action work in film and television such as 13 Going 30 ( known in some countries Suddenly 30) and Accused. In 2011, Serkis took on the role of Caesar, a genetically intelligent chimpanzee in the first Planet of the Apes reboot film, Rise of the Planet of the Apes. In late 2012, Serkis announced that a sequel to the film would be made and that he would reprise his role as Caesar in which will see him reunite with his Suddenly 30 co-star Judy Greer who will play the role of Cornelia, Caesar's wife and Queen. The film will be titled Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and will be released in July 2014.
Serkis is known for mostly his Motion Capture work but has done live-action work in film and television such as 13 Going 30 ( known in some countries Suddenly 30) and Accused. In 2011, Serkis took on the role of Caesar, a genetically intelligent chimpanzee in the first Planet of the Apes reboot film, Rise of the Planet of the Apes. In late 2012, Serkis announced that a sequel to the film would be made and that he would reprise his role as Caesar in which will see him reunite with his Suddenly 30 co-star Judy Greer who will play the role of Cornelia, Caesar's wife and Queen. The film will be titled Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and will be released in July 2014.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm a little giddy that I have the first review on Goodreads. When I saw this pop up on NetGalley it was an instant request. (Thank you for my copy.) I fell into the category of being obsessed with Lord of the Rings, and it was a must-read. While this memoir is not written in a style I'm accustomed to, as we go on the journey with Andy and his life and the creation of all these characters, I don't think it could have been written any differently. Without giving anything away, you will quickly see what I mean with the fun style.
It had many stories from childhood, early years, and behind the scenes of all our most loved films. I LOVE reading a memoir and finding the story of I get to have all these incredible opportunities, instead of look how entitled and wonderful I am. It sounds like a truly incredible journey of opportunities and life. It leaves us with knowing his next project, and I'm here to sign up for the tickets already!
My only disappointment, and it could be because it was an early kindle copy was that it didn't have a section of photographs. He mentions numerous times his adventures with mountaineering, the sweeping views on the trips to New Zealand, and his own photography. I was hoping to see some shots. Still a fantastic book!!
It had many stories from childhood, early years, and behind the scenes of all our most loved films. I LOVE reading a memoir and finding the story of I get to have all these incredible opportunities, instead of look how entitled and wonderful I am. It sounds like a truly incredible journey of opportunities and life. It leaves us with knowing his next project, and I'm here to sign up for the tickets already!
My only disappointment, and it could be because it was an early kindle copy was that it didn't have a section of photographs. He mentions numerous times his adventures with mountaineering, the sweeping views on the trips to New Zealand, and his own photography. I was hoping to see some shots. Still a fantastic book!!
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review