Andy Serkis, a name synonymous with some of cinema’s most transformative performances, is set to share his life story in My Pressures: The Bizarrely True Story of Andy Serkis – a new, long-awaited autobiography arriving in a 336-page hardcover on November 3rd, 2026, from Mariner Books, a division of HarperCollins. A few days later, a 400-page softcover edition will premiere from Ebury Spotlight, a division of Penguin Random House. Ebury Digital also promises an audiobook version available on Audible. Star Wars fans, who know him best for his chilling portrayal of Supreme Leader Snoke in the sequel trilogy and his powerful, fan-favourite turn as Kino Loy in Andor, will finally get a comprehensive look at the artist behind the iconic characters.
If Gollum, Caesar and Ulysses Klaue could hear Andy Serkis tell his story, would they choose him to play them? This is the question at the heart of his long-awaited memoir.
Beginning in a childhood split between Ruislip and Baghdad, Andy Serkis takes us – and his characters – on a journey through the early influences that shaped him: acting mentors, early roles at a regional repertory theatre, a passion for mountaineering, a desire for film-making and the love story with Lorraine Ashbourne that became the foundation of his life. Then, the call arrives in 1999 that changes everything. Peter Jackson is preparing to make The Lord of the Rings and Andy is asked to audition for the voice of a certain animated character.
What follows is an extraordinary behind-the-scenes journey through the fantastical worlds Andy has helped shape – The Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, Black Panther, Star Wars and more – as he pioneered a new form of performance that would forever redefine the possibilities of cinema.
In this book, Andy invites us into a genre-defying conversation between actor and character, imagination and reality, and provides an answer to the question: what would Andy’s most iconic characters make of the man that brought them to life?
For those eager to secure a personal touch, pre-orders are now live for signed copies of My Pressures: The Bizarrely True Story of Andy Serkis. Various online book vendors and independent bookshops are currently offering this signed edition, providing fans with a special opportunity to own a copy autographed by the actor himself.
This deep dive into Serkis’s career—covering his journey from early theater roots to the groundbreaking performance-capture work that brought iconic figures like Gollum, Supreme Leader Snoke, and Kino Loy to life—promises to be an insightful read for cinema enthusiasts. You can secure your signed copy and view further details at some of the following websites:
Tea Leaves and Reads | Davids Bookshops | Bookscumbria | Bookabookshop | Waterstones | Well Books | Darling Reads Books
