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Anthony Hopkins 
 

1937 -     

Biography: Anthony Hopkins grew up in Wales, wher he was born. His father ran a bakery business, but it was clear that Anthony did not want to follow in his fathers footsteps and take over the business. The young Anthony spent most of the time on his own, often drawing or playing the piano. He was an absolutely awful student, he hated school above everything else. He didn’t get along too well with his schoolmates and got low grades. He was transferred to boarding school, but that didn’t help much, he was a miserable young man. At 17 he began studying  in the Cardiff College of music and drama. The young man became mor at ease with the situation. Then he was drafted for service as a gunner in the artillery. He spent two years in the army.

Hopkins joined the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in 1960 and graduated in 1963. During the period that followed, Hopkins was playing in various theatrical plays around the country. It was an intense period of hard work and hard drinking. He met the woman who was to become  his first wife, Petronella Barker, during this time. They have one daughter together, her name is Abigail. However, the marriage would not last long, which is understandable under the circumstances. Anthony soon met another woman, Jennifer Lynton, who became his second wife. Hopkins became a classical British actor with strong resemblances to Richard Burton. As such, he played in many Shakespearean plays and was cast as Claudius in the movie HAMLET. He was part of an outstanding cast in LION IN WINTER, starring Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn.

Although he was a theatre actor, Hopkins had drifted into movies, and Hollywood, becoming quite a star in the process. He put a stop to his drinking and concentrated more on his career. He simply had to live in America, while his wife remained in England. They divorced. He made his Broadway debut in 1974 in Equus which he directed himself in 1977. He played oppsoite Mel Gibson as Captain Bligh in MUTINY, a part that Charles Laughton had played to perfection in the 1935 film version. Some noteworthy performances from the 80’s are THE ELEPHANT MAN, where he plays a kind doctor and THE GOOD FATHER. Often cast in intense, neurotic roles, he took the step to superstardom with a performance so strong that it could easily have destroyed his career. Of course it was as Hannibal ”The Cannibal” Lecter in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. He was awarded an Oscar for it, and the film became the third one in movie history to win all four major Oscars, the other two being IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST.

Hopkins didn’t get stuck in the horror genre, he was perfectly cast in some Merchant-Ivory productions; as the introvert butler in REMAINS OF THE DAY and in the splendide HOWARD’S END, both opposite Emma Thompson. He portrayed Dick Nixon in Oliver Stone’s film NIXON, a fine performance which brought him much critical acclaim, and an Academy Award nomination. He was knighted in 1993. He was gentle and kind in SHADOWLANDS, where he portrayed author C.S. Lewis, played Don Diego in THE MASK OF ZORRO, with Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. He returned deadlier than ever as Hannibal Lecter in HANNIBAL. HANNIBAL brought Hopkins tons of money, but critics didn’t like the film, or Hopkins performance. One more sequel was made anyway, RED DRAGON, once again with Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. The film was not as succesful at the box affice as HANNIBAL, but is clearly the better film. It has a strong cast including Harvey Keitel, Ralph Fiennes and Ed Norton and is a gruesome, spellbinding psychological thriller.

Hopkins has always looked down on the movie business, he has very little respect for Hollywood and it’s productions. He claims that he is mostly in the business because the money is good, and it is. Nevertheless he is an actor of great range and depth, able to make acting look easy. Great actor, great star.