While probably best known for his role as the cunning cannibal Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, Welsh born actor Sir Anthony Hopkins has dazzled audiences with performances ranging from Othello to Richard Nixon for over three decades. Acting isn’t his only passion: he’s been writing classical music most of his adult life and has released various compositions. Regardless of the medium he’s working in, Hopkins always brings a unique intensity that places him as one of the premier talents of his generation.
Born December 31, 1937 in the town of Margam, Port Talbot, Wales, Hopkin’s early life was relatively uneventful. That all changed when he met actor Richard Burton, who inspired him to pursue acting as a career. At the young age of 15, Hopkins applied to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. After graduating in 1957, he spent two years in the military before moving to London to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After training and working for several years, he became a protégé of Sir Laurence Olivier. In 1965, Olivier invited Hopkins to join the Royal National Theatre and become his understudy. This was the launching point of Hopkins’s professional life, and he would continue to act successfully for the rest of his career.
After building a reputation as a skilled stage and small-screen actor, Hopkins only reached superstardom with his performance in The Silence of the Lambs. Even though he was only onscreen for a meagre 17 minutes, audiences were enraptured with the chilling performance he delivered. His delivery of the role was so unsettling that costar Jodie Foster was too terrified to speak with him.
Hopkins has a penchant for doing quick, spontaneous takes for his films. The actor memorizes all of his lines through massive repetition, and as soon as the scene is done, he forgets them. Hopkins’s obsession for acting has diminished over the years, but he has no intention of stopping. He credits acting with keeping his mind sharp in his later years, as the amount of mental focus keeps him on his toes. Hopkins does not describe himself as an obsessively creative person; he paints, acts, and composes merely for the enjoyment that he receives from it. In this sense, he is an intrinsically motivated person. Sir Anthony Hopkins will surely continue to captivate audiences all across the world for as long he graces the screen.
Sources:
http://the-talks.com/interview/sir-anthony-hopkins/
https://www.biography.com/people/anthony-hopkins-9343556
Wow, I never knew he was so multi talented! It is impressive that creatives can be proficient in a wide variety of fields and the fact that he was the understudy for Sir Laurence Olivier is incredible.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post! I am a huge fan of Anthony Hopkins, especially after watching the movie 'The Silence Of the Lambs" it was amazing to see how he was able to engross the audience and make them feel a multitude of eerie feelings throughout the film. Focusing on how he is intrinsically motivated, I would agree as it seems that much of what he does, if not all of what he does, is for his own personal satisfaction as well as through his own motivation. He is truly a multifaceted individual and is a great person to talk about when it comes to the topic of creativity and major creatives of this time.
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of Anthony Hopkins, especially his recent work in HBO's Westworld. In the show, Hopkins' character is often compared to a classical musician for his imagination, creativity and vision. The striking thing was how little he seemed to be acting. The man of Anthony Hopkins seemed to show through and really lent credence to his character's backstory because Hopkins really is the multi-faceted creative that he was portraying.
ReplyDeleteMy first encounter with the lovely Sir Anthony Hopkins was in "The Elephant Man". Same as with the "Silence of the Lambs", his incredible acting pulls you into the story and does not let go. I am really interested in the relationship he had with Sir Laurence Olivier and if they ever collaborated, and if so how. Was it simply a mentor and mentee relationship?
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