A Welshman, and proud of it, Philip Anthony Hopkins’ roots can be traced to his birthplace of Port Talbot, Wales. Born to Richard and Muriel on December 31st, 1937, Anthony was a troubled child who cared little for authority and even less for school. Antisocial, he barely got by academically, but he joined a community drama club at age 17, where he quickly discovered that acting came naturally. He attended the Welsh College of Music and Drama on scholarship, before attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London in 1961.
Anthony Hopkins onto the theater
In 1965, Hopkins auditioned in front of idol and legend Sir Laurence Olivier for a position in the National Theatre. He won the spot, and became an understudy to the incomparable Olivier. When not starring in live theater, Hopkins was enjoying the beginnings of a stellar film career, making his film debut in 1966 with The White Bus, and appearing in 1969′s Hamlet, 1971′s When Eight Bells Toll and 1974′s The Girl from Petrovka.
Television, however, was his main medium of success early on. War and Peace and QB VII were notable mini-series he took on in 1973 and 1974 before winning an Emmy in ’76 for the role of accused kidnapper Bruno Richard Hauptmann in The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case. This exposure was nothing but positive for the dedicated actor, as he continued with Mayflower: The Pilgrims’ Adventure and The Bunker, where his portrayal of Adolf Hitler won him his second Emmy in 1981.
Britain honored him
Hopkins continued to work in film and TV at a frenetic pace in the ’80s, doing more than two movies and mini-series per year. His work includes starring roles in Othello and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, both made-for-TV movies. Britain was proud of her prodigal son and rewarded Hopkins with the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1987.
Flesh-obsessed icon became moneymaker
Despite his wide range of feats, this accomplished actor needed a big boost to reach Hollywood’s A-list. This came in the surprising form of a brilliant, psychopathic cannibal named Dr. Hannibal Lecter, in 1991. Hopkins’ role in The Silence of the Lambs scared the heck out of Jodie Foster and audiences everywhere. He was rewarded with an Oscar for Best Actor and became the talk of the town.
Suddenly, his skills began to show: Hopkins proved he was no one-hit wonder by playing Professor Van Helsing in Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Henry Wilcox in Howards End. In 1993, Hopkins astounded all as a butler in The Remains of the Day. He received a Best Actor Oscar nomination and, though he did not take home the award, he received the honor of being knighted by Queen Elizabeth, adding a ‘Sir’ in front of his name, just like idol Laurence Olivier.
Presidential roles were outstanding
Hopkins cemented his standing after appearing with Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall and spitting out another Oscar-nominated performance in 1995 as President Richard M. Nixon in Nixon. He visited the Academy Awards to no avail once again after playing another president, this time John Quincy Adams, in the Spielberg-directed Amistad two years later.
Though fans overlooked his role as Pablo Picasso in Surviving Picasso and avoided the film Meet Joe Black, Hopkins was still at the top of his game in the late ’90s. He starred, directed and even wrote the score (he’s a talented pianist) for the film August, a great rental. On the other end of the spectrum, The Mask of Zorro, The Edge and Mission: Impossible II were high budget films that raised his profile in lieu of Oscar nominations.
Returned as hannibal after hiatus
In the year 2000, Hopkins received his U.S. citizenship and announced that he would return to film, after contemplating retirement. He reprised his role as Hannibal Lecter twice over, doing Hannibal in 2001 and the prequel Red Dragon in 2002. Hopkins’ career seems as fruitful as ever, with the 2003 film The Human Stain, co-starring Nicole Kidman, generating a lot of Oscar buzz. In 2004, the epic story of Alexander the Great will be released and once again, Hopkins plays an integral role in the surefire blockbuster.
Happily married for the third time in March 2003, Sir Anthony Hopkins could not be more legendary. His slew of incredible performances, reserved nature and handful of awards prove he is one of the most remarkable personalities Hollywood has ever seen.
To buy a cigarette is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure. It is exquisite, and it leaves one unsatisfied. What more can one want?
