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Sir Anthony Hopkins, actor: I turn turmoil into energy

Sir Anthony Hopkins, actor: I turn turmoil into energy

The Interview vor 9 Monaten

Katie Razzall speaks to Sir Anthony Hopkins about his life and Hollywood career

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22:59

‘So-called turmoil or shortcomings in my life? I turn them into
power or energy’

Best known for playing the serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter in
the 1991 thriller ‘The Silence of the Lambs’, Sir Anthony’s
journey to Hollywood stardom started with humble beginnings.

Born into a working class family in the Welsh steel town of Port
Talbot in 1937, his parents first ran a bakery, and then later a
pub. Their strong work ethic was imparted on their son, who,
despite struggling socially and educationally in his early years,
was determined to make a success of himself. Throwing himself
into reading and creative pastimes like music and art, Sir
Anthony studied at both the Welsh Royal College of Music and
Drama and the Royal Academy for Dramatic Art.

His early career saw him working alongside greats including
Katharine Hepburn, Lawrence Olivier, Richard Burton and Peter
O’Toole across both stage and screen, with his international
breakout coming in the 1980 film ‘The Elephant Man’, which
received multiple Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.

It would be another decade before he truly cemented his place as
a Hollywood A-lister: playing the infamous serial killer Dr.
Hannibal Lecter, regarded by many critics as one of the greatest
film villains of all-time. The role won him the first of his two
Oscars, with the second coming for his performance in the 2020
film ‘The Father’.

But the 87-year-old’s long journey to the very top was not only a
professional struggle, but at times a personal struggle too,
having also battled alcoholism early on in his career - which he
says made him a difficult person to work with.

Thank you to the Culture team for their help in making this
programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people
shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews
from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The
Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or
wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Katie Razzall Producers: Ben Cooper, Roxanne Panthaki
and Lucy Sheppard Editor: Justine Lang

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the
hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Sir Anthony Hopkins Credit: Darren Arthur/Getty Images
for GEA)