Anthony Hopkins can scare you, then disarm you with his modesty

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“I know how to scare people.”

The man on the phone sounds gruff at first, but he’s surprisingly humble and likeable. He values honesty and openly discusses the importance of kindness and creating the life you want. He even says every day is a chance to feel young again. But when Anthony Hopkins talks about being frightening, you quickly realize he understands the power of that feeling.

We were discussing his new memoir, “We Did OK, Kid,” and he was sharing the story of his first time meeting director Jonathan Demme. He explained how he convinced Demme he was the right choice to play Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of the Lambs.” Like in the book, the acclaimed actor broke down his acting process, and even compared the chilling effect to the quiet menace of Joseph Stalin. Hopkins told Demme that true fear comes from stillness, explaining, “the quietness is the most terrifying part—it reminds you of being a child, walking into a room, turning on the light, and seeing a big spider on the wall, silent and waiting.”

Turning 88 on New Year’s Eve, Hopkins quickly shifted into the chilling voice that made him famous, proving his point with just a few phrases. He said “good morning” – just as his character first spoke to Clarice Starling – and then delivered the line about her escaping her past “all the way to the F…B…I.”

Meeting him is exciting, but what truly stands out is the depth of his conversation. Despite his humble nature, he’s incredibly intelligent – he mentioned authors like Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Edgar Allan Poe, and Jean-Paul Sartre. He’s also remarkably open, kind, and seems genuinely content with his life.

I spoke with Hopkins much longer than scheduled, and although I was warned not to mention the devastating fire that destroyed his house, he brought it up himself when it felt natural to the conversation. He explained that even though he felt lucky and tried to remain strong after losing everything, it was still incredibly difficult. He admitted, “It felt like such a huge undertaking at the time.” The audiobook also features a selection of his favorite poems by writers like W.H. Auden, W.B. Yeats, and T.S. Eliot, which Hopkins will read as part of the release.

Anthony Hopkins didn’t have an easy path from his working-class upbringing in a small Welsh town to becoming a world-renowned actor. He believes a combination of good fortune and relentless hard work fueled his success, almost as if he manifested his career by openly voicing his ambitions. He describes this as a kind of inner power – something he refers to as a metaphysical force, or even something divine – that exists within us all.

The book shares anecdotes about Hopkins’ experiences working with legends like Laurence Olivier and Peter O’Toole, who launched his career in “The Lion in Winter.” While Hopkins is rightfully proud of his extensive and successful career—he readily admits he never found a role challenging—he downplays the careful and dedicated process behind his performances.

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Netflix’s “The Two Popes” beautifully portrays the complex relationship – both the disagreements and the bond – between Pope Francis and Pope Benedict, thanks to the performances of Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins.

He stresses the importance of being completely prepared, memorizing all his lines forwards and backwards before rehearsals even begin. He explained that the process of learning lines helps him develop a clear picture of the character, and even affects how his voice sounds. This thorough preparation, he says, allows him to be relaxed and enjoy performing the lines. He jokingly added that he also likes to surprise everyone by having the whole script memorized from the very first day.

He dislikes actors who believe speaking unclearly is a good performance choice, but when younger actors seek his guidance, he keeps his advice simple. He encourages them to be confident and present themselves fully.

Hopkins doesn’t like to overthink his acting process. He explains that if someone asked him to define what it means to be an actor, he’d simply say he transforms into other people. When asked how he does it, he admits he doesn’t know and finds it comes naturally to him.

The next day, he called again, eager to share his detailed ideas about his 2018 TV film version of King Lear. He explained he’d aimed for a raw, realistic portrayal of the old man, moving away from a more poetic and theatrical approach. He then connected Lear to Hamlet and analyzed the famous line, “O, you are men of stones.” He followed up with texts about wanting to play Iago in Othello, imagining himself as an elderly man who’s been quiet for years but then unexpectedly becomes dangerous – much like a seemingly gentle veteran he once knew who suddenly changed.

Clearly, he does more than just “become other people.”

Becoming who he was meant to be was a process, and it began with overcoming a difficult childhood. Hopkins recalls being a struggling student who faced bullying and put-downs from classmates, teachers—who often used physical punishment—and even his own family. He admits he didn’t excel in school, and being labeled unintelligent deeply affected him. However, his strong survival instincts led him to develop a coping mechanism: ignoring the negativity and enduring the abuse without reacting, which ultimately frustrated his tormentors.

The book offers a kind and understanding look at his parents, despite acknowledging they struggled to fully support or guide him as a child. It also honestly addresses his father’s battles with alcoholism and depression.

He admits that while acting aggressively and stubbornly helped him succeed – fueling his drive to prove himself and learn how to create compelling on-screen performances – it was also a harmful way to live, leaving him feeling lost and detached from his own life.

He explains that this led to a deep-seated fear, because he believed the only way to avoid pain was to avoid everything altogether. He describes acting naive and foolish as a way to protect himself, but eventually realized he was tired of the act and needed to change. He had to tell himself to stop this self-protective behavior.

He was unable to form meaningful connections or break free from gaming until he addressed his struggles with alcoholism and depression and achieved sobriety, a journey he details openly in his book.

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Anthony Hopkins, the acclaimed actor, recently marked 45 years of sobriety and shared the news on Twitter with an encouraging video message aimed at young people.

He admits he used to drink alone and isolate himself from others. He’s grateful he didn’t face legal trouble, recalling times he drove while severely intoxicated. He doesn’t want to sound like he’s lecturing anyone, but he explains, “I enjoyed drinking, I just knew it would eventually be the death of me.”

It took a while, but I finally got help and was able to stop actively trying to hurt myself. Even so, I still struggled with inner turmoil – anger, a constant sense of unease, and a deep feeling of insecurity just wouldn’t go away.

He doesn’t dwell on the past, but he does regret the pain he caused when he was drinking. He admits it’s upsetting to think about how he treated people back then, and he’s made amends whenever possible.

He says his wife, Stella Arroyave, whom he married in 2003, helped him truly change and learn to accept his flaws. He remembers her telling him to stop being so serious, explaining that his intense focus was simply prideful and that most people weren’t that concerned with his actions or thoughts. He admits she was right.

Being around his wife and nieces has taught him the power of openness and honesty. He now sees the world, and the people in it, with greater empathy and understanding. He’s realized life is too short to hold onto anger or resentment, which he compares to a destructive illness.

Anthony Hopkins acknowledges he’s aware of his own mortality, but he’s grateful for his life and feels content with how he’s lived it. Despite this awareness, he remains active and has three new films scheduled to release in the next four months. He says he finds joy in acting and encourages others to strive for a better world, embrace happiness, and enjoy life – because, as he puts it, death is a long time coming.

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2025-11-03 14:32