| Philip Anthony Hopkins (born December 31, 1937) is a British–American actor and director.
Biography:
Anthony Hopkins was born in Port-Talbot, a county of Wales, in Great Britain. In 1963, he graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and started working in theater. During 1967-1970, he was a member of the Royal National Theatre and later on moved to the USA to act in films. In the 70s, he even acted in television serials.
In 1992, he was awarded an “Oscar” for the role of the maniac Hannibal in the film “The Silence of the Lambs”.
The directorial works of Hopkins is the Film “August” 1995 on the creation of Anton Chehov “Uncle Vanya”.
In 1987, Hopkins received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth. Thus, his numerous services in the field of the arts were appreciated and the popularization of Great Britain worldwide.
Anthony Hopkins was born on December 31, 1937 in Port – Talbot (Wales). The father of the boy was a baker by profession and put Anthony in an expensive private school, where small Anthony felt lonely and fared badly in his studies in protest. The only thing, according to his confession, is that he played on the piano and imitated his teachers (mimicry). After his schooling, his parents sent Anthony to the Music and Drama College in Cardiff where his abilities were recognized. The favorite of his classmates, a conjurer and a clown, he continued his studies in acting skills in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (1961-1963), then, provincial stage and in 1968 his debut in cinema.
Hopkins played in the film “The Lion in winter” directed by Anthony Harvey. Anthony Hopkins played the role of Prince Richard the Lion Heart, one of the sons of Henry II Plantagenet, facing the problem of whom to hand over the reins of throne to. The paradox is that the round-faced, short and dull hero Hopkins did not at all resemble the gallant soldier, known to us through legends; and moreover, he was a hidden homosexual. The role of Anthony Hopkins was rather unnoticed due to Peter O Toole, who portrayed King Henry and Katherine Hepburn as the queen.
In the 1970s, Anthony Hopkins played, basically, supporting roles and portrayed characters quite professionally but without special revelations and mainly in military and detective films. He concentrated mainly on the theatre and TV roles. Here, Anthony Hopkins, stocky robust with an unsophisticated face, gradually gained experience and collected awards. In 1973, he was selected for the “Actor of the year” for his role of Pierre Bezukhov in the television film "War and peace" and in 1975, he received the prize from the New York critics for the Best Actor for the role of the psychiatrist “Dr. Martin Dysart” and encountering a strange case of vandalism in the play “Equus” by A. Shaffer (After Hopkins, this role was played by Richard Burton, who subsequently played the role in the film). Gradually, the artistic image of Hopkins emerged – unhurried, thorough and even a little bit sluggish. His composed look and leisurely manner in equal quantities could become characteristic of hero and action work and especially psychological work, when inner energy, hidden behind the ordinary appearance, was required from the actor.
In 1978, Richard Attenborough offered Anthony Hopkins a role in the film "Magic", emphasizing the inner and external stresses up to a limit. The young ventriloquist, who’s schizophrenic second is “Me”, sick and killing, is projected on his doll (dummy), thereby clearing him of the responsibility for the committed murders. The actor did not loose his smooth sluggishness, transforming into lethargy, which is suddenly burst by destructive and self-destructive pulses.
So, hero - maniacs appear alongside with heroes, whose interpretation does not go beyond the thin psychological character. Maniac characters were played by Hopkins (in particular, Hitler, played on TV). And in the films, made in England, in the lead roles played by Hopkins and in Hollywood, he preferred character roles. Among them, Hannibal in “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991, directed by Jonathan Demme) got hugely popular and Anthony Hopkins received an “Oscar” for the role. His character, possessing an awful appearance an impression, which increases constantly by his "muzzle", is simultaneously clever and shrewd, which is visible in his eyes.
A few years back, Hopkins suffered from alcoholism but after rehabilitation thanks to help rendered by “anonymous alcoholics”, Hopkins returned to England from Los Angeles. In England, he lives with his second wife and devotes his leisure time to playing the piano.
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One of the most talented Hollywood actors, Sir Anthony Hopkins celebrates his 70th birthday today. While we love him for many roles, millions of people will remember him most for his magnificent portrayal of Dr. Hannibal Lecter in "The Silence of The Lambs", "Hannibal", and "Red Dragon". Hannibal Lecter was voted top screen villian of all time.
