Oscars 2021: Anthony Hopkins overslept his winnings

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Actor Anthony Hopkins, 83, won the Academy Award for Best Actor

Photo: VALERIE MACON / AFP

The Oscar for the best leading actor is considered an accolade in the acting world.

One would assume that the nominees would follow the award ceremony with awe.

Not so Anthony Hopkins: The 83-year-old actor was apparently soundly asleep when his name was called.

That's what his agent Jeremy Barber told People magazine.

“Tony was in Wales, where he grew up.

When I called him at 4 a.m. to give him the news, he was asleep, ”said Barber.

Nevertheless, he was happy about the wake-up call: "He was so happy and grateful."

With his role as a dementia patient in "The Father", the two-time Oscar winner stood up against the nominees Riz Ahmed ("Sound of Metal"), Chadwick Boseman ("Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"), Gary Oldman ("Mank"), and Steven Yeun ("Minari").

Actually, it was assumed that the posthumously nominated Chadwick Boseman would win the award.

Hopkins victory came as a surprise to many - apparently including himself.

Hopkins is the oldest award winner ever in this category.

So maybe it's no wonder he'd rather lay in bed in the early hours of the morning than watch the ceremony in Los Angeles, eight time zones away.

The actor recently returned to his homeland, according to his agent.

“After a year in quarantine and two vaccinations, he was finally able to go back to Wales.

That was a great relief for him after such a difficult year, ”says Barber.

"But he loved the role in 'The Father' - he's very proud of that performance - and being the oldest actor to ever win that category means a lot to him."

Since Hopkins was neither present nor could it be switched on, last year's winner Joaquin Phoenix accepted the award on his behalf.

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