Anthony Hopkins: “At 17 I was sick of being called stupid and I said to myself, 'I'm going to do something. I'm going to be an actor

As much as age and social networks offer us their most endearing face, Anthony Hopkins is still an actor touched by the unpredictable.

The unfathomable gaze of the butler that he played in

(1993), the James Ivory film, or the sarcastic way of salivating by Hannibal Lecter, perhaps his most eternal character, are still there, indelible.

But Hopkins (Margam, United Kingdom, 85 years old) is not an interpreter of the past but an actor in the front line and with quite a star.

His second Oscar after the one he achieved for

(1991), by Jonathan Demme, came just two years ago for

(2020), a drama by Florian Zeller in which Hopkins gave life to an old man with dementia. and in whose sequel,

, he collaborates.

Despite his fame as meticulous and obsessive with details, what transpires after a conversation with him is rather the opposite.

Today, from the magnificent vantage point of age, Hopkins seems the standard bearer of

, whether in a Hawaiian shirt and dancing a merengue for TikTok or in that other viral video in which, energetically, he implores that you have to "believe, believe." and believe” in oneself.

At least in his case, faith works: the veteran actor has found a vein in his old age.

The grandfather that he plays in the recent

, by James Gray, ranks among the most exciting characters of the season.

He assures that he was inspired by his own maternal grandfather, the man who did believe in him when he was a lonely and problematic boy, a lousy student who, against all odds and thanks to the encouragement of that grandfather, ventured to be actor.

As a child you were a bad student.

Did you see yourself reflected in your grandson's character in

There is a similarity.

I was what they called “slow development”.

Perhaps my mind was not trained for academic studies.

I was also a very lonely boy.

I didn't have any friends.

But I think that was by choice.

Something in my nature asked me to be isolated.

But I did have a creative side and at 17 I decided I was sick of being called stupid.

I said to myself, “I'm going to do something.

I don't know how, but I'm going to be an actor."

My grandfather, my mother's father, encouraged me from a young age: “Don't listen to people.

Do what you want.

Have faith in what you want to do and you will achieve it.

The jacket worn by Anthony Hopkins is Giorgio Armani and the sweater is Tom Ford.Charlie Gray

Did you use memories of him?

I tried to do simple work and not very intense.

I appreciate being able to act, I have fun, I take it very seriously.

I work hard, but I try to enjoy myself, avoid intensity and be unhappy.

It has always been like this?

Well, when he was a young actor he was very intense and ambitious.

But as you get older you realize that it's not such a big deal.

It has seen many world crises.

Has forgetfulness become a problem?

It is in our nature to go through a crisis and then forget about it.

Unfortunately, too often we forget the lessons of the past.

The problem in today's world is that we no longer seek an agreement to understand other points of view.

You have to be respectful, kind and tolerant with those who don't think alike.

Life is hard, people forget, survival makes us defensive and we stop thinking.

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Anthony Hopkins in ten movies

Do you think we are going through a critical moment?

Yes, but I also believe that we should live with hope.

Just 60 years ago, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the world came to the brink of nuclear war and a deal was found.

I think we have reached a point in this new crisis where there is hope because hope is the only thing we can hold on to.

We will return to the 2018 world order and return to peaceful coexistence.

If not, it will be the end of the planet, of human civilization.

Though I doubt anyone would be crazy enough to put an end to all of this.

We survived the pandemic, the world overcame World War II, Hitler...

Is that the mentality we should have?

Cynics will say that this is worthless.

But we must have hope.

If we forget it, it's all over.

Anthony Hopkins wears Sacai jacket and Tom Ford.Charlie Gray sweater

Anthony Hopkins wears Sacai jacket and Tom Ford.Charlie Gray sweater

After a 50-year career, I have the impression that you have helped to link the British and American acting traditions.

Is your place between both schools?

I learned a lot from Americans, particularly from the older generation, Spencer Tracy's.

The British tradition is more theatrical and I am proud of it.

I have worked with extraordinary actors like Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Albert Finney or Jonathan Pryce.

Working with them was a great pleasure and a privilege.

You mentioned Spencer Tracy.

Is he the one you admire the most?

Yeah!

But also James Cagney, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn or Fredric March.

Dustin Hoffman is also very good, like De Niro and Al Pacino.

Marlon Brando, of course, has been the greatest.

They are all great actors.

Do you still enjoy acting?

More than ever!

Now I enjoy my work methods and find it less hard.

I enjoy the process, learning the lines and words in a hurry and then dissecting and breaking down the lines until they sound real and natural.

It is a process that takes time but I have gained a lot of experience and I already know the shortcuts well.

Now I enter the set or stage relaxed.

Is there a secret?

The secret of acting is in listening to the other actor.

That is the key.

When you really listen, a new consciousness is generated and the words become a common energy.

Do you spend more time in the US or the UK?

I go where they tell me!

(

) If they would let me, I would go to England.

I do not reside in Hollywood and have few friends within the industry.

I live my life calmly.

I am not a very social person.

If I have to go out and do my job, I do it, like this interview with a… icon!

(

).

Anthony Hopkins wears Giorgio Armani.Charlie Gray

At the beginning of the nineties,

He was hard at work when

became a phenomenon.

It was a character that I approached with pure instinct.

The film changed my life and from then on I was able to choose roles as huge as

or

[1995]… Suddenly I found myself working with directors like Spielberg [

, in 1997] or Coppola [

, in 1993 ].

I was, as they say, on a roll.

It may sound strange but I feel like I can't take credit for anything I've done.

Why's that?

I don't have the answer, but I know that thinking about it frees me from my own ego.

It's all good luck.

With

I had a wonderful experience making this film, but I didn't get all intense about the award.

When the script arrived I thought it was the work by Strindberg with the same title.

Then I read the script, which was original by the director, Florian Zeller, and I thought it was excellent.

One of the good things about getting old is that the masks are abandoned, right?

They end.

You have to be present for others.

Be kind and have fun.

Enjoy.

Anthony Hopkins wears Sacai jacket and Tom Ford.Charlie Gray sweater

Anthony Hopkins wears Sacai jacket and Tom Ford.Charlie Gray sweater

Joanne Woodward said that the pianist has his piano, the ballet dancer has his shoes, but the actor only has himself.

It seems inevitable that an actor ends up with ego problems.

It's not just a matter of ego because we all have one and it's what gets you out of bed in the morning.

The problem is when he starts telling you that you are special, that you are different.

The ego is a very powerful structure.

He has two personalities.

One is what gives you air and makes you think you are God and the other is what allows you to move on.

It can be very destructive, you see it in the movies and in politics.

But once you reach a certain age and your bones start to grind and your back aches, the ego tells you, “Okay, let's calm down.

Nothing is that important."

How come nothing is that important?

Well, life is important.

There is a lot of pain and suffering in the world.

And many difficulties.

People go to work and work hard for a two-week vacation.

I review my own life and what I ask myself is: "What have I really done?"

I don't know, but I can't afford to take myself seriously when there are people who can do things I can barely understand.

Doctors, researchers, people who build an aircraft or the plumbing of a house.

People who are digging in the street.

Those are the people who keep the world running.

But there are also actors, writers and painters... people who make us transcend and dream, live lives we could never have lived.

It's not as important as a doctor, but it makes life so much better.

I completely agree.

Beethoven, Mozart, Michelangelo, Van Gogh or Bob Dylan elevate us.

Is there a role that you would have liked to do and could not?

No… well, I would have liked to play Hamlet but I'm too old now (

).

I have not set goals, in fact I try to purify my mind of any desire.

It is better not to expect anything.

Ask nothing, expect nothing and accept everything.

That's my motto.

It is a way to park insecurities, put them aside.

Fear is not a good companion.

The sweater Anthony Hopkins is wearing is Giorgio Armani.Charlie Gray

It's hard for an actor not to be afraid.

I do not know why.

Fear is a fantasy.

If you go on stage, are you afraid of what they will think of you?

Who cares!

If you're nervous it's because you want to be a Gielgud and succeed.

But you have to control it and tell yourself: “Okay, enough.

Exit to scene

Action, let's do it."

Do you think, as you get older, of all the things you have lived and experienced?

Do you feel that this gives you enormous power?

What it gives you is a sense of peace.

I think as you get older you know less things.

When I was young I knew everything.

But now?

Nothing.

I sense that not understanding anything is part of the end of life.

I have long conversations with a friend about what it all means, about the essence of time.

He fascinates me because no one can explain what time is.

It just doesn't make sense and makes me second guess everything.

Anyway, I'm just an actor and I don't know anything about anything.

I can barely get out of bed every morning.

Do you have a project nearby?

Yes, I have three movies in the future.

One is about Sigmund Freud, although it is not entirely confirmed.

When preparing for a historical figure, like Freud, do you read a lot about it, do you document it?

Yes, but without exaggeration.

I am neither a fast reader nor an intellectual.

I read, think of ideas, and e-mailed them to the director or something.

Nothing very deep: can I try this?

Let's do this other.

I remember preparing

I couldn't fall asleep thinking about a scene where I had to carry the dead body of my daughter, Cordelia.

I had lost physical strength and although I am strong, I could not lift it.

So I recommended dragging the corpse in a sack.

The director found it a ruthless and dark idea, but the essence of death was understood.

It's not romantic but it's terrifying, because despite all the love and glory of life, there's a corpse rotting in a sack.

It gave good result.

His birthday is December 31.

As a child, did he like to celebrate the last day of the year?

No… My Christmas present was also my birthday present!

But now I am going to turn 85 and at the same time the whole country, the whole world, will celebrate my birthday.

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