Taped October 18, 2008, Premiere on Spike-TV October 21, 2008.
Sir Tony is honored with the first ever "Legend Award" at "Scream 2008" from fellow Brit Kate Beckinsale.
December 29, 2008
Interesting marketing of "An Evening with Anthony Hopkins & the DSO"
Imagine living in Dallas, Texas and coming home from work and listening to a message from Sir Tony...
Here are the details:
Frontburner, Hannibal Lecter Called and He Wants Your Liver by Dave Moore
Click here to hear the message.
"An Evening of Music With Anthony Hopkins & The Dallas Symphony Orchestra"
October 17, 2008
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra performed Sir Tony's music that he created for "August" and "Slipstream", films he directed, in addition to other compositions he has written. Rounding out the evening was music from other films he starred in that were written by others.
Originally, Hopkins was to introduce his compositions and then take a seat in the audience but he took to the podium and conducted an encore performance of his original work "Schizoid Salsa".
Excerpts from dallasnews.com by TOM MAURSTA:
"I am very flattered at the symphony's choosing to perform my music," Mr. Hopkins says.
"I'm not especially nervous, but then I don't really have anything to do but show up and say a few words."
Those few words will be his introduction to the compositions included in "An Evening of Music With Anthony Hopkins & the DSO – A World Premiere" on Friday night.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra program will include music he created for the films Slipstream and August, as well as other original compositions and pieces from some of his films written by others.
His work as a composer isn't just the product of a successful actor enjoying a new hobby in the way some of his Hollywood counterparts have picked up a paintbrush or sat down at a typewriter. Mr. Hopkins has been "doodling" with music most of his life.
"I played piano as a child, but like all kids I didn't want to practice. I wasn't a good student and didn't have the requisite discipline or talent to become a concert pianist. And then at university I got involved in acting and music flew away.
"But starting around 1955 or so, I was working on a couple of Chekhov plays – Three Sisters and Uncle Vanya – and I started writing some music that served as the soundtracks. And ever since, at different times, I've been writing music."
He composes in what he calls a freestyle manner, cites some of the composers he admires – Scriabin, Debussy, Ravel and "the Russians" – and quotes writer Henry Miller who, having turned to painting late in life, said, "Paint as you like and die happy."
"I don't analyze, I just go for it. I work on the premise of have no fear. A composer I respect very much said, 'This is great, you're breaking all the rules.'
"But that's only because I don't know them. And because I don't know the rules, I'm not bound by them. "Plan your life.
Excerpts from prweb.com:
Dallas audiences were abuzz last night in anticipation of hearing original compositions created by famed actor Sir Anthony Hopkins. No one in the full house crowd anticipated Hopkins himself taking the podium and leading the great Dallas Symphony Orchestra in an encore performance of his original work Schizoid Salsa.
Sir Anthony Hopkins, or Tony as he prefers to be called, was greeted by a rousing standing ovation last night as he made his first ever bows from the podium stage. The musicians greeted his performance with rambunctious stomping – the common sign of appreciation given by orchestra musicians to only the finest of conductors.
It was an absolute thrill to not only hear my work performed by such an incredible orchestra, but to actually lead them in a performance; a performance that included music that up until that point I had only heard in my imagination I decided this was a rare occasion, and that I would regret the missed opportunity “It was an absolute thrill to not only hear my work performed by such an incredible orchestra, but to actually lead them in a performance; a performance that included music that up until that point I had only heard in my imagination,” said Hopkins. “What a rush!”
Excerpt from WalesOnline.co.uk. by ROBIN TURNER
In addition to Schizoid Salsa, the programme included The Masque of Time, a new original composition by Hopkins, and Stella Aria, written for his wife Stella Arroyave.
October 05, 2008
"The Wolfman" - Banner
ShockTillYouDrop.com managing editor Ryan Rotten attended Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and snapped pics of the latest banners and posters for "The Wolfman". Click the link to see the rest of the shots.
Universal Studios Hollywood - for tickets
September 27, 2008
Lahaina's Higgins Harte International Gallery/Maui, Hawaii/9.19.08
Anthony Hopkins with his wife, Stella, at Lahaina’s Higgins Harte
International Gallery, 844 Front St., where his work is on view.
The Maui News - article by RICK CHATENEVER, Maui Scene Editor
"The Edwardians"
This BBC mini-series from the '70's will be released on DVD, October 14, 2008.
The turning points of 9 historical Edwardian figures are explored in this mini-series. Anthony Hopkins portrays Lloyd George, a government politician.
Amazon - $39.99, 2 discs, 635 min.
Limestone College
Academy award-winning actor Anthony Hopkins has
donated an original painting to Limestone College for the Theater
Department’s silent auction fundraiser. Bidding on the painting starts at $1500. For more information, call (864) 488-823.
TV news story - Channel 7 (local CBS affiliate)
Limestone College - information
An Evening of Music with Anthony Hopkins and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Anthony Hopkins will be at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, Texas on Oct. 17.
He'll be the star of the show, as the Dallas Symphony Orchestra puts on an evening of performances featuring some of his original compositions. The DSO will also perform symphonic versions of scores from some of the great actor's film work, including- Silence Of The Lambs, Hannibal, Shadowlands, and Lion in Winter.
Mr. Hopkins will be on hand to introduce the selections, some of which will be accompanied by film footage projected onto the big screen.
Original artwork by Hopkins will be on display in the Meyerson lobby.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra - more information and ticket purchase.
I'm still paying off my doggie's vet/hospital bill, so, no chance of getting there...
"The Wolfman"
"The Wolfman" completed production.
Danny Elfman to score the film.
"The Wolfman" - IMDB
Leaked trailer - very cool
"King Lear"
The Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins is to play King Lear in a new film version of the Shakespeare tragedy.
The film will feature Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts and Keira Knightley as Lear's three daughters. Joshua Michael Stern will direct the film.
King Lear - IMDB
"Where I Stand"
In June, at the 2008 CineVegas Film Festival , "Where I Stand" was screened. It is a documentary about Las Vegas newspaper publisher Hank Greenspun, narrated by Anthony Hopkins.
Movie Review - by Erik Childress
Las Vegas Sun - by Joe Brown
September 26, 2008
YMCA in Port Talbot
05.05.08 - Hopkins returned to his acting roots at the YMCA in Port Talbot.
BBC Interview - Video and text
March 23, 2008
Catching Up With Sir Tony
I have been busy and yes, I have to admit...lazy. I haven't been posting the latest Hopkins stuff. So, here it goes, all in one post...
"Wolfman" went into production in February even after director Mark Romanek bailed out after "creative differences" and was replaced with Joe Johnston. He sure looks like he is freezing in this photo from the film shoot...bet he is missing Malibu big time.
Remember the rumor of Sir Tony going on a world wide piano tour? He recently said "It's not true. I won't be doing that. Don't believe everything you read in the papers." Oh, and the rumor of Tony moving back to Wales, not true either.
On February 26, "Slipstream" came out on DVD and everyone who didn't get to a film festival to see it finally got to screen it at home. Out came a bunch of reviews and well, you either like it or you don't.
If you are heading to Sedona, Arizona, check out Sir Tony's art at the Gallery Of Modern Masters
Sir Tony unveiled the Tommy Cooper statue in Caerphilly on February 23. BBC News had the story and video.
January 05, 2008
Sir Tony's 70th Birthday
Finally, some photos from Sir Tony's 70th birthday bash...
From: The Evening Standard, This Is London, The Entertainment Guide
01/05/08
HANNIBAL'S HOMECOMING: A WELCOME IN THE HILLSIDE FOR SIR ANTHONY AT 70 - FROM HIS OLD SCHOOL CHUMS
The guests linked arms and sang Auld Lang Syne as their celebrated host proved that old acquaintances are sometimes not forgotten.
The occasion was a £200,000 70th birthday party thrown by Hollywood veteran Sir Anthony Hopkins.
But instead of inviting glittering A-list celebrities, the Welsh actor welcomed 50 long-lost childhood friends among his 200 guests.
Sipping pear and ginger juice, the reformed alcoholic joked that the party had "cost me so much, I'll have to make another film to pay for it", adding: "Some people I haven't seen in 65 years. I'm very excited about it."
The New Year's Eve bash was held in the Orangery at Margam Castle near his home town of Port Talbot in West Glamorgan.
Guests were greeted by blazing torches, and the local Pelenna Valley Male Voice Choir sang We'll Keep A Welcome In The Hillside for the actor, who effectively turned his back on Wales by becoming a US citizen in 2000.
As the champagne flowed, Sir Anthony mingled with long-lost friends who sat down to lobster starters, blood-orange sorbets, Welsh lamb and chocolate and fruit tarts.
"It was all brilliant," he said later, accompanied by his third wife Stella Arroyave, 51.
"I had the most wonderful time of my life. My old school friends told me things I'd forgotten.
"I can't remember being in so much trouble at school, but they told me I was."
Of course Sir Anthony, who won an Oscar as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence Of The Lambs, did invite a few celebrities, including actors Michael Sheen and Julian Fellowes, who chose Hopkins as the godfather to his children.
"Tony is a copper-bottom star," said Fellowes. "He was never into that self-important nonsense."
December 30, 2007
Port Talbot, Margam Orangery
From: swansea.co.uk 12/29/07
Port Talbot-born screen legend Sir Anthony Hopkins is coming home on Monday to celebrate his 70th birthday.
The Hollywood Oscar winner became a naturalised US citizen in 2000, but will toast his landmark birthday with a bash at Margam Orangery.
The venue is expected to be awash with stars for the New Year's Eve event.
Details of the party have remained tightly under wraps, but it is understood Sir Anthony also hopes to round up pals from his pre-stardom school and teenage days, to help him celebrate.
Among the famous names who have been invited is fellow Port Talbot actor Michael Sheen, who will be attending with his parents.
And Richard Burton's brother, Graham Jenkins and his wife, have also been invited.
Sir Anthony, who came to international recognition in the film The Silence of the Lambs, visited the Margam venue in August to make sure preparations were going smoothly for his milestone birthday.
Finishing touches were today being put in place for the bash, although it is not yet known if Chianti and fava beans will be on the menu.
Are you going to Sir Anthony's bash?
Contact the Evening Post newsdesk on 01792 514616
Tommy Cooper Society
From: icWales.co.uk
12/28/07 by Jean Parry, South Wales Echo
Since the Port Talbot-born actor – and huge admirer of the late Tommy Cooper – agreed to unveil a statue of the iconic comedian, fans of both have been bombarding the organisers for a date when it will all happen.
But members of the Tommy Cooper Society are as much in the dark as everyone else, as they wait for Sir Anthony to find a date in his packed diary.
Tudor Jones, secretary of the society, said: “I can tell everyone that we are still waiting for a date from Sir Anthony, although he has been on the Jonathan Ross show and on BBC Wales saying he will be coming in February or March.
“So we are waiting with bated breath but will let Echo readers know as soon as we hear. We are getting a lot of phone calls from all over the country asking when the statue will be unveiled.”
It was Mr Jones’ pursuit of Sir Anthony to Los Angeles which led to him agreeing to travel to Caerphilly at some point to unveil the statue, as he had publicly declared his great admiration for the comedian, who was born in Caerphilly in 1921.
He agreed to become the Tommy Cooper Society patron and is one of a legion of famous and ordinary people who are devoted to the comedian’s unique style. His bronze, nine-feet-tall statue – for which the society raised £40,000 – will stand on a plinth at the Twyn, overlooking the town and castle. It is being completed in Pembrokeshire.
The Magic Box
In September 1999 Siegfried & Roy: The Magic Box premiered in Los Angeles to a VIP audience, followed by premieres in New York, Munich, Berlin, Tokyo, Montreal and Toronto.
Narrated by Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins, the IMAX 3-D film traces the tough years Siegfried & Roy experienced growing up. It tells the stories of Siegfried's fascination with magic, Roy's love of animals, and how they used these escapes to cope with a homeland and fathers traumatized by the war. And it recounts their chance meeting while both were working on a cruise ship, leading to a partnership that would make entertainment history.
"Their story tells you if you dream big enough and hard enough, anything can happen," says director Brett Leonard. Siegfried & Roy's rise from postwar Germany to the most successful live entertainers in the world seems to have been the perfect subject for only the eighth IMAX 3-D film ever produced. The Magic Box was named best movie of the year at the 1999 Maxi Awards.
Check out their website for clips:
Siegfried & Roy
Slipstream on DVD
Sony Pictures will release "Slipstream" on DVD this February 26th.
Synopsis:
Aging screenwriter Felix Bonhoeffer has lived his life in two states of existence--the world of reality and the world inside his head. Hired to rewrite a murder mystery set in a desert diner and unaware that his brain is on the verge of implosion, Felix is politely baffled when the characters from his movie start showing up in his life and vice versa. Felix tries to maintain his equanimity as reality and fantasy collide in an increasingly whirling slipstream, while his memory banks fire off seemingly random references to songs and sci-fi movies from the Fifties.
Extras will include: an "Audio Commentary with Director Anthony Hopkins," a "Dreaming Slipstream Making Of Featurette," and "Deleted Scenes."
Ahhh....audio commentary by Director Anthony Hopkins. I saw this film twice already and even though I got alot of what was going on the second viewing, I'm looking forward to hearing what Sir Tony has to say scene by scene...and well, to be honest, I love his voice.
Most reviewers called "Slipstream" a vanity film but as far as I'm concerned, it sure was a nice trip down the rabbit hole of Anthony Hopkins' mind. Heck, the dude will be 70 on New Year's Eve and still is an "A" list Hollywood actor, musician, writer, painter and all around a nice guy. Vanity, nah, he's recently vowed never to go under the plastic surgeon's knife.
"Slipstream" is Anthony Hopkins just having fun. Seems to me, Hopkins is the kind of guy who gets into trouble when he is bored. His wife, Stella Arroyave, is the one who suggested he write a screenplay and then when it was done, told him to make the movie. She is a smart lady, he must be a handful at home!
Hopkins In Concert?
Some recent buzz on Hopkins going on a concert tour...
From: LiveNews, 11/30/07
by: Peter Mitchell
Hopkins' not so exciting life may include musical trip to Australia
Little excites Sir Anthony Hopkins these days. The 69-year-old Welshman says he lives in a "state of Zen".
It's the result of an immaculate career, capped by Hopkins' best actor Oscar win in 1992 for his unnerving portrayal of the human body part nibbling serial killer Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, three other Oscar nominations in the 1990s and a knighthood awarded to him in 1993 by Queen Elizabeth II. Acting, it has emerged, is not his only talent.
Hopkins turned to painting and his works are sold for tens of thousands of dollars and he also has a talent for composing music. His latest work was creating the score for Slipstream, an independent feature he wrote and directed that debuted at the Sundance Film Festival this year. The success of that has led to job offers from afar. "I have been offered a deal to work in Australia," Hopkins reveals with little enthusiasm during an interview in Los Angeles with AAP. "It is to write some music for some orchestra down there." Hopkins, who celebrates his 70th birthday on New Year's Eve, did not know much more about the offer and was unsure if he would take it up. "I was asked about it a few nights ago," Hopkins said. "I'd be interested in performing some music in Australia. "Maybe in Perth or somewhere like that. He says he does not know the name of the orchestra. "I have no idea," Hopkins dismisses, when probed for more details. "I don't know where it's going to be." Sensing that his Australian fans and music lovers Downunder would be excited about the prospect of him working in Australia, he moves forward in his chair, reaches over and lightly grabs his interviewer's wrist to quell any enthusiasm. "Don't get too excited about it," he smiles.
Hopkins was in Los Angeles to promote Beowulf, his new action adventure film set in Denmark in the 6th century AD and based on the oldest known English language poem, believed to have been written in the 7th century AD. The film is historic in Hollywood terms because it uses the latest in motion-caption technology, with real actors acting in each scene, but the results appear on screen in an animated-like fashion.
The actors - Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, Ray Winstone, John Malkovich and Robin Wright-Penn - were covered with tiny sensors and computers captured their movement in each scene. Ask Hopkins, who plays the slovenly, half-naked drunken King of Denmark, Hrothgar, if it was exciting to be a pioneer of the new technology, and he gives a brutally honest answer, not common for an actor who is supposed to be talking up a film project. "Not really, to give you an honest answer," Hopkins replies. It's not that he did not enjoy making the film or did not like the finished product, it's just after almost 100 films in 30 years, Hopkins just does not get excited. "I don't use the word excitement too much these days," he explains. "I've been around too long." The attitude may not light up a room, but it works for him, he says. "It's an interesting philosophy," Hopkins continues. "I suppose it is a state of Zen. "The more disconnected you are or detached you are about the results, the more interesting life is. "It's a great blessing because it's not asking for much or expecting anything. "So, when surprises do come, they are extraordinary. "I'm going to be 70 at the end of the year and I am appearing in Beowulf, a big blockbuster movie half naked. "It's a surprise."
December 28, 2007
December 05, 2007
Sir Yoda Hopkins?
A few posts ago the buzz was that Hopkins liked “Star Wars” and said he could play Obi Wan. Well, check out the Photoshop contest at Worth 1000, where you create a “Star Wars” character using a celebrity. The image posted here is “Grabthar’s” entry. Surf over to Worth 1000 and check out the rest. They are creative and entertaining.
Don’t Miss: “The Paintings of Sir Anthony Hopkins”
From: The Orlando Sentinal
Mary Frances Emmons/Sentinel Staff Writer
November 23, 2007

WHAT: Twenty-five canvases by Hopkins will be on display, the first exhibit of the artist's work in Florida. Hopkins, who has won too many acting awards to count, gives credit to his wife, Stella Arroyave Hopkins, for encouraging his painting -- they met in her art gallery. Consisting of abstracted landscapes and portraits, Hopkins' work is full of bold color; the landscapes come from his memories of South Wales. "I just follow the pen," he says. "It's in my memory. It's all stored in there, and you find a way to release it."
WHEN: Through Dec. 31. Regular hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, weekends by appointment.
WHERE: Millenia Fine Art, 555 S. Lake Destiny Road, Orlando.
COST: Free. CALL: 407-304-8100
I’ll be in the Orlando area before Christmas to visit my Dad. I’m hoping to check it out.
November 17, 2007
“Beowulf” in IMAX 3D, Reviewed by Skye Axon, November 16, 2007
Earlier this week on Fandango, I purchased my IMAX-3D tickets to “Beowulf” opening Friday at the AMC Lincoln Square Loews 13 in NYC. From the early reviews, I’m ready to be amazed, thrilled, sexed, gored and violenced all in glorious 3D.
I’m glad to report that my expectations of “Beowulf in IMAX 3D have been met and surpassed. The 3D experience is phenomenally realistic. The computer generated likenesses of the actors are uncanny...with of course “modifications”. Beowulf, voiced by Ray Winstone, was whipped up as a 3D Digital Beefcake and King Hrothgar, voiced by Anthony Hopkins, who at 69, can shamelessly show off some booty. Grendel’s Mother, voiced by Angelina Jolie, is at the center of the buzz on how “real” she looks. Ummm, how “real” is Angelina to begin with? Hasn’t she been digitally altered in real life? Grendel, voiced by Crispin Hellion Glover, is unrecognizable and so is his dialogue. Unfortunately, Grendel speaks in Old English, which brought back horrific memories from high school English class when this “epic poem” was assigned. John Malkovich (Unferth), Robin Wright Penn (Wealthow), Alison Lohman (Ursula) all appeared as medieval versions of themselves. Wiglaf, voiced by Brendan Gleeson, the loyal friend to Beowulf, was my personal favorite and the scene where he is riding in full gallop on a burning bridge and jumps his horse across the chasm is breathtaking.
The film opens with drinking and partying in King Hrothgar’s newly completed Mead Hall. Soon, Grendel barges in and 3D blood, gore, and bodies start flying at you. This is not for the squeamish. If gratuitous nudity and violence offend you, wait until November 21st and see Disney’s “Enchanted”. I’m not ashamed to admit that I enjoyed the totally nude Beowulf fighting the monster Grendel and in order to get that PG-13 rating, there were very creative uses of 3D objects that just happen to be blocking his CGI enhanced manhood. On the flip side, Grendel’s Mom is totally nude, with mud dripping off her body minus CGI nipples.
The screenplay adequately pushes the plot forward and there are enough 3D surprises to keep the audience visually stimulated throughout the film. Kudos must also be given to the sound effects and mixing geniuses because without the audio, the visuals would just be pretty 3D pictures and the sensory illusion wouldn’t be complete or realistic.
Back in the ancient times before Playstations and XBox 360’s, many of us played a game called “Dungeon’s and Dragons”...Google it if you are young and don’t know what the heck I’m talking about. Beowulf’s battle with the dragon is a visual fantasy that uniquely captures those long gone days of role playing. This sequence is worth the 16 bucks you have to lay out for the IMAX 3D experience.
“Beowulf” is the oldest surviving epic poem of the English language and Robert Zemeckis deserves a special Academy Award for taking this unreadable poem that is a student’s nightmare and making it a visual masterpiece.
November 16, 2007
"Beowulf" Opens Today!
Earlier this week on Fandango, I purchase my IMAX-3D tickets to “Beowulf” at the Lincoln Center Loews in NYC. From the early reviews, I’m ready to be amazed, thrilled, sexed, gored and violenced all in glorious 3D.
From all the Hopkins interviews about “Beowulf”, I’ve weeded out these three as the best I’ve read thus far. Enjoy.
Sleaford Standard, The Press Association Newsdesk, November 9, 2007
Sir Anthony Hopkins has admitted he could never quite muster the energy to read through the original Beowulf - the epic old English poem which his latest film is based on. The veteran actor explained: "I tried to wade through it when I was a kid but, oh God no, I couldn't, I just didn't have that attention span."
However, when it came to making the movie, Sir Anthony did try to make more of an effort: "The script is good but I have to admit I only read part of it - I only read my part."
The movie uses a digital technique to manipulate the lead actors' features and bodies, transforming Ray Winstone into the 6ft 6in warrior and Sir Anthony into a taller, tubbier king - a technique which was new to the veteran actor.
"They gather all this information into this gigantic brain and all these youngsters are running around, they're all geniuses and they look about 12 years old, and then you appear on set in this silly jumpsuit covered in beads and you feel like an idiot but after you get over that you just act normally, if you can call it normal," he said.
icWales, by Madeleine Brindley, Western Main, November 13, 2007
SIR Anthony Hopkins has revealed how he convinced a director to allow him to portray his character in the new Beowulf movie as a Welsh drunk. The Oscar winner co-stars in the $150m digitally-enhanced film alongside Ray Winstone and Angelina Jolie. The film is based on the mythic 9th-century Anglo-Saxon fable Beowulf, with Hopkins playing King Hrothgar.
In an interview with the Western Mail, the 69-year-old said when he was first approached by director Robert Zemeckis, he decided the best way to play Hrothgar was “as a Welsh drunkard”. Hopkins said, “When I first met Bob Zemeckis he asked, ‘How would you speak it?’ and I said I’d like to use Welsh. Bob said, ‘What’s that?’ and I replied, ‘We’re the Irish who couldn’t swim!’ “I felt like he should have an old language, and Welsh is an ancient language, several thousand years old, so he agreed. “He asked me to give a sample of it first, so I did and that’s how we went with it. Once I got that it was very easy to play being drunk, being Welsh myself.”
The actor, who has spoken publicly about his battles with alcoholism in the past, added, “I’ve been known to have a sherry or two before lunch.” Hrothgar’s initial appearance in the film is at an opulent royal feast, and the king is clearly the worse for wear with drink. Hopkins, who was the first actor to be cast for the film, added, “Once you get over the feeling of looking like an idiot, you just get on with it. It takes about three minutes.
“I remember the first scene I had was me coming in on the throne. You don’t have any props as such, but I had a metal throne. It was written in the script that I was drunk when I come on, so I asked Robert [Zemeckis], ‘How drunk shall I be?’, and he said, ‘As drunk as you like.’”
IndieLondon, Interview by Rob Carnevale
Beowulf - Anthony Hopkins interview
SIR Anthony Hopkins talks about working with performance capture in the Robert Zemeckis blockbuster Beowulf and how he finds time to juggle acting with composing and painting…
How was working in performance capture format?
Sir Anthony Hopkins: I’ve been asked by various interviewers whether it was difficult or more of a challenge and I don’t think it was. You don’t have a costume, or a beard or scenery but it’s just like being in rehearsals for the theatre or going into a normal film you’re rehearsing for. Robert Zemeckis did maybe a couple of rehearsals and then they’d shoot it all. The only thing is that you’re not really aware of the camera. It’s such a long time ago that we did it – two years ago – and it was 240 cameras or something and you’re not really aware of what’s going on but you’re confident that some guys know what’s happening.
Three or four years ago you were quoted as saying that you were finished with movies and would like to retire. So what made you change that opinion?
Sir Anthony Hopkins: [Laughs] I didn’t actually say that but they put that in the paper – but then papers will say what they want. I just took a rest, that’s all. But the reason I did this was that my agent phoned and said that Robert Zemeckis would like me to read the script. I thought that was very good because he’s a great director. The word genius is thrown around rather a lot but I think it really applies to him because he has a vision that really is quite unique. So I said “OK” and when they sent me the script I saw that Ray [Winstone] was in it, and Angelina Jolie and then I went and met him and there was a real excitement to work with him. He’s a really gentle, nice guy and he explained something about it and the way he was going to use computers, but I didn’t really understand what he was talking about, but I thought it was going to be something new. This is really a director’s movie and the geniuses that work behind the scenes on the computers. The actors were guests at this big party. I hadn’t seen anything of it at the time we filmed, which was two years ago, and the first time I saw it was on Monday night at the premiere in Los Angeles and I was astonished by it. I don’t even begin to know how they put it together.
How do you connect to these characters when you’re not in uniform or anything?
Sir Anthony Hopkins: Well, once you get over the feeling of looking like an idiot you just get on with it. It takes about three minutes. I remember the first scene I had was coming in on the throne. You don’t have any props but I had a metal throne. It was written in the script that I was drunk when I come on, so I asked Robert: “How drunk shall I be?” And he said: “As drunk as you like!” So I came in and rolled around, said sorry to the guys that had to carry me, and then he said: “How about we shoot another take?” So I asked: “Do you want me any more drunker?” And he said “yes”. But because you don’t have any fear of what you look like, because you look like an idiot anyway, you’re free to play around a bit. Bob isn’t one of those [directors] who wants you to do 15 takes. Two or three will do. So, it’s pretty easy stuff. Not that it’s not hard work but people like Ray [Winstone] and Crispin [Glover] had to do much more than me. It’s pretty straight-forward, like any rehearsal – you just jump in at the deep end but you have a feeling that it’s going to work out OK.
How do you juggle making movies with the increasing demands on your other disciplines as a composer and painter?
Sir Anthony Hopkins: I don’t know. I wanted to be a musician originally and I kind of side tracked into this profession by default really. So, principally I wanted to become a musician before I became an actor. So, in the past four or five years I’ve started writing music again. It keeps me out of trouble, it keeps me occupied and I like that. I enjoy working as an actor but I’ve become much more laidback about it now, so that when something comes along like this, with Robert Zemeckis, it’s a pleasant trip. Painting is something that came to me very easily.
November 15, 2007
Jonathan Ross, BBC One, November 9, 2007
Darn, no BBC One for fans in the US. Hopefully it finds its way to BBC America. Here are some excerpts from sites on the net.
My Park Magazine, UK, November 9, 2007
British acting legend and Academy award-winner Sir Anthony Hopkins joins Jonathan Ross for a rare and exclusive chat show appearance in tonight's edition of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross on BBC One.
Sir Anthony treats the audience to his great range of comedic impressions including Tommy Cooper and Ray Winstone and says he drew on the demons of his past when creating his latest screen role in animation adventure drama Beowulf: "I played him as a drunken Welsh king, back to my old days."
He talks about his ambitions when young: "My father used to say God knows what's going to happen to him ... I went to Richard Burton's house for an autograph and I thought I want to be like that, I want to get away, be famous."
And about his discontent, he says: "I was never happy in the theatre, never comfortable, my attention span was too short – two days!"
About his first response to his Oscar-winning portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence Of The Lambs: "I thought it was a children's story at first. I knew it was going to be a good one, I knew how to play the guy on the first reading."
He also talks about being made a knight: "Her Majesty said very intimately 'are you busy? Are you working?', it was a very informal ceremony."
And he talks about how acting has changed: "There are some wonderful actors around, I think it's all about celebrity now ... fashion, girls, youth ... it's much faster, a little bit overwhelming."
Hermit And on how his life has changed: "I live a hermit's life, I don't know any actors. I don't ever feel like part of the acting business, which is liberating because I don't get caught up in it. Young actors ask me today how to succeed, I say I don't know, there's a lot of luck. "I'm getting more choosy now, I'm enjoying it more now than I've ever done. I think I'm still around, and they still want me, so that's ok. I live my life and don't think about acting at all, it doesn't preoccupy me any more."
He is looking forward to celebrating his 70th birthday later this year: "I'm going down to Wales for my birthday. My wife won't tell me what the party's going to be like, I'm going to meet all my little girlfriends from 65 years ago."
And he is about to make his directorial debut with Slipstream: " I set out to make people angry, an anti-movie, like a dream."
The Independent, Pandora, By Henry Deedes, November 13, 2007
I do hope that impending old age isn't beginning to zap away at Sir Anthony Hopkins's enthusiasm.
Making a rare chat show appearance on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross last week, the 69-year-old Oscar-winner said: "I live my life and don't think about acting at all. It doesn't preoccupy me any more."
A case in point appears to be his latest film Beowulf. At the film's London premiere on Sunday, Hopkins happily told reporters that not only had he not read the book, but he had only bothered to look at the parts of the script featuring his character, Hrothgar. "No. I never read the book," he said. "The script is good but I have to admit I only read part of it – I only read my part."
When asked about the large chunks of his precious work that Hopkins opted to skim over, the film's scriptwriter Roger Avary replied diplomatically: " With Sir Anthony, I don't question his methods. He has earned his keep.
A few words with Anthony Hopkins, Frank Lovece, Newsday, 12:00AM CST on Monday, November 5, 2007
I found this on the Dallas News website.
Tony Hopkins – hey, that's how he introduces himself – was once just one more respected British actor with more cachet than marquee. Then came The Silence of the Lambs (1991), for which he won an Academy Award, thrusting him into the stratosphere for his portrayal of mastermind serial killer Hannibal Lecter – later named the American Film Institute's No. 1 movie villain. He earned Oscar nominations for The Remains of the Day (1993), Nixon (1995) and Amistad (1997). He spoke about the nonlinear art film Slipstream, his second movie as a director.
You once said something about having a surreal vision standing at the edge of the Pacific, like the ocean was talking to you.
That's my tequila days! I did have an experience, years ago [that influenced the creation of Slipstream]. We were filming [the 1997 survivalist drama] The Edge. Now, I have a herniated disc, sixth and seventh vertebrae, and they have me on muscle relaxants, which is not good if you're going into a pretty cold lake. I had a wet suit on, and when I came out, the paramedic guy standing by asked me, "Are you cold?" I said, "No." He felt my skin and said, "You feel cold. We'd better check." So I went into the trailer and sat there, and I felt warm, and suddenly I felt very odd. I felt like my mind started going. I got mixed up with time, and I couldn't think. My blood pressure had dropped, and the doctor told me I had hypothermia. So I was out for a day or two. That's why I wrote Slipstream the way I did – because of that amnesia.
You've played both Hannibal Lecter and Richard Nixon. Who's the worse villain?
Oh, Lecter. No, Nixon wasn't a villain; he was just a very screwed-up man. I remember watching [Laurence] Olivier's Richard III. I worked with Olivier, and he said something interesting – that the thing about villains is ... they walk the tightrope.
November 14, 2007
November 13, 2007
OK-Magazine, 10/26/07
Short, but interesting.
How has she pushed his boundaries?
“Just before we got married, my wife said ‘I’d like you to paint for the wedding some party favors,’” the 69-year-old Oscar winner says, sipping tea at The Regency Hotel in NYC. “I said ‘you want me to dance on the tables?’ and she said ‘no, I want you to do some paintings.’ I said ‘I can’t paint.’ She said ‘I’ve seen your scripts. I see you painting all the time. You do little drawings.’ I said ‘how many do you want?’ ‘75.’ She said ‘I want you to paint some acrylics.’ I said ‘I don’t have any training.’ She said ‘paint.’ I did 75 acrylics."
Why do they make a good couple? “Because I love her, that’s why.”
Huh? Sir Tony in a videogame?
Yup, you heard that right. Ubisoft has announced that “Beowulf” actors Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone, Brendan Gleeson and Sebastien Roche have signed on to provide their voices and likenesses to the videogame based on the Paramount Pictures film. The game is set to be released next month and will feature exclusive content that is not in the film or story.
Somehow I just don’t see an Xbox 360 in Sir Tony’s den.
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