| Anthony Hopkins, born Philip Anthony Hopkins on 31st | | | | 1973 saw him walk-out on the National Theatre. His |
| December 1937, is one of the most illustrious and | | | | fame grew nationwide when in 1973 he played the |
| versatile British actors of all time, his award-winning film | | | | memorable Pierre in the tv epic 'War and Peace', for |
| career spanning over 40 years. | | | | which he won a Bafta award. |
| Born in Wales, not far from another famous Welsh | | | | In 1973 Hopkins married Jennifer Lynton, who helped |
| actor, Richard Burton, Tony, (as he wishes to be | | | | him in his battle against alcohol abuse and in 1975 |
| called) was raised living above the family bakery | | | | Hopkins gave up alcohol for good. |
| business, his bedroom overlooking the dazzling lights of | | | | By the mid 1980's Hopkins had a chain of films to his |
| a cinema. Hopkins is dyslexic and preferred art and | | | | recognition and the American dream had come true. |
| music to the more scholarly subjects and so the | | | | Hopkins' versatility as an actor is immense and his gift |
| reclusive, sensitive child absorbed himself in these | | | | to absolutely immerse himself in the diverse character |
| subjects instead of being attentive to studying. Tony | | | | roles is amazing. Hopkins' is a complete professional |
| left school with one 'O' level in English. | | | | wherever his work is concerned, he re-reads scripts |
| Hopkins'other hobby was the cinema and by the late | | | | hundreds of times if needed and is not known for |
| 1950's, Richard Burton was already a Hollywood star | | | | tolerating reshoots. Plentiful Bafta, and Golden Globe |
| and when Burton came back home to Wales once, | | | | nominations were showered upon Hopkins, though |
| Hopkins went to get his autograph. This was a turning | | | | working in America, started to take its' toll ' Jenni, his |
| point for Hopkins, witnessing how Richard Burton had | | | | wife could not make out the attraction of the States, |
| got himself up and out of this small Welsh village and | | | | and consequently Hopkins focused on his UK career |
| Hopkins aspired to follow in his footsteps in search of | | | | from the mid 1980's onwards. |
| fame and fortune in America. | | | | Anthony Hopkins is best known the world over for the |
| Hopkins gained a place at RADA and was invited to | | | | part that catapulted his recognition to Oscar status in |
| join Olivier's esteemed National Theatre. In 1967 he | | | | 1991 ' Hannibal the Cannibal in 'Silence of the Lambs'. |
| was understudy for Olivier in 'Dance of Death' until | | | | His American career had once again taken flight, but |
| Olivier was taken ill unexpectedly and Hopkins took the | | | | this time on a impressive scale. Hopkins finally had his |
| lead for himself, giving a very well reviewed | | | | Oscar and two other Lecter films followed, 'Hannibal' |
| performance which was quickly followed by a run of | | | | and 'Red Dragon'. The continuity of character in the |
| successful roles. | | | | three films is consistently brilliant and addictive but |
| The first tv film for Hopkins was 'A flea in her Ear', in | | | | Hopkins claims to have hung up his Hannibal mask, |
| 1967 in which Petronella Barker, whom Hopkins married | | | | who knows ? |
| that year, also had a part. Hopkins' proper movie | | | | In 1993 Anthony Hopkins was rewarded with a |
| debut followed in 1968 in the 'Lion in Winter', in which he | | | | knighthood and in 2000 he became a U.S. citizen, soon |
| gave a well-casted performance and was nominated | | | | after the finish of his marriage. |
| for a Bafta. | | | | The Hollywood career just kept getting better, with |
| Having been a loner all his life, he did not take easily to | | | | 'Howards End', 'Remains of the Day', 'Shadowlands', |
| the glare of publicity into which success had thrust him | | | | 'The Edge' and 'Fracture' being notable, some winning |
| and he started drinking seriously, even though devoted | | | | Oscar nominations. |
| obsessively to his occupation as well. Hopkins and his | | | | Today, living in California, Hopkins spends his time |
| wife had a baby girl, Abigail but the relationship soon | | | | composing music, painting and playing the piano, a man |
| began to weaken and by 1972 they were divorced | | | | of many skills, a rightful film star and icon, a film director |
| and Hopkins was apart from his daughter. His drinking | | | | and composer of movie scores, as well as an |
| and behaviour were getting progressively worse and | | | | accomplished pianist and artist. |