Portrait · Omar David Sandoval Sida / CC BY-SA 4.0

Anthony Hopkins

Actor, director and composer

Born 1937

Anthony Hopkins is a Welsh actor, director and composer born in Margam, Port Talbot, whose career spans theatre, television and international cinema. His father was a baker, and his early life in Wales provided the background to a career that began in repertory theatre. He graduated from RADA’s acting programme in 1963. Laurence Olivier recruited him to the National Theatre, where classical roles helped shape his disciplined approach to performance. The Lion in Winter introduced his commanding screen presence, followed by The Elephant Man, The Bounty and a wide range of character roles. His Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs earned the leading-actor Academy Award in 1992. His range stretches from the restrained butler in The Remains of the Day to Nixon, Thor’s Odin and Pope Benedict in The Two Popes. The Father brought another leading-actor Oscar in 2021 for his portrayal of a man experiencing dementia. His television work includes Emmy-winning performances in The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case and The Bunker, alongside Westworld and voice work in Mythic Quest. He also directed, wrote and composed the score for Slipstream, extending his creative work beyond acting. More recent screen work includes King Herod in Netflix’s biblical drama Mary. Painting is another longstanding interest, encouraged by his wife Stella and pursued alongside his film work. His memoir We Did OK, Kid revisits his Welsh upbringing, professional struggles and later successes. In August 2026, he discussed Life Is a Dream, an album of his compositions recorded with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Gustavo Dudamel. BAFTA recognised his contribution to film with its Fellowship, reflecting a career that continues across several artistic disciplines. Born To Burn Films lists him as Bryant in 2048, a science-fiction project in pre-production.

Verified identityCore facts checked against named sources.

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Connected people

ConnectionBrad PittLegends of the Fall and Meet Joe Black co-star.

ConnectionLaurence OlivierRecruited him to the National Theatre.

ConnectionIan McKellenCo-star in The Dresser.

Lifestyle index · sourced and contextualised

Trivia & tastes

Anthony Hopkins’s memoir We Did OK, Kid

His own memoir, rather than a claimed favourite or reading recommendation.

Recorded with an attributable source

Reading

In the archival Red Dragon interview, he listed reading and playing the piano among his interests.

Recorded with an attributable source

Cover source

We Did OK, Kid: A MemoirAnthony Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins’s authored memoir, rather than a favourite recommendation.

Named item linked to an attributable source

Tchaikovsky · Rachmaninov

Discussed as musical influences in Classic FM’s account.

Recorded with an attributable source

Schumann’s The Merry Peasant

Classic FM records his choice when asked which record he could not live without.

Recorded with an attributable source

Tomatoes · Salmon

Personal preferences from the archival Red Dragon interview.

Recorded with an attributable source

Aerobics · Stretching · Walk and run

An archival interview account of exercise, rather than a current training prescription.

Recorded with an attributable source

Sugar · Rice · Bread · Pasta

Told Grobel he had cut these foods out; this describes an archival personal account.

Recorded with an attributable source

Not located in the reviewed sources

Anthony Hopkins skincare review, 2026-10-05: editorial grooming and theatrical makeup credits did not establish a personal routine or product choice. Unattributed lists omitted.

Evidence review current to 2026-10-05Not verified

Fragrance

Discussed using fragrance for meditation while promoting his own fragrance venture; commercial context disclosed.

Recorded with an attributable source

Gardenia · Orange blossom

Recalled these flowers while discussing his own scent venture, rather than endorsing an independent product.

Recorded with an attributable source

Niblo the cat

Classic FM describes his pet cat in its account of piano videos; present ownership is not established.

Recorded with an attributable source

Trivia & tastes

Books

Music

Food

Training

Diet

Skincare

Fragrances

Pets