Sir Anthony Hopkins: A Personal
Impression The facts: Philip Anthony Hopkins Born-Port Talbot,
Wales, New Years Eve 1937 Awarded Commander, Order of the British Empire, 1987, honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from the University of Wales,1988, Oscar winner for role of Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, 1991 and Knighted in 1993. I have been viewing movies for the better part of 50 years. It's the only thing I enjoy more than reading. Once in a while, over the years, there would come another one with Anthony Hopkins - always a great performance, if not a great movie. I caught Shadowlands on TV a while back and did a double take. It wasn't the first time I'd seen it, but this time I responded. The question, "Who is this guy?" came to mind and off I went on a search for information. I have researched a number of people in history from pharaohs to writers of this century, but this is the first living individual. I found tons of stuff on the internet including two fun sites dedicated to him, with photos, links, all sorts of information and an email address that probably doesn't actually go to Sir Anthony. (See favorite links below.) It was a novelty for me, though, and I even sent a little note. I would really like to email Ramses II and ask him about that Moses business, but that's another story. At last, an actor who isn't afraid to take
risks. Sir Anthony doesn't like to be called Sir in ordinary
circumstances. Just plain ole Tony? Yeah, I suspect that he really
is exactly that. About his acting he continually repeats that
it's just "learning lines, showing up, and doing it".
The mechanics are there for sure, but they belong to him. We
all have mechanics to get the job done. They get built in and
if you get it right, they serve you well, but they are personal.
"Just do it" and go for a ride in the country. Is that
Tony Hopkins? Yeah, I think so. You are in control on the road.
You gotta know how to get outta town. Add to the experience,
file it, read about it, do it. Read everything you can get your
hands on. Go find it. Carry it with you. Bring it back home.
Keep on goin' on. Dig it up, pull it down, rebuild it. You can
see it in the work, always fresh, new. Not since Lon Chaney has
one actor had so many faces and he knew how to get outta town
too. The more you take in, the more you have to give. "Just
do it" and if you keep on doing it there's more to do. It
works. Here's living proof. That's LIVING proof. Keep on goin'
on, Tony. Yeah! |
