Anthony Hopkins: the filmography and biography of the actor

This actor can be called one of the most popular people on the planet. But to its peak it went for a very long time, and this path was not easy. But today millions are crazy about his unrivaled game. Anthony Hopkins, whose filmography includes dozens of first-class paintings, is quite worthy of the title of classic and legend of world cinema. Although he himself, it seems, is not entirely satisfied with the result ...

Childhood years of the star

Actor Anthony Hopkins was born in 1937 on December 31, becoming a New Year's gift for his parents. His mom and dad were ordinary Britons who owned a small bakery in the town of Margham (Wales). They worked from morning till night, but still barely made ends meet. The main thing in the family was the grandfather. He was an adherent of house construction and austerity literally in everything.

Little Anthony grew up closed and very lonely. Already an adult, he remembered how he often hid himself in the furthest corner of the schoolyard and dreamed of becoming invisible, so that no one would pay attention to him. And I also dreamed of getting into the mysterious and seemingly unassailable world of show business. In his years, all the boys were attracted to the cinema. True, not everyone can boast of such a dizzying career.

Could the young Anthony Hopkins, the films of which, after several decades, become the leaders of the views, that he himself will someday take a place among the stars? Probably not. But, perhaps, he had a presentiment of his fate. Because immediately after graduation I hurried to leave though my own, but absolutely hopeless little town. And, without hesitation, rose to the path of dreams.

Learning and the first acting steps

Anthony Hopkins, whose filmography today is striking in its vastness, at the age of 18 was an ordinary provincial kid, albeit gifted. Back in school, the boy demonstrated his ability for music and acting, parodying teachers. But there are hundreds like him! Nevertheless, a native of Wales managed to enter the Cardiff Theater and Music College.

Literally from the first days of study, Hopkins has changed. Where only his lack of solitude and aloofness! Feeling himself in his element, young Anthony became the soul of the company and the darling of the public. In the same place - in college - he first went to the theatrical stage and seriously "got sick" by acting. He studied brilliantly, which gave him the right to a scholarship.

Golden times interrupted service in the army. After it, Hopkins continued to master the wisdom of the profession at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In parallel, he played in one or another troupe, where he was accepted with pleasure. At first, it was only about the province, but in the end it came to the National Theater, which at that time was run by Maestro Olivier Lawrence.

Anthony Hopkins felt like a fish in the water. He got so involved in his roles that he could really beat the partner on stage. This caused dissatisfaction with the directors, but the audience, naturally, was delighted. Colleagues joked, they say it's good that Anthony did not give a gun in hand, otherwise he would have shot someone on the stage, getting used to the role.

Leaving the theater

The role of Anthony Hopkins even At the dawn of his career were vivid and memorable. Work at Lawrence Olivier was like clockwork. Critics spoke more often of the young actor positively than negatively, the audience was grateful ...

But soon Hopkins decides to say goodbye to the theater. Too slow, stretched, clumsy seemed to him such a life. First a long period of rehearsals, then - even longer imagine on stage one and the same performance ...

In the movie, which remained Anthony's true dream, everything was completely different: it was filmed - and new shootings. And so - without stops and breaks.

After another major quarrel with Olivier, Hopkins leaves his theater and knocks on the world of cinema. In the future he still had to step over the theatrical threshold more than once, but still this activity ceased to be the main one in his life.

Debut in the cinema

In 1967, Anthony Hopkins managed to star in the short film "White Bus". But the real debut in the movie can be considered his role as King Richard the Lionheart in the melodrama "The Lion in Winter". The shooting took place in 1968. The picture was a great success. Hopkins also fell in love with critics. The filmography of the actor began successfully.

Then followed the screen version of various classical plays, as well as work in the miniseries "QBVII", which brought Hopkins fame among American viewers.

A thorny path to the top of the movie

Settled in the US, a native of Wales begins to systematically conquer the movie. It was not easy for him ... Anthony Hopkins, films that came out one after another, still could not achieve real fame. Among his works of this period can be noted the film "Young Winston" (1972), the action movie "Bridge in the distance" in 1974, the horror film "Audrey Rose", released in 1977, the drama "Sorcery" and the comedy "Changing Seasons" ( 1978 and 1980 respectively).

And there were the roles of Hitler in the "Bunker" and Bruno Hauptmann in "The Abduction of Lindbergh", for which Hopkins even received prestigious awards. But before world success was still far away.

Addiction

It is difficult to imagine that Anthony Hopkins, whose filmography is full of images of restrained and strong-willed "superhumans," could be dependent on such trivial things as alcohol. But, unfortunately, this fact in the biography of the actor took place.

The wide-ranging bohemian life with almost daily parties and drinks almost brought the grandson of a stern devotee of the house-building into the abyss. A good half of the seventies passed under the aegis of the green snake. But Hopkins quickly thought of and picked himself up, realizing that the main purpose of his life in such a "company" he could not achieve. With alcohol it was finished, and a new stage of conquest of Olympus began.

Anthony Hopkins: filmography. Best Movies

Hopkins "sample" of the 80's can already be called an accomplished and quite successful actor. After an unusual film, released in 1980, "Man Elephant", the actor woke up famous. And then each new work only ensured success. Othello, Peter and Paul, Mussolini and I: the decline and fall of the Duce, The Chorus of Sufferers, The Married Man and other pictures aroused the approval of critics and the recognition of the public. The main roles of Anthony Hopkins made it increasingly recognizable in America and abroad. Gradually the image of the artist was formed: a cold-blooded, phlegmatic, calm person with a firm gaze and a sharp mind.

Such an image was quite suitable for heroes of psychological dramas, for historical films, for military films, and for militants.

But the "tastier" of all turned out thrillers with Anthony Hopkins. And one of them brought him a truly crazy popularity and forever elevated to the rank of classics. Of course, we are talking about the Oscar-winning "Silence of the Lambs" and the role of Hannibal Lecter - a brutal killer-killer who eats his victims ... This image literally "tore up" the planet. In 1991, Hopkins finally got to the coveted Olympus.

And, in principle, to this day is on it. It can not be said that the films that followed "Silence ..." could surpass this hit, but they can not be called failure either. The best roles of Anthony Hopkins are the role of the theologian in the "Kingdom of Shadows", and the characters from the films "The End of Harvard", "Zorro", "Legends of Autumn", "At the End of the Day", "On the Edge", "Mission Impossible-2" , "The Living Picasso", and the roles in the "Red Dragon" and "Hannibal", which have become a continuation of the legendary maniac-cannibal story, and others. For many of them, the actor received prestigious world awards.

Other Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins, the best films with which he still does not leave television screens and conquer more and more new viewers, left a mark not only as an actor. He tried himself in directing, taking three pictures, and in the scenario case ("Whirlwind"). And for the best producer work on the film "Bobby" even received a prize. But in none of these roles Hopkins seriously entrenched, and will remain in the memory of millions still like a brilliant actor.

Personal life

The first time Anthony Hopkins married in the mid 60's on the Norwegian actress Petronele Barker. In 1968, the couple had a daughter, Abigail, who later followed in the footsteps of her father. Unfortunately, this marriage broke up in 1972 due to Anthony's unrestrained drunkenness.

The second wife of the world celebrity was Jennifer Linton, whom Hopkins met on the set of one of the films, where she was assistant director. The union lasted almost 30 years, stood in the ocean of rumors and dirty gossip, but also did not become the last in the life of the star.

In 2003, Hopkins made a new marriage - with the Colombian Stella Arroyava. At the time of the wedding, the groom was 65 years old, and the bride - 46.

Anthony Hopkins, biography Which is capable of becoming desired by many, is nevertheless not completely satisfied with the way he lived his life. Once he said that, looking back, he does not understand why all this ... Like, do ten of high-profile films and prestigious awards is all that could be achieved ?? In his words, the desire to go the other way slipped. But, unfortunately, or fortunately, the river does not reverse, and the world can enjoy a brilliant game of an unrivaled actor!