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01
Reads each script 250 times out loud before filming and memorizes one new poem per week to exercise his memory.
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02
Proud of his improvisational touches as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs 1991, such as mocking Jodie Foster’s West Virginia accent, distorting the word chianti, and making a vile slurping sound after describing eating the census-taker. He also never blinked when speaking.
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03
Despite being dyslexic, he has always possessed a great memory for scripts.
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04
Had a brush with death while filming The Edge 1997 in Alberta, Canada after falling into a river and being rushed to the hospital for hypothermia.
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05
Volunteers at the Ruskins School of Acting in Santa Monica, California, where he teaches everything from Shakespeare to scenes, theory, and monologues.
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06
Conquered his alcoholic addiction in 1975.
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07
Unusual touches for Hannibal Lecter during preparation included making Lecter’s voice similar to the warble of Katharine Hepburn and almost never blinking, a trait picked up from watching tapes of Charles Manson.
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08
Became a U.S. citizen on April 12, 2000, but retained his British knighthood and the title Sir.
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09
Astounded the cast and crew of Amistad 1997 by memorizing a seven-page speech in one go. Steven Spielberg was so impressed he insisted on calling him Sir Anthony throughout the shoot.
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10
His early ambition was to be a concert pianist.
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11
A piano virtuoso.
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12
Was offered the lead role in Gandhi 1982 by Richard Attenborough. When he called his father, his father responded, Oh, it’s a comedy then is it?
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13
Likes to be called Tony.
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14
His Oscar-winning performance as Hannibal Lecter was ranked #1 on the American Film Institute’s villains list.
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15
An accomplished painter who has exhibited landscape paintings in San Antonio, Texas.
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16
Is on the autistic spectrum and stimulates his senses by rubbing his hands together.
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17
Diagnosed late in life with Asperger’s.
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18
Served in the British Army’s Royal Artillery regiment as part of National Service, known as Gunner Hopkins.
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19
His performance as Hannibal Lecter is ranked #15 on Premiere Magazine’s 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
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20
His favorite horror film is Rosemary’s Baby 1968.
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21
Turned down the role of Alfred Pennyworth in Batman Begins 2005.
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22
Chose to play Prof. Van Helsing in Dracula 1992 because he wanted a role as far removed from Hannibal Lecter as possible after riding the success of The Silence of the Lambs.
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23
One of his greatest pleasures in past years on visits to the USA was to drive across the country, enjoying its immensity and his anonymity.
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24
Is related to poet William Butler Yeats on his mother’s side.
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25
Pledged $1.6 million to help preserve 4,000 acres of Mount Snowdon, Wales’ highest peak.
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26
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 24, 2003.
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27
As a child, was very close to his maternal grandfather, who called him George, while his father called him Charlie.
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28
Has been wanted in the James Bond franchise: in talks for a villain in Timothy Dalton’s unmade third film, first choice for villains in Goldeneye 1995 and Tomorrow Never Dies 1997, and rumored for Albert Finney’s role in Skyfall 2012.
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29
He is the only child of a couple who ran a bakery.
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30
Ranked second in the 2001 Orange Film Survey of the greatest British film actors.
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31
Awarded the Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 1993 New Year Honours List for services to drama.
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32
Often accompanied his father, who whistled on bakery rounds, and incorporated that into his character in The World’s Fastest Indian 2005.
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33
Composed a waltz in 1964 titled And the Waltz Goes On, which he kept in a drawer until his wife contacted violinist Andre Rieu in 2010. Rieu arranged it and premiered it in Vienna in 2011 with Hopkins present.
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34
On The Oprah Winfrey Show on September 20, 2005, said he is most proud of The Silence of the Lambs 1991, The Remains of the Day 1993, and Proof 2005.
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35
Portrayed many historical figures including Alfred Hitchcock, Richard Nixon, John Quincy Adams, Charles Dickens, Adolf Hitler, Yitzhak Rabin, Pablo Picasso, and C.S. Lewis.
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36
Has played a King of England Richard I, a Prime Minister David Lloyd George, and two U.S. Presidents John Quincy Adams and Richard Nixon.
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37
Selected by an Entertainment Weekly online poll in September 1999 as the Best Modern Actor and Best Villain for his role as Hannibal Lecter.
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38
His parents were of half Welsh and half English descent. Paternal grandfather Richard Arthur Thomas Hopkins and maternal grandmother Sophia Phillips were Welsh; paternal grandmother Emma Gardner and maternal grandfather Thomas Frederick Yeates were English.
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39
For the 1991 restoration of Spartacus 1960, he imitated the voice of Laurence Olivier for a scene whose original soundtrack was lost, as Hopkins had understudied Olivier at the Old Vic.
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40
Became the oldest person to win an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for The Father 2020 at age 83.
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41
Quit smoking using the Allen Carr method.
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42
After graduating from RADA, he served two years in the British Army before beginning his acting career.
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43
Is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, spending three seasons after RADA.
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44
Studied at RADA from 1961 to 1963 with fellow students John Hurt, Ian McShane, and David Warner.
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45
Felt intimidated by the real Lt. Col. John Frost when he visited the set of A Bridge Too Far 1977.
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46
Appeared in five films directed by Richard Attenborough: Young Winston 1972, A Bridge Too Far 1977, Magic 1978, Chaplin 1992, and Shadowlands 1993.
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47
Ranked #57 in Empire magazine’s The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time list in October 1997.
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48
Resides in Santa Monica, California.
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49
His favourite films of his own are The Remains of the Day 1993, Shadowlands 1993, Nixon 1995, The Bounty 1984, and All the King’s Men 2006.
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50
Has appeared in six films nominated for Best Picture Oscar: The Lion in Winter 1968, The Elephant Man 1980, The Silence of the Lambs 1991, Howards End 1992, The Remains of the Day 1993, and The Father 2020. The Silence of the Lambs won.
