The Director Anthony Hopkins Once Called a “Twisted Little Sadist”

Anthony Hopkins hated working with John Dexter, and he didn’t hold back about it. The two-time Tony winner was one of the most respected theatre directors of his time, but his hard and demanding style clashed with Hopkins’ brash and fiery personality.

The actor described Dexter as a “nasty, twisted little sadist” in his memoir We Did OK, Kid, and it’s easy to see why.

Hopkins first met Dexter while working on the original Broadway run of Equus in 1974. The director was famous for pushing actors to their limits, often using tough love, intense criticism, and strict control over rehearsals. Hopkins, known for his short temper and pride, quickly grew frustrated. Yet despite the tension, he returned to work with Dexter again a year later for The Misanthrope and then in the first run of M. Butterfly in 1988.

The reason Hopkins kept coming back, he explained, was simple: Dexter made him a better actor. “One thing I was certain of,” Hopkins wrote, “I hadn’t come into this acting business to be punished by some nasty, twisted little sadist like John Dexter.” He hated the man’s methods but recognized that the intensity brought out the best in him.

Hopkins recalled a meeting with Dexter in which the director asked why he had walked out on him before. “Because you were a nasty little b******,” Hopkins replied. Dexter didn’t get angry. Instead, he turned it into a lesson, saying, “Yes, dear, well, you need a nasty little b***** like me to direct you.”

Dexter was blunt but honest. He believed in pushing actors past their comfort zones, even if it meant creating friction. He told Hopkins he was “a much better actor than you think you are” and made it clear their animosity wouldn’t interfere with Equus.

Hopkins eventually started rehearsals in September, and his work with Dexter paid off. He won a Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Play, proving that even though he hated every second of the process, Dexter’s tough methods helped him reach new heights.

The tension between them was rooted in style and personality. Dexter demanded total obedience and intense emotional honesty, which often involved humiliating or shocking actors to get the performance he wanted.

Hopkins, used to independence and confident in his talent, saw this as cruel. Yet he also admitted that without Dexter’s exacting guidance, his performances would not have been as powerful or memorable.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!