Anthony Hopkins Says Two Movies Nearly Ended His Acting Career

Anthony Hopkins has revealed that there were times in his career when he seriously considered quitting acting, despite being one of the most respected performers in film history.

Hopkins is perhaps best known for his iconic portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs (1991). His performance as the chilling, calculating serial killer remains a benchmark for actors playing dark, complex characters. Critics widely praised Hopkins for the subtle menace he brought to the role, particularly the unsettling calm he maintained while discussing horrifying acts.

The film itself was a critical and commercial success, winning five Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Hopkins and Best Picture. It also became a cultural touchstone, with Lecter cementing himself as one of cinema’s most memorable villains.

Hopkins has said that playing Lecter was deeply immersive, making it difficult for him to separate himself from the character. “I think he is a little like me in a way. He’s a person in solitude and isolation. I am a bit of a solitude person – a solitary personality,” he admitted. The intensity of the role, combined with the character’s psychological complexity, left a lasting impact on the actor.

Despite his success with Lecter and critical acclaim in films like The Remains of the Day (1993) and Nixon (1995), Hopkins faced challenges in the late 1990s. Movies such as Meet Joe Black (1998) and Titus (1999) left him feeling disconnected from his work, and he even described acting during that period as “disturbing and distasteful, a futile, wasteful life.” These struggles made him consider walking away from acting altogether, even after more than 30 years on stage and screen.

Thankfully, Hopkins returned to the craft with renewed energy. He won his second Academy Award for Best Actor for The Father (2021), a psychological drama where he starred opposite Olivia Colman. In recent years, he has continued to impress critics and audiences alike with performances in projects such as Westworld, King Lear, and The Two Popes (2019) alongside Jonathan Pryce.

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