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Anthony Hopkins -

Philip Anthony Hopkins was born on December 31, 1937, in Port Talbot, Wales. 

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'The Lion in Winter' (1968) -

The actor's breakout role was as Richard the Lionheart in this historical period drama that also stars Katharine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. 

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Classical actor -

Hopkins studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and is well versed in Shakespeare. He's pictured as Macbeth, with Diana Rigg as Lady Macbeth. 

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'Danton' (1970) -

As well as his roles in cinema, the actor has enjoyed a prolific small-screen career.  He's pictured here being interviewed for the BBC television drama 'Danton' in 1970. 

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'Young Winston' (1972) -

'Young Winston,' a British film covering the early years of Winston Churchill, sees Hopkins as politician David Lloyd George. 

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Early honors -

By the early 1970s, Hopkins was making an impact. He won his first BAFTA for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Pierre Bezukhov in the 1972 BBC television series 'War and Peace.' 

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'A Bridge Too Far' (1977) -

This Richard Attenborough-directed war film about the ill-fated Allied attack on Arnhem features an all-star cast. Hopkins portrays Lt. Col. John Frost. 

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'Magic' (1978) -

Hopkins excels as ventriloquist Corky Withers in this spooky psychological horror film costarring Ann-Margret.

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'The Elephant Man' (1980) -

John Hurt is the titular character in David Lynch's critically acclaimed historical drama. Hopkins costars as Frederick Treves, who rescues the severely deformed Joseph Merrick from a Victorian freak show. 

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'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' (1982) -

Produced as part of the long-running CBS 'Hallmark Hall of Fame' series, this TV movie is notable for Hopkins' almost unrecognizable portrayal as the hapless hunchback, Quasimodo.

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'The Bounty' (1984) -

The actor turns in a fine performance as Captain Bligh in the fifth film version of the story of the mutiny on the Bounty. Mel Gibson, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Liam Neeson all make early film appearances.  

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'The Lonely Road' (1985) -

Despite cinema fame, Hopkins continued to appear in theatrical productions throughout the 1980s. He's pictured here onstage alongside Samantha Eggar in a scene from Arthur Schnitzler's play 'The Lonely Road' at London's The Old Vic. 

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Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) -

In 1987 Hopkins received a CBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace. 

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'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991) -

Hopkins' most famous role is as the cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter in 'The Silence of the Lambs.' He reprised his role as Lecter twice; in 'Hannibal' (2001), and 'Red Dragon' (2002).

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Oscar triumph at the 64th Academy Awards -

The actor appears to keep in character as Dr. Hannibal Lecter as he picks up the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in 'Silence of the Lambs.' He also won a BAFTA. 

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'Howards End' (1992) -

In 1992 Hopkins appeared alongside Emma Thompson in 'Howards End.' Thompson went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. The following year, the pair teamed up again in 'The Remains of the Day.' Hopkins was nominated for Best Actor, but lost out to Tom Hanks for 'Philadelphia.' He did, however, pick up a BAFTA. 

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'Legends of the Fall' (1994) -

The 1990s were good years for Anthony Hopkins. 'Legends of the Fall' received positive reviews, and the actor worked well opposite Brad Pitt. 

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'The Mask of Zorro' (1998) -

In this swashbuckling tale, Hopkins portrays the original Zorro, Don Diego de la Vega, while Antonio Banderas plays his successor. The film was a critical and commercial success. 

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'The World's Fastest Indian' (2005) -

Based on New Zealand speed bike racer Burt Munro and his highly modified Indian Scout motorcycle, this well-received movie became the highest grossing local film at the New Zealand box office. 

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Musical talent -

Hopkins has stated that if he hadn't become an actor he would have been a musician. He has scored film soundtracks, and written music for the concert hall. He's pictured with director Roger Donaldson during the scoring session for the film 'The World's Fastest Indian.'

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Golden Globe honor -

In 2006, the actor was honored with the prestigious Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award. He'd previously been knighted by the Queen in 1993. 

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BAFTA acclaim -

Two years later, in 2008, Sir Anthony Hopkins was presented with the BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award. 

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'Hitchcock' (2012) -

Hopkins has portrayed a number of real-life personalities. In 1996, he was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar and Golden Globe for his role in 'Nixon' (1995). In 2012, he played legendary film director Alfred Hitchcock. 

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Married life -

Hopkins has been married three times, to Petronella Barker (from 1966 to 1972), Jennifer Lynton (from 1973-2002), and finally Stella Arroyave (pictured), since 2003.

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'Westworld' -

From 2016 to 2018, the actor appeared in the hit HBO series 'Westworld.' He's pictured in Season 1, episode 6, 'The Adversary.' 

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'The Two Popes' (2019) -

Hopkins plays Pope Benedict XVI in the critically acclaimed biographical drama that explores the conservative Benedict's relationship with the liberal future Pope Francis. Hopkins was nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the role.

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'The Two Popes' (2019) -

About the film, Rotten Tomatoes reads: "Led by outstanding performances from its well-matched leads, 'The Two Popes' draws absorbing drama from a pivotal moment in modern organized religion."

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'Elyse' (2020) -

Hopkins starred in and helped produce his wife Stella's directorial debut, and he also composed the score for it.

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'The Father' (2020) -

Florian Zeller's drama, based on his 2012 play 'Le Père,' stars Hopkins as an aging man who refuses all assistance from his daughter, played by Olivia Colman. It was Oscar-nominated for Best Picture, earned Hopkins a Best Actor win and Olivia Colman a Best Actress nod, won Best Adapted Screenplay, and received nods for production design and film editing.

See also: Hollywood's most extreme method actors

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