HOPKINS DOESN’T RELISH ‘COLDNESS’

Contrary to the roles he plays, Anthony Hopkins says he doesn’t enjoy domination

Not many stars can boast of a 50-year-career in the entertainment industry, like actor Anthony Hopkins (above). Best Known for his role of Hannibal Lector in The Silence of the Lambs — for which he won an Oscar for Best Actor (1991) — Hopkins is earning rave reviews as Doctor Robert Ford in the Emmy-nominated TV series Westworld. Here are excerpts from an interview with the 79-year-old Welsh actor:

What can you tell us about your character Dr Ford?

With Dr Ford, it’s on a massive scale — he wants to perfect everything and he controls everything. Which means, he’s mad! All I do is talk a lot — a lot of very highfalutin stuff about the bicameral mind.

What about you makes you suitable for these ‘very controlled’ roles?

I have no idea. Maybe it’s coldness. I think maybe it’s the blank stare. But I don’t relish that — I’ve never been interested in control. I think most of our pain comes from trying to control everything... or dominate — dominate other people and dominate ourselves, terrorising ourselves.

Are you a fan of sci-fi and dystopian stories in general?

I find any idea of a utopia or dystopia pretty alarming. I mean, in the 20th century, many great ideas of utopias all caused so much bloodshed and horror. I’m fascinated by the history of the 20th century, the Bolshevik revolution, Nazism and fascism rising in Italy. And the post war years too: the Kennedys in power in this country, Cuba.

Are you reasonably tech-savvy in your everyday life?

Yes, I have a computer, and an iPad and an iPhone, and I know how to use them. I write out all the texts I’m learning onto a computer and put color codes on it. It just makes it look important, instead of a white blank page.

Are you based in the US permanently now?

I’ve been in America for 40 odd years now. The time has gone by so fast I can’t believe it — I came out here in 1973. That was when I was in New York and then came out here in 1975. I just drifted into a way of life here. I love it. I like Americans, too. They are terrific — very generous people. But they are a bit crazy. There’s that mentality of: ‘I want to get things done now,’ you know?

How did you feel about Wales voting to leave the EU?

All I’ve learned over the years is that there is nothing you can control. You vote people into power so they look after us all, and… I’m not cynical, it’s just that I don’t have any opinions about anything anymore. Maybe that’s just ignorance, but I don’t care.

Catch Season 1 of Westworld, the most Emmy-nominated series of 2017 on Star World and Star World HD, as part of the channel’s ‘Emmy’s Fever’ offering, every Monday to Friday at 10pm.

I think most of our pain comes from trying to control everything... dominate other people and ourselves, terrorising ourselves ANTHONY HOPKINS, ACTOR

PHOTO: JOHN P. JOHNSON/ AP