How reverse psychology earned Anthony Hopkins an Oscar nomination
Anthony Hopkins is a true legend of the silver screen, breathing life into iconic characters such as Hannibal Lecter, Don De la Vega, and Pope Benedict XVI with his captivating style. Whether portraying the menacing psychological antihero in The Silence of the Lambs or the heartbreaking lead in The Father, Hopkins has firmly established himself as a stalwart of the film industry, consistently delivering unforgettable performances.
The Welsh grandfather of cinema is, of course, still going strong at 86 years old, and reflections on his life and career are always welcome. One of those contemplations came in how the actor secured the eponymous role of President Richard Nixon in the 1995 Oliver Stone film. In an interview with Chud, Hopkins shared that Nixon eluded him the most: “To play an American President, that’s a bit of a stretch of imagination,” he said. “Oliver Stone is an amazing director, and he put the pressure on. I didn’t want to do it, and I remember he came to England to meet me, and I’d already turned it down. He said, ‘Chicken, huh?'”
He continued: “I remember going to meet him on that morning at the Hyde Park Hotel, and I had a moment of clarity—I can stay here in Britain and play nice, boring safe parts in BBC, or I can work with this crazy director in America and maybe fall on my backside or make a success of it.”
That desire to do something different seemed to take charge of Hopkins’ decision and, of course, went on to propel him even further into the limelight. Hopkins continued: “I just thought well, I’ll just take the risk. And I went to the hotel, and Oliver gruffled and said, ‘Chicken, huh?’ and I said, ‘No, I’m going to do it.’ I said yes, and I went to America, and I remember learning the script and thought, ‘What have I done? I’ve taken on this nightmare.’”
This example of reverse psychology seemed to work in Hopkins’ favour when he eventually got the role in the 1995 film. He said: “Then I went to California and started rehearsing and realized I was in the hands of a great director. He puts a lot of pressure on you, and you get to a point where you either crack or you get it. He was relentless until I got the feeling of the part, and I really liked Oliver.”
Hopkins went on to star alongside Joan Allen as Pat Nixon, with Stone directing the biographical adaptation of the life of the 37th US president, famously ending in the Watergate scandal and eventual impeachment of 1973-74, with Nixon resigning in shame. Although the film wasn’t met with unprecedented acclaim, it still stands as the job that secured Hopkins some status over the US, motivated by essentially needing a change of scenery.
From then on, Hopkins continued to demonstrate why he is among the greatest, defeating real-life celebrities with an almost unsettling level of talent. His portrayal of Alfred Hitchcock was chillingly spot-on, while his performance as Pope Benedict XVI was layered with contemplation and sensitivity. These parts served to further solidify his standing as one of the greatest actors of his time. Given Hopkins’ illustrious background and unparalleled skill, it’s unlikely that he would use cunning manoeuvres like reverse psychology to get these roles. In Hollywood, his name alone speaks volumes, having been built on decades of legendary performances. It’s Anthony Hopkins, after all; his talent and legacy speak volumes.
