Anthony Hopkins On What He Learned From Laurence Olivier | The Dick Cavett Show

[@kennschmidt966]

I got to work with him on Hitchcock and he was amazing, but also very approachable, gracious and generous to everyone he worked with. He went around thanking everyone, and shaking their hands when he was wrapped. A total class act. My fav actor. And he is always good in everything he appears in, even if the play or film isn’t.

[@deborahbarnes8377]

I just think he's so attractive

[@musikafossora]

@@deborahbarnes8377 honestly me too. he’s very charming.

[@Daisnap]

Yes! So honest and self-aware, warts and all, and so very charming and attractive. Something does take over when you’re tuned in onstage. It is like magic.

[@whatshisname3304]

i thought he was brilliant in silence of the lambs. perfectly eloquent and menacing as the devil.

[@pecsandnips]

@@whatshisname3304 He didn’t play the devil; he played a cannibalistic serial killer!

[@MarchHare2009]

These old Anthony Hopkins interviews are so great. He is a respectable, intelligent man and it's wonderful to hear him speak when he was young.

[@MahlerHolic1860]

I interviewed him in 1992 for a local paper in his and my home town of Port Talbot. He was a delightful, gracious gentleman.

[@MarkHarrison733]

He was middle aged here. He could never act due to his autism.

[@MariaH.-op4zi]

I adore his voice & the way he speaks/accent.. Very handsome & a superb actor

[@lyallg7925]

He has an amazing voice. He is an amazing artist.

[@cascooter]

It’s a shame mr Hopkins doesn’t do more interviews, absolutely brilliant.

[@ScottWDoyle]

The segment starting at 2:17 and running almost exactly 60 seconds is a perfect description of the flow state.

[@salvatorecollura2692]

Cavett’s words have proven prophetic. ‘That may be the secret of survival in this business….’ Well over 45 years later, Sir Anthony is still at the pinnacle of his craft.

[@melvert33]

Watched The Father recently and though its grim subject matter, Hopkins puts in an amazing performance.

[@gabrielwood9345]

Beautiful voice, intelligent and just fabulous ❤❤

[@babsbestinhistory]

I'm watching a few days after this extraordinarily talented man has just won his well deserved second Oscar for 'The Father' and it's so obvious that he was destined for extreme greatness. His intellect without a hint of arrogance is something to behold. What a wonderful career and life he's lived.

[@Lurker1979]

Anthony Hopkins voice has never changed.

[@alaahasan1999]

I'm so in loooooove with his voice , accent , personality and mind !

[@karengittins6648]

He is such a low-key and unassuming man, and the most intelligent actor. And you are so right about his voice. His soft welsh accent and his delivery are just beautiful ...

[@ruly8153]

@@karengittins6648 I’ve grown so fond of him. No pretense, no arrogance, professional, and Sincere.

[@anneominous7172]

@@ruly8153 A lot of the Welsh are like that, I've found. A humble and brilliant people.

[@PMS1950]

A truly outstanding actor. I saw him as Mark Anthony acting alongside Dame Judy Dench in Shakespeare's Anthony and Cleopatra at the National Theatre in the 1980s. Both he and Judy consummate performers. Remains Of The Day is another great performance and a fabulous film.

[@TheDreamingJune]

I'm beyond jealous you got to see two of the finest Shakespearean actors live on stage. Anthony Hopkins is a remarkable actor.

[@leokleman4395]

It baffles me that these excellent interviews/talks with Hopkins don't have more views.

[@MrRufusRToyota]

Lol

[@nataliedelagrandiere4022]

He is very attractive and witty. Nice interview.

[@johnst3296]

He'll always be Hannibal to most people, but I think his greatest role was as Captain Blye . Such a great actor.

[@nalagrz5773]

Yes and also Mr Stevens in the movie the remains of the day

[@QueerOkie]

Don't forget 'World's Fastest Indian' and 'Zoro'

[@Paulco67]

His portrayal of Mr Wilcox in Howard’s End is simply superb and with Emma Thompson, it’s simply my favorite movie ever. Talk about off the chart skills ….The acting nuances are sublime.

[@davekp6773]

I completely agree. He played Bligh in a way which history agrees with, in that Bligh was not the monster that both Laughton and Howard presented.

[@edwinahughes9052]

He was nominated and should have won for NIXON. a bit long but wonderful but you know Hollywood politics. Another favorite is WORLD'S FASTRST INDIAN. Should have been nominated at least.

[@madahad9]

He was so good in Magic. A lesser actor might have gone over the top with his performance but Anthony Hopkins gets to the edge and does a very careful balancing act. He never makes the character silly or implausible....but it still has an exaggeration we expect from a performance in a film. I love the story he tells while making the film where he wanted the dummy Fats with him, but called early in the morning to have it immediately removed. I wouldn't want that thing in my room either. The film is still very effective.

[@pecsandnips]

Loved that film!

[@kevinchambers1101]

It was a wonderful film and a true tragedy. It never received the acclaim it deserved.

[@IyaNla03]

Wow, this is a wonderful find. I really enjoy Anthony Hopkins acting, he is wonderful!

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

He seems like a lovely guy. Lots of actors, comics esp., are shy.

[@jonaspereira007]

True, Robert de Niro and Al Pacino are good examples. Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford,...the list goes on. Maybe because it is useful to be an observer and a dreamer in order to be an actor.

[@terminator324343]

Lot of people will go on about Sir Anthony Hopkins playing Lecter. But to me, he's Richard the Lionhearted.

[@kennschmidt966]

Absolutely.

[@edwinahughes9052]

And the Lion in Winter is the movie in which Kate Hepburn admonished him for drinking and said if he didn't quit he would be dead like Tracy. I'd like to think she put a little spark in him to quit.

[@randibar6847]

Though he played Magna Carta John in LIW?????

[@oldhatcinema]

Anthony Hopkins: a great man and the best actor still alive today.

[@Paulco67]

Daniel Day Lewis is right with him…

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

@@Paulco67Tht's what I thought instantly.

[@John-oo9pw]

Lol Pacino

[@John-oo9pw]

​@@Paulco67😅😅😅

[@oldhatcinema]

@@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633 I've been wanting to see some of Day Lewis's work. Any specific recommendations?

[@nicolesong6199]

He's so handsome, of course you'd want to listen to this actor go on about acting just like the actors he doesn't really like who pontificate about their work -- even when other normal people don't.

[@Randymountaine]

The idea at one point in time his parents were genuinely worried about what their son could do with his future/career... and their son became one of the greatest actors of our generation.

[@waldonunez8311]

Maravillosa entrevista , desde Sudamérica , gracias 🌈🌴🌄

[@gringochucha]

I had no idea Hopkins was Welsh, until I heard his accent in this interview. I guess it's because I so rarely see him just being himself.

[@Paulco67]

He and Richard Burton, another superb actor, grew up near each other..

[@johnh6245]

@@Paulco67Also Michael Sheen, all from the Port Talbot area in South Wales. Only Burton had Welsh as his first language.

[@Warp75]

Around the time Magic was released. Great film 🎥

[@bronsonbad210]

He remains fascinating 👏

[@anneominous7172]

He's not often talked about as a sex symbol but young Hopkins is DANGEROUSLY handsome 😍

[@alimekevserayar4843]

The most attractive actor of all times, still is!

[@davidevans3227]

gosh.. a younger Anthony Hopkins.. interesting.. dead welsh 'in 'ee.. greetings from south wales! uk.. 🙂 x

[@CoolCoyote]

and went on to be one of the top 5 actors ever

[@turnerthemanc]

I later realised its a Dale Carnegie quote, but it was Hopkins I first heard this from and it stuck with me. "Remember, today is the tomorrow you were worrying about yesterday" He is quite the thinker.

[@successsystem2468]

Wonderful actor.

[@TrevorHoneyball]

The collars on my shirts were bigger than that back in the day. When we had high winds I would take off and fly to work 🤔

[@andrewnicholas4951]

I'm surprised spesh as it's mainly an American audience that no one ☝️ comments on his subtle but beautiful WELSH accent. A ancient language completely unrecognizable language compared to ENGLISH.

[@edwinahughes9052]

I saw a 2 hour interview with Richard Burton last night. It' another cavett interview. Cavett asks him what his accent was like before he changed. He did it beautifully. Basically they roll the "r". Burton died at 58. Such a waste due to drink. 7 Oscar nominations and no wins. Hollywood has no soul.

[@gregdark5203]

There is a bit of a graceful shyness about him.

[@michelest-jean9686]

Dear You are beautiful and lovely dear you are so amazing and is forever dear Sir Anthony Hopkins forever.xx

[@joannleichliter4308]

Richard Burton, Anthony Hopkins, Timothy Dalton: my three favorite actors are all Welsh. Go figure.

[@staxmantim]

I believe Christian Bale is Welsh born. And I always enjoyed looking at Catherine Zeta-Jones too

[@joannleichliter4308]

@@staxmantim Bale is very talented. Have you seen "Empire of the Sun"? It's an excellent film and the first one in which I saw Bale (then just a child).

[@Geordiegirl36]

@@staxmantimhe’s English

[@staxmantim]

Absolutely

[@staxmantim]

Yeah, he’s English & born in Wales

[@paulmcgrath3248]

Great answer

[@deniseguzzardo]

I love this man 😍💋♥️

[@TheGilbalfas]

Marvellous actor

[@Lynn7015hb]

I've never seen him young. He resembles Mikhail Baryshnikov.

[@Liz-n6g]

Whoever said that he resembles Mikhail Baryshnikov is absolutely right. 😊

[@bmkbmk4469]

Yes.....now you mentioned it....🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@susiehenders]

LOVE A.H. - great artist!

[@CookRugbyCinemaTravel]

why don't we have those more substantial conversations on TV nowadays? everything is like Elen Degeneres

[@DarkForcesStudio]

I'm not an actor. But I love his approach as an artist. Wonderful insights.

[@of1300]

some people are just great actors. they would never admit that they are geniuses.

[@darrenchristian141]

he is still very humble ...often states that acting is easiest job anybody could have , and its not praiseworthy , typically Welsh ..in the way they are either reserved or completly insane , then dark of mood or love to fight .. but still my favourite people

[@товарищдодопривет]

Thank You !

[@ruly8153]

He’s so humble 1:32

[@sohailajaved3278]

Amazing.

[@willhazell1447]

It's interesting how present his Welsh accent was then.

[@nonokayakjack]

One of my main inspirations for joining Alcoholics Anonymous.

[@reccct]

why?

[@lulumoon6942]

​@@reccctSir Anthony Hopkins has been in recovery for very many years and it's influenced this attitude towards his fellow man. He speaks about this & you can find clips online. 👍

[@lulumoon6942]

Best to you in your sobriety. 🙏🕊️

[@zfan2591]

Imagine Anthony Hopkins being a play and having no lines. It’s amazing to think that every actor we know as being great has had teachers whom they idolized.

[@HolgerRuneFan]

Tony as a younger man was absolutely gorgeous.

[@francesembury9001]

He still is. When your light is strong, it shines through every decade. His is very strong. And he shares it with grace. ❤️

[@noelio67]

Just looked at the air date, I was born a month before this......Hmmm

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

Imagine being one of the best actors in the world, and not having the patience for repeat performances. Anyone less talented would hung on to the first success, and then just keep going on doing that.

[@DaleBaker-nz9fh]

Great Actor, he was born grey. I saw him in a film 1969, he was going grey then.

[@BonnChnd]

His shirt collar is HUGE

[@peterjspering]

Welcome to the 70s.

[@ShahidHaider-g1p]

YOUNG ANTHONY HOPKIN

[@milulalojo8305]

ele era lindo

[@carolejander]

Wonderful thanks so much x

[@efmtl76]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Gannooch]

I have nothing against the other celebs that were on this show but is this channel ever going to show the Dick Cavett shows where he interviews Jackie Gleason or Art Carney? How about any Honeymooners actors that were part of the main cast? These are rare much like all of the other Dick Cavett interviews

[@dilwich]

Tony still drinking in them days . . . .God bless you.

[@patstocker3658]

It’s ironic that he was asked to do Olivier in the missing scene from Spartacus where Crassus is bathing and makes an allusion to Antoninus that he is attracted sexually to him. This scene was cut and later reinstated after Oliviers death. Hopkins was asked to do the voice over for Crassus, and as he states in this interview he was good at mimicry. He does a brilliant job of it too. I say this as an ARDENT, OBSESSED fan of Olivier for many many years. Thank you Mr Hopkins, what a man and what an actor.

[@TheStockwell]

It was Joan Plowright who remembered Hopkins' Olivier impression and recommended him. Hopkins' only request in accepting the job was to keep his involvement as secret as possible so as to not distract from the scene. Hopkins has told of auditioning for the National Theatre by performing Shakespeare - as Olivier. To his horror, Olivier attended his audition. Olivier later told Hopkins he was furious but had no choice in approving him for the company - he could hardly say Hopkins had no clear idea of how to perform Shakespeare.

[@VictorMaxol]

So that's humans before the dark times, before the plastic.

[@lulumoon6942]

Indeed. 😮‍💨

[@toishaahsan8329]

This is how stewie from family guy talks like:

[@xaqxiq9281]

“Not swift at school, academically or athletically.” Well, to the prior I find it hard to believe

[@HBarnill]

It's been recently revealed he's autistic, so that could be it.

[@johnbaldock6353]

He Could take off with those Collars!!😳✈️

[@MobinKiadeh]

Well it was 1978 😂, my Dad had similar ones in the 70s.

[@castelodeossos3947]

Mr Hopkins tells Mr Cavett that he stole from Mr Olivier but he doesn't tell us what. In other words, he does not tell us 'what he learned from Laurence Olivier'.

[@flippert0]

Hopkins is active since the late 60s. But to be honest, I wasn't particularly fond of him until "Silence of the Lambs". And it wasn't his acting, that was great right from the start. But somehow, he came over either as "too big" and therefore underused or as too whiney or psychological. But of course the 90s changed everything. His best movie is still "The Remains of the Day" IMHO.

[@neaituppi7306]

I keep looking at his teeth, because of Silence of the lambs.

[@martinobrien7110]

Is it me ? , but I can hear traces of Katherine Hepburn in Hopkins voice .

[@SubPablum]

Watching this I truly wonder where did he find Hannibal Lecter?

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

In his "drinking years", one of his drinking buddies was Tom Baker.

[@zeigbert1743]

I feel like some Favre beans and a nice keyanti.

[@flannerymonaghan-morris7461]

Why does he remind me a bit of a welsh David Byrne here?

[@flannerymonaghan-morris4825]

James Norton could play a younger version of him in a biopic.

[@DrCrabfingers]

Am I the only one that can't see the Olivier genius? Too me he is always so self conscious! So pompous! But perhaps I am mistaken....? I really need to watch Magic again..."How long have you been like this kid?" "You need help..."

[@thedude633]

Wait, Anthony Hopkins had hair? This must be really really old

[@noelio67]

'Dick ........I must warn you, a census taker once tried to test me.......i ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti'

[@oldhatcinema]

😂😂

[@elgatocapibara]

He looks a little bit like Mads Mikkelsen here.

[@chrisr7597]

He's never looked so young💁‍♂️

[@cainabel2009]

Ikr it is like your parents you grow up with them and you don't remember them been young but when you look at pictures of them looking so young you think wow they really look young

[@chrisr7597]

@@cainabel2009 Absolutely true👍

[@totallybored5526]

So he looked older than this video when he was 4 years old?

[@mehmetakifgul1674]

I seen him first time with his hair and it's some weird

[@bronsonbad210]

Perfectionism is insanity

[@mtelectrical8068]

I sense he has sobriety then.

[@roc7880]

he left Britain because he felt it was too uptight and rigid, while America was a lot more creative and relaxed. so sad now America becomes very uptight and rigid.

[@kapple654]

3:24 - are you kidding me?! Anthony Hopkins runs rings as an actor around olivier! as does Gary Oldman. he was great back in the day but come on British talent has come a long way hasn't it? he's such an old ham! (like Kenneth Branagh) lacks any subtly whatsoever - would never have survived stanislavki's actors studio in Russia! his wife was way better than him (Olivier that is).

[@totallybored5526]

Method acting isn’t a high standard of acting, it’s just a tool. And don’t forget what Olivier said to Hoffman, when Hoffman was torturing himself for a scene, “why don’t you try acting dear? it’s so much easier”

[@kapple654]

@@totallybored5526 Olivier was great at one lined quips and double entendre (as is natural to the Brit... the older the generation the better)... but as an actor (sure he worked with great scripts and roles) but I don't feel as harrowingly convinced as I do with say Oldman. Who said anything about method acting? You are having a private conversation in your head (or with someone else)... I merely mentioned preferring one artist to another (despite the fact that the other artist is clearly very very good). you'r getting confused old chap.

[@chickadddee]

Olivier was a theatre actor, more so than a film actor. I believe that seeing him live on stage would have been an amazing experience. He was one of those actors with a huge and forceful presence and unwavering charisma. Sometimes, a different energy is required for film. But for the Brits in general, the old greats were all such a source of inspiration that they can never be forgotten or dismissed as no longer relevant, even though our sensibilities have indeed changed in our time. Theatre is still more revered there compared to here in North America. I personally like both, although the theatre in my town is lacking.

[@kapple654]

@@chickadddee good point. they indeed were. but I was principally concerned with the fact that I think Anthony Hopkins was the better of the two actors, an unorthodox opinion amongst seasoned thespians I know but its mine none the less. Olivier was a great villain - marathon man, Rebekah etc... no one can deliver that line "is it safe" as well as him. then again who can deliver "that is rather slippery of you agent starling" better than Anthony, he is Hannibal Lector. speaking of thespians - I actually think the average yank is much better at respecting theatre than the average pommie. Brits had the greats of old its true but of late few decades a yonder the blight of reality TV seems to have addled their brains much more than the Americans. maybe im wrong - but kids still do pretentious theatre in college in america, and even if its amateur its something. Britain is, well, unspeakably tragic....

[@chickadddee]

@@kapple654 Americans are great at Broadway, and theatre in New York in general, but that's just a small part of the culture. That's not meant to offend. The United States is so huge , it's a bit of a disadvantage in this context. 19 million people went to the theatre (apparently) in 2022. 16 million went in the UK. But the UK is tiny in comparison. There are great actors in both countries, of course, in both theatre and film, so it seems silly to compare the actors with such a broad generalization. We all have our favourites which is a good thing. Even comparing education systems is really not going to get us anywhere, because in both cultures it completely depends on what you can afford, how long you go to school (and university), and people's own thirst for knowledge beyond the average. I agree reality tv is horrific and tragic. But the celebrity worship in America, and a particular taste for action and plastic surgery, has spoiled some of the films for me. I want to forget "the stars" when I see a good film. Anyway, I like Hopkins, Olivier , Oldman, and about 50 other great actors from different countries. I think great artists are great precisely because they are in a category of their own, beyond what the norm is in the culture they happen to come from.

[@rsr789]

What he really learned was how to eat some fava beans and a nice chianti. (I apologize, I had to)

[@mattm3729]

Cavett wishes he were half the interviewer (or man) that Jimmy Fallon is.

[@kweejibodali3078]

that is absolutely hilarious to me as Jimmy Fallon gets so many comments ( which i agree with) about what a terrible interviewer he is ! he constantly interrupts, does this weird fake sounding laugh... and cavett gets so many wonderful feedbacks ( which i completely agree with ).

[@stardresser1]

That is seriousssssly doubtful...

[@roddyboethius1722]

😂

[@nkt1]

I could watch Cavett interview people all day long. Fallon is a great comic performer; his Barry Gibb Talk Show skits are sublime. But he’s no great shakes as an interviewer.