Facebook Twitter Instagram
    • Services
    • Aircheck for Actors
    • Demo Reels
    • Audition Prep/Self-Tape Reader
    • Mailing Labels
    • Contribute
    • Industry Links
    • Advertise
    Daily Actor
    Daily Actor YouTube Page Daily Actor FacebookDaily Actor Twitter Daily Actor Instagram Daily Actor Pinterest
    • Acting Tips
      • Actors on Acting
      • Advice Columns
      • Acting Quotes
      • Audition Tapes
      • How To Become An Actor
      • How to Memorize Lines
    • Monologues
      • Monologues from Plays
      • Monologues from Movies
      • Monologues from Musicals
      • Comedic Monologues
      • Dramatic Monologues
      • One Minute Monologues
      • Monologues for Women
      • Monologues for Men
      • Monologues for Teens
      • Monologues for Kids
      • All Monologues
    • Acting Resources
      • Acting Resume
        • Acting Resume Templates
      • Acting Classes
        • Los Angeles Acting Classes
        • Las Vegas Acting Classes
        • San Diego Acting Classes
      • Acting Schools and Colleges
        • Los Angeles
        • New York
        • BFA Acting Schools
      • Casting Websites
      • Headshot Photographers
        • Los Angeles
        • New York City
        • Headshot Printing
      • Acting Techniques
        • What is Method Acting?
      • Stage Directions
      • Demo Reels: Everything You Need to Know
    • Interviews
      Featured

      Interview: Donna Benedicto: “Not every character needs to fit into a box”

      Recent

      Interview: Donna Benedicto: “Not every character needs to fit into a box”

      May 1, 2023
      Jesmille-Darbouze-A-Dolls-House-Broadway-Interview

      Interview: Jesmille Darbouze on Her Role in ‘A Doll’s House’ on Broadway, Working Without Props and Why She Almost Stopped Acting

      April 27, 2023

      Interview: Lilah Fitzgerald Talks “Dream Come True” Roles in ‘Monster High’ and ‘Lucky Hank’

      April 13, 2023
    • Actor Blogs
    • Reviews
      • Movies
      • Theater
      • Books
      • Products
    • Actor Services
      • Airchecks
      • Demo Reels
      • Website Design
      • Mailing Labels
    Daily Actor
    Home » Actors on Acting » Anthony Hopkins on Staying in Character Throughout a Film’s Production: “If actors want to do that, fine. If they want to be miserable, that’s up to them”
    Actors on Acting

    Anthony Hopkins on Staying in Character Throughout a Film’s Production: “If actors want to do that, fine. If they want to be miserable, that’s up to them”

    Chris McKittrickBy Chris McKittrickNovember 26, 2012Updated:September 16, 20182 Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    anthony-hopkins-hitchcockIn a candid interview with the Huffington Post, Anthony Hopkins not only said he thought Oscar campaigning was “nauseating to watch,” he also was open about portraying such a famous cinema figure as Alfred Hitchcock in a movie and his thoughts on actors who choose to stay in character throughout a film’s production.  He also touches on whether or not he will ever retire from acting and surprisingly admits that he actually did once — it just didn’t stick!

    There are perhaps no film directors who have reached the popular stature of Hitchcock, and obviously Hopkins felt unsure about his performance compared to the man himself.  He explains, “I had apprehension all the way through the movie. I had done all my preparation, but being a perfectionist I wanted to make sure it was absolutely right. But Sacha [Gervasi, director] said, ‘You’re not Alfred Hitchcock, you’re Anthony Hopkins playing him.’ I said, ‘Yeah, I know.’ But I wouldn’t even look at the monitor screens [during production]. I didn’t want to see myself or hear myself. I had done enough preparation to do the part.”

    Hopkins points at the makeup as a major help into getting into character.  He says, “I think getting the makeup right was the first one. It wasn’t difficult in itself, but we did about four or five camera tests to modify to make sure there wasn’t too much makeup. Getting the voice right, too. I watched a lot of Alfred Hitchcock Presents on television.”

    However, Hopkins doesn’t believe that getting deeply into one’s character means staying in character even when one isn’t filming.  He says, “There’s no such thing. Well, you can do it if you want, but I don’t go along with being called ‘Mr. Hitchcock.’ I think that’s a lot of crap. I just don’t understand that. If actors want to do that, fine. If they want to be miserable, that’s up to them. I’m not interested. It’s a job. I do the job. I’m certainly not going to make my life miserable just to be a character.”  In fact, Hopkins believes it could be detrimental to a film’s production, adding, “Who the hell wants to be with some miserable grump because he wants to get his performance right, so you have to call him this or call him that? It’s so boring. I’ve been with actors like that and they’re a pain in the ass, they really are. They’re unpleasant to work with and I don’t think they’re always that good either. I’ve worked with some awkward customers, fortunately not too many. I go out of my way never to work with them again.”

    Hopkins continues to act in high-profile films, and reveals that he has absolutely no plans to ever retire… especially since he already tried to a few years ago!  He confesses, “I don’t ever want to retire. I did a few years ago. I didn’t actually plan it, but I thought, ‘Maybe I should just slow down and call it a day.’… When men retire — particularly men — if they get out too early, they usually die of stress or loneliness or they drink too much or their hearts give out. I think a certain amount of stress in life is good. The stress of just working, which takes effort — I think it keeps you going.”

    Related

    Previous ArticleDon Cheadle Talks About the ‘Five Stages of an Actor’s Life’
    Next Article Christopher Walken on Learning Lines, “Walkenized” Roles and the Advice He Offers Young Actors

    Related Posts

    sally field lee strasberg

    Sally Field on Working with Lee Strasberg: “He was one of the best acting teachers”

    May 22, 2023

    Elizabeth Banks on Acting ‘Rites of Passage’ and What She Learned from Ray Liotta

    May 16, 2023
    Tramell Tillman on His Breakthrough 'Severance' Role

    Tramell Tillman on His Breakthrough ‘Severance’ Role

    May 12, 2023
    View 2 Comments

    2 Comments

    1. Trudi Goodman via Facebook on November 26, 2012 2:15 pm

      I love this man. Watch him in Hearts of Atlantis.

    2. Daily Actor via Facebook on November 27, 2012 7:27 am

      I’ve never seen that but I’ll definitely check it out. Thanks Trudi 🙂

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Popular Pages
    Become An Actor | Acting Tips | Acting Quotes
    Acting Resume | Resume Template
    Headshot Photographers
    Los Angeles | New York
    Print Your Headshots
    Acting Schools & Colleges
    Los Angeles | New York
    Monologues
    Movies | Plays | Comedic | Dramatic
    Men | Women | Teens | Kids
    • Contact
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Resource Listings
    • Write A Column
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. Affiliate links provides compensation to Daily Actor which helps us remain online, giving you the resources and information actors like you are looking for.

    © 2023 Daily Actor

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.