Sir Anthony Hopkins: Fellowship 2008

Sir Anthony Hopkins, world-famous actor who starred in Silence of the Lambs, was awarded the 2008 BAFTA Fellowship at the Orange British Academy Film Awards.

Hopkins was recognised for his outstanding and exceptional contribution to film – including his work in Hannibal, Remains of the Day and Howard’s End.

His first BAFTA nomination was as Richard the Lionhearted in his film debut The Lion in Winter. At 70, he’s a master of reinvention, embracing new technology for his role as gruff King Hrothgar in Beowulf last year.

He received the Fellowship at the Royal Opera House London on 10 February 2008.

Hopkins achieved success in film relatively late on.

He says that by 50 he was resigned to being “a respectable actor poncing around the West End and doing respectable BBC work for the rest of my life.”

He’d been in some popular films, but nothing that put him at Hollywood’s top table. Privately, he considered his film career “a chapter closed.”

Then the script for The Silence Of The Lambs dropped through his letterbox and everything changed. The role of Dr Hannibal ‘The Cannibal’ Lecter earned him an Oscar and the second of three BAFTAs for Best Actor. He was knighted in 1991.

“I’ve got to an age where I can sit back and be a bit more selective. If they want me to work and if it’s a good script, I’ll do it.”
– Anthony Hopkins

Critics have celebrated his versatility and chameleon-like quality which has seen him appear in many popular biopics.

On the big screen he’s played two US presidents, plus CS Lewis and Picasso, among others.

Despite his huge success, Hopkins loves to demystify the acting process.

He particularly likes to quote US actor Spencer Tracy: “Tracy once said to Laurence Olivier: ‘Who do you think they think you are?’ And he was right. If I stopped acting tomorrow the world would not stop.”

Awarded every year by the Academy, the BAFTA Fellowship is the highest accolade given to an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, games or TV.

Previous Fellows include Elizabeth Taylor, Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, Judi Dench and Vanessa Redgrave.

For more inspiring stories from the world of film, games and TV explore our BAFTA Award Stories section.