The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Sir Anthony Hopkins | You Can't Handle The Truce

Oct 31, 2025
Join Sir Anthony Hopkins, an Academy Award-winning actor and author, as he delves into his life and new memoir, "We Did OK, Kid." He shares insights on his childhood, the loneliness that shaped him, and his journey into acting, including a pivotal scholarship. Hopkins reveals how HAL 9000 inspired his iconic portrayal of Hannibal Lecter and discusses the impact of aging on his craft. He also reflects on sobriety, the joy of music during lockdown, and a newfound fearlessness about death.
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ANECDOTE

Reluctant Memoir Sparked By Stella

  • Anthony Hopkins was reluctant to write his memoir until his wife Stella insisted and pushed him to start.
  • He began by writing about childhood loneliness and how it shaped who he became.
ANECDOTE

Scholarship After A Defiant Vow

  • At 17 Hopkins received a poor school report, vowed to prove his parents wrong, and soon earned an acting scholarship.
  • A chance YMCA nativity play gave him his first taste of performing and praise that planted the seed.
INSIGHT

Stillness As A Powerful Acting Tool

  • Hopkins recognized a natural instinct for playing diabolical characters early, linking it to a closed, unreactive part of himself.
  • He used that stillness and refusal to give an inch to shape roles like Hannibal Lecter.
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