Keeping it simple: Anthony Hopkins’ advice for aspiring actors in Dodge Master Class

Photo Courtesy of the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts

Anthony Hopkins, the renowned actor with nearly 60 years of experience starring in some of the most well-known films of all time, says that his only process for preparing for a role is simply to "learn the lines."

On Oct. 7, Chapman students lined up outside the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts for a seat at the Anthony Hopkins Master Class. The night began with a screening of one of the actor’s most recent films, “The Father,” which debuted in 2020 — followed by a Q&A moderated by associate professor Joe Rosenberg. 

“The Father” is a drama focusing on an elderly man with dementia. The character rejects all assistance from his daughter and struggles to stay grounded in reality as his mind deceives him. Hopkins’ performance left the crowd in tears, with sniffles sounding throughout the room as the lights turned on. Tyndall Dickinson, a sophomore film production major, felt incredibly moved by Hopkins’ performance in the film.

“I absolutely loved the film,” Dickinson said. “The way that life and death and growing old was illustrated through his acting. What was said, and also what wasn't said in his performance, was just so impactful and so spot on, and really resonated with me. I know that just resonated with so many people.”

The topic of aging is one that Rosenberg mentioned is not widely talked about, saying that America has a very “complicated relationship” with older people and the concept of death. Hopkins made it clear that this role wasn’t challenging for him, calling it an easy part to play.

“I'm very old. I'm at that age, and I've got a lot of experience,” Hopkins said. “Part of my father and grandfather were in my mind.”

Hopkins’ connection to the role was translated through the screen, and Dickinson felt touched by the portrayal of dementia and growing old, saying that the effects of the illness is an important topic to cover.

“It's something that a lot of people don't really talk about because the way that people handle elderly people is so particular in this country,” Dickinson told The Panther.

Hopkins explained that his life experience prepared him for this role more than anything, taking lessons from the people that surround him daily. He emphasized many times throughout the Master Class that he doesn’t have an acting ritual; he simply learns from life.

“Somebody else writes the story of our lives,” Hopkins said. “It’s all to do with what's inside of you.”

With a resume that spans decades in the film industry, Hopkins may be expected to have a process like no other, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. When asked by Rosenberg, Hopkins said he didn’t know how he became an actor in the first place.

“The fact that I became an actor is a mystery to me,” Hopkins said. “For some uncanny reason, my mother wrote to apply for a scholarship to an acting school in Wales. I was 17. I never acted in my life, and they gave me the scholarship. To this day, I don't know how any of this has happened.”

Hopkins said that he struggled in the traditional classroom before attending an acting school on scholarship. The lessons he has learned since the beginning of his career have taught him what he didn't learn in school. Hopkins said that acting has given him an “education of humanity.”

Rosenberg concluded his portion of the Q&A with questions on the topic of one of Hopkins’ most well known films, “The Silence of the Lambs.” The 1991 horror film made over $200 million at the box office, but Rosenberg mentioned that it wasn’t an instant success. 

“When (the agent) sent the book out. The galleys for ‘Silence of the Lambs.’ Everybody passed. Everybody, no action, no offer,” Rosenberg said.

While everybody passed on making “The Silence of the Lambs” into the film it is today, Hopkins said that he was stunned when he first read the script.

“I read about eight pages, 10 pages. I phoned back. I said, ‘Is this an offer or not?,’” Hopkins said. "This is the best part I've ever read… The reason was I knew how to play it.”

They ended with opening up for questions from the audience.Hopkins had some advice for the actors who needed assistance transforming the words on the page into authentic performances. Just as he emphasized throughout the evening, Hopkins advised the actors to focus on simplicity.

“Don’t think about (the script),” Hopkins said. “Keep it really simple, learn the lines… watch actors, watch films, watch the classical movies from Hollywood and learn from them.”

After the Master Class, The Panther spoke with students about their thoughts on all aspects of the event. Aiden Tezanos, a junior film production major, appreciated Hopkins’ authenticity in his responses. He said that moments where Hopkins would get into the characters he’s played while advising about acting felt particularly authentic. For Tezanos, his simplicity and wisdom left a lasting impression.

“(Hopkins) almost turned into the characters while quoting them. You could tell he just really has a love for what he does,” Tezanos told The Panther. “I think he just came off as extremely authentic.” 

Tezanos also noted how the actors in the audience must have resonated with the advice given by Hopkins. He said that even though he isn’t an actor himself, he felt he left the event with a new understanding of acting.

“I found his advice towards the screen actors and the way he spoke to them felt so down to earth,” Tezanos said. “The way that he was speaking to a lot of (the actors) about how to get into character and what his mentality was going into playing like Hannibal Lecter and (in) ‘The Father’ was just so interesting. I feel like everyone walked away with something, I feel like we all walked away with some new knowledge.”

Dodge College of Film and Media Arts Master Classes are available to all Chapman students and alumni. Seats are available either on a first-come, first-served basis or by lottery system, depending on the Master Class. Dates, times, upcoming guests and additional information can be found in the lobby of Marion Knott Studios or on the Dodge College Instagram account.