Anthony Hopkins

Oh yes. I’m an actor, so I just learn my lines, and show up and do it. I gave it a little bit of thought.

I never make conscious decisions.

I think all those actors from that generation, like Bogart – they were wonderful actors. They didn’t act. They just came on and they did it, and the characters were wonderful.

I have a punishing workout regimen. Every day I do 3 minutes on a treadmill, then I lie down, drink a glass of vodka and smoke a cigarette.

Well, everyone likes movies when they’re a little kid.

It was a challenge, to work with Oliver Stone.

We are dying from overthinking. We are slowly killing ourselves by thinking about everything. Think. Think. Think. You can never trust the human mind anyway. It’s a death trap.

I’m always cast in these strange men… that’s not me, really.

I’m most suspicious of scripts that have a lot of stage direction at the top of the page… sunrise over the desert and masses of… a whole essay before you get to the dialogue.

Every time I try to retire, or even think of retiring from acting, my agent comes up with a script.

Actors I admire? Ed Harris, or course, I think he’s terrific; because I know he always had to fight being what he looked like a lot, but I think he’s a terrific actor.

I like the good life too much, I’m not good at going on stage night after night and on wet Wednesday afternoons.

I came here in 1974 to do a play, and then I went to L.A. I really like living in America. I feel more at home here than anywhere else.

I don’t have people following me around, like bodyguards. I don’t know how people live like that. Maybe the young movie stars have to live like that, I don’t know. But it seems a little crazy to me. I don’t think you need all that stuff.

I love life because what more is there.

I have no interest in Shakespeare and all that British nonsense… I just wanted to get famous and all the rest is hogwash.

My father was grounded, a very meat-and-potatoes man. He was a baker.

I love roller coasters. I don’t get a chance often, but I’ve gone to Magic Mountain and gone on the rides. I love roller coasters.

I am able to play monsters well. I understand monsters. I understand madmen.

I’ve got a great sense of humor.

I worked with Lawrence Olivier some years ago. He was a great mentor.

I have dual citizenship, it just so happens I live in America.

I worked with Steven Spielberg on Amistad… he seemed so very secure in himself that he let me do things.

And I love a scary movie. It makes your toes curl and it’s not you going through it.

Why love if losing hurts so much? I have no answers anymore; only the life I have lived. The pain now is part of the happiness then.

Richard Burton came from the same town as me, so I thought I’d follow my nose, and follow my luck. I think I’ve been very lucky.

I’ve got no need to prove to myself that I can do Shakespeare. I’ve done it.

This industry has been really good to me. It’s been a great life. I’m not through yet. I’m ready when you are, Mr. DeMille.

I’m the slowest driver in the world.

I don’t know what acting is, but I enjoy it.

I would like to go back to Wales. I’m obsessed with my childhood and at least three times a week dream I am back there.

I know that the arts are important. I’m not denying that, but I can’t associate myself with all the claptrap that goes on around it.