The Silence of the Lambs at 35 – Revisiting our chat with Sir Anthony Hopkins: ‘I wanted to be like Richard Burton – famous as well as different’

Anthony Hopkins didn’t truly feel like a good actor until he won an Oscar in 1992 for his iconic role as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. He recalls thinking, “Now I’ve proven myself,” after receiving the award. Before that, he struggled with self-doubt, unhappiness, and alcohol abuse – problems he notes are sadly common among artists. He describes that period as a rather unpleasant time.