What’s it like standing in front of a living legend? We soon found out at the junket for The World’s Fastest Indian. And the reality check? Some living legends are absolutely grounded.
Anthony Hopkins’ co-star Chris Lawford, who plays Jim, divulges, “He is as good a human being as he is an actor. I’ve worked with people who are talented and successful, but the thing about Tony is that he brings a modesty to his work. Often he would say after a take, ‘Is that good enough? Is that what you wanted?’ All of the actors around him felt we were creating something together. That’s pretty unique working with someone that successful and famous.”
Working with Hopkins was a landmark experience for director Roger Donaldson. The two previously worked together on The Bounty, nearly twenty years ago. Donaldson since admits, “It’s no secret that Anthony and I were ready to kill each other doing The Bounty. It was a tough movie to make. In retrospect, [I understand] how much it takes to produce a performance like he did. Years later we saw each other again. We realized it was one of the more memorable movies we’d been involved in. Hard to believe it, but now we’re best of friends.”
Since Hopkins seemed to be the hot topic, we caught up with the Academy Award winner to learn more about the man behind the movie…
Hollywood.com: Was it difficult creating a character that is both abrasive yet sympathetic?
Anthony Hopkins: No, I’m just an actor. It’s the way the script is written and it’s just easy. You don’t have to think about it. When you receive a script, you know how to play it. Apart from technicalities, like the accent, I became as close to Burt Monroe as I possibly could through the documentary film. People ask, “What you think about the message in the film?” I never think about stuff like that. We’re dying from over thinking. We’re slowly killing ourselves thinking about everything. You can never trust the human mind anyway. It’s a death trap. I don’t think about that. I learn my lines, go on the set, do my preparation, learn the accent, have a cup of coffee, say hello to everyone, be friendly, they say, “Action,” and I do it.
HW: Did you do much riding on the Indian?
AH: I did some. It was uncomfortable for my lower back.
HW: Your character is a speed demon. Can you relate?
AH: Nope! I’m the slowest driver in the world.
HW: Did you enjoy shooting in New Zealand?
AH: I did enjoy it. It rained a lot, which can cause problems for the filming, but you adapt to that. We’d all be ready. On the beach in New Zealand, one day we couldn’t film because the wind blew so badly. Utah was easier because it was sunny. We were lucky there. We filmed in time before the rain came.
HW: This film is about a man who goes after his dreams. Would you say you’re leaving the dream or is their something you’ve always hoped to accomplish?
AH: Oh yeah. Now? Today? I’m having the best time of my life! I’m now composing and writing music. I have a concert in San Antonio in May. I’ve just done an exhibition of paintings of mine. A hundred paintings. I’m doing another series for the San Antonio Library. There’s a charity called “Born to Read.” The illiteracy amongst young kids in part of that area are so bad that the library is trying to encourage young kids to read and write. I’ve done this fundraiser. Oh yeah, my life is fantastic. People ask me, “What’s it like being a celebrity?” and I don’t want to sound like, “Oh yeah. I live a simple life,” because it’s like, “Oh yeah. I bet you do.” But I do. I don’t have people following me around and bodyguards and all of that. I don’t know how people live like that. Maybe the young movie stars have to live like that, but it seems a bit crazy to me. You don’t need all that stuff.
HW: Your character meets a lot of people who help him along his journey. In your personal life, has anyone helped you along the way?
AH: You meet people along the way. I worked with Sir Laurence Olivier and he was a great mentor. You make your own way in life. You meet people along the way. It takes a long time to learn to be relaxed and mellow. I guess that’s what happens when you get older. You find it easier to work with people and people find it easier to work with you. So, generally, am I living my dreams? Yeah. Every time I try to retire, or even think to retire from acting, my agent comes up with a script. I’ll say, OK.” He’ll say, “I thought you were going to retire?” I say, “Well. Maybe I’ll think about that tomorrow.”
HW: You worked with director Roger Donaldson earlier in your career. How has your relationship with him changed?
AH: We’re much more friendly. When you’re younger, you have all these ideas about yourself and everything’s that important. When you look back on it, nothing’s that important. It’s only life.
HW: What place do actors hold in society?
AH: That’s a philosophical question I can’t answer. I don’t know what acting is, but I enjoy it. I think we ask too many questions of ourselves and we make too much importance of stuff. I do say to actors, when I’ve taught in classes or when I’ve talked, I’ll say, “If you never acted again, the world wouldn’t stop.” It wouldn’t stop if I didn’t act again. That’s how important it is. I know it’s important when you’re young, but lighten up. Don’t take it all so seriously.
HW: How difficult was it transitioning from stage to theater?
AH: It was easy because I wanted it to be easy. I knew enough not to overact on film. Working with Katharine Hepburn, she said, “Don’t act. Just be. Just speak the lines. You look good. You’ve got good shoulders and a good head and a good face.” I thought, “Well, that’s pretty good advice.” I think all those actors of that generation were wonderful actors. They didn’t act. They just came on and they did it. People say, “Well, they’re always themselves.” Who else are they going to be? They were really good at what they did. In England, I come from a tradition where everyone’s acting. Too much acting. I watched a film of a famous, great, great actor and God he was acting a lot.
HW: Do you believe in training for actors?
AH: I’m sure it can be helpful like any training. Sir Laurence Olivier was talking about mannerisms in an interview. He said, “We develop mannerisms and little habits that give us comfort. The thing is to break those habits as much as you can. It’s good to have them because they’re security blankets, but if you can have the courage to break them… Find new things all the time. If you make the effort to do it, it’s worth it. You throw off old habits.” Everyone has them. Sometimes they’re attractive habits to look at. They’re charismatic habits. I saw the great Marlon Brando in a movie the other night and… he was so bad. That’s like attacking some sacred… but he was so bad in this movie. I thought, “How can he be so bad in this movie? What’s he doing? For God sake, act! Let go.” A great actor like that…. Can be bad… really bad. That’s OK.
HW: Other than acting, was there another profession you’d considered?
AH: No, I didn’t know what else to do. I thought I’ll follow my nose and follow my luck. I’ve been very lucky.
