Anthony Hopkins stars as an unorthodox mentor to a young, reluctant exorcist in this weekend's new demonic-possession horror film, The Rite. But how did Hopkins go from a British television actor to Oscar-winner to the star of an exorcist movie? You can always trace a direct line through a handful of roles (not necessarily his best roles) to illustrate what led to an actor's current success, and with Hopkins, that line twists through everything from British period pieces to starring opposite Emilio Estevez. Let's look at eight performances -- including one of his earliest -- that chart the evolution of Philip Anthony Hopkins.
The Lion in Winter (1968)
After a few television roles, Hopkins made his film debut playing Richard I, which happened to be opposite two screen legends: Katharine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. Hepburn would tie for the Best Actress Oscar (with Barbra Streisand) for her performance as Queen Eleanor. Not only was this Hopkins' debut, but it was also the film debut of a future James Bond, Timothy Dalton.
The Elephant Man (1981)
Ah, yes, the movie that this writer happened to watch unsupervised on Showtime as a little kid, resulting in weeks of nightmares. Hopkins plays Dr. Frederick Treves in this David Lynch classic, a man who rescues the deformed John Merrick (The Elephant Man) from a freak show to discover the intelligent, sensitive human being underneath the frightening exterior.
Freejack (1992)
After his Academy Award win for Silence of the Lambs (we will get to that), Hopkins went on a filming bender. For all of the heat that Jude Law received for overexposure circa 2004 (Law appeared in seven films from 1993 to 1994), it almost pales in comparison to the 11 films that Hopkins appeared in from 1992 to 1993. Sprinkled in these 11 were sh*tballs like Freejack, which has something to do with time travel in the distant future of 2009. Too bad the time travel capability couldn't warn Hopkins of some of the films he would be making by 2009.
The Remains of the Day (1993)
Pretty much the definition of "British period piece," Hopkins starred as a former servant who is pursued by his once co-worker (Emma Thompson) to return to the manor and work alongside her again. Hopkins would be nominated for his second Academy Award for Best Actor (losing to Tom Hanks).
Nixon (1995)
Quite possibly Hopkins' best performances as an actor. He took a well-known public figure and, somehow, reinvented the disgraced Richard Nixon as (at times) a fairly sympathetic figure -- as the scene below at the Lincoln Memorial illustrates. Hopkins, not surprisingly, would once again be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor, this time losing to Nicolas Cage (ha!). This remains Hopkins last Best Actor Oscar nomination to date -- though he did receive a Best Supporting nod for 1997's Amistad , only to lose to Robin Williams (ha!).
Hannibal (2001)
Of the three Hannibal Lecter films (not counting Manhunter or the horrible Hannibal Rising) starring Hopkins, this is the one that cemented Hopkins as a franchise star. Hannibal grossed over $351 million worldwide, more than even its hit predecessor, Silence of the Lambs. No one is disputing that Silence of the Lambs is by far the better film, but, Hannibal, for better or worse, made Hopkins an unlikely genre star -- a trait that continues even to this day with this weekend's release, The Rite.
The World's Fastest Indian (2005)
Proof that Hopkins, when he wants to, can still make a good movie when he sets his mind to it. In fact, Hopkins to this day claims that his role as Burt Munro, a man who set a new land speed record, is still his favorite roll. The critical praise was there, but, unfortunately, the film only grossed $18 million, not even making back its budget.
The Wolfman (2010)
Perhaps it was the failure of The World's Fastest Indian, but, in the world we live in today, this has become the kind of movie we are going to get out of Hopkins. Supporting roles in not-very-good, bigger-budget genre films (or supporting roles in not very good Woody Allen films). It's odd because Hopkins never really phones it in; it's just the quality of the whole piece that's... questionable. The Wolfman co-stars Hopkins as... you know what? It doesn't matter; there's scary music and blood -- a lot like what we also see in The Rite. Up next for Hopkins: Marvel Studio's adaptation of Thor in which Hopkins plays Odin, ruler of Asgard.