On December 31, 2025, one of the greatest actors in the history of cinema – Anthony Hopkins – turns 88. His birth date, coinciding with the last day of the year, has long become a curious detail in the biography of an artist whose career spans more than six decades and several generations of viewers.
Born in Wales in 1937, Hopkins has gone from a classical theater actor trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to a global film icon. In his early years, he was part of the National Theatre in Great Britain under the direction of Laurence Olivier – an experience that Hopkins himself often cites as crucial to his development as an actor with uncompromising discipline.
Worldwide fame came in 1991 with the role of Dr. Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of the Lambs“ – a character that, despite its limited screen time, remains one of the most memorable villains in cinema and brought him his first “Oscar“. In the following years, Hopkins refused to be confined to one type, alternating between historical roles, intellectual dramas and commercial productions.
The culmination of the later stage of his career came in 2021, when at the age of 83 he won his second “Oscar“ for his role in the film “The Father“. The distinction makes him the oldest recipient of an Academy Award for Best Actor, a fact that cemented his reputation as an artist whose power does not wane with time.
Apart from acting, Hopkins is also known for his musical activities. He composes classical music, and his works have been performed by symphony orchestras in Europe and the United States.
In recent years, he has also attracted attention with personal video messages on social networks, in which he demonstrates a sense of humor, self-irony and a philosophical attitude towards aging and life.