How Does Anthony Hopkins Play A Villainous Role Like Hannibal Lecter? The Actor’s Simple Advice Makes So Much Sense

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In many films, it’s often the main character who receives all the praise, but quite a few actors admit to enjoying playing the villain instead. There’s no denying that some villains have outshone the hero in memorable performances, and an actor who can vouch for this is Anthony Hopkins. Interestingly, when it comes to embodying antagonists, Hopkins follows a straightforward principle that makes perfect sense.

In a vast expanse of time, when the heat death of the universe eventually takes place in several billion years, it’s likely that the one acting performance humans will still vividly recall will be Anthony Hopkins’ Academy Award-winning portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. In a conversation with Business Insider, he revealed that the secret to playing villainous characters lies in presenting them in an unexpected manner. He explained…

In an acting context, if you’re portraying a villain or a character that is truly wicked, try to present them in a way that seems quite amiable instead. This means opting for the antithesis of their true nature in your performance.

Without a doubt, Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal of Hannibal Lecter truly embodies the essence of the concept. Despite Hannibal being universally detestable due to his cannibalistic nature, Hopkins skillfully depicts him as composed, courteous, and remarkably amiable. However, this facade hides the brutal core of the character, a layer that adds depth to the performance. This level of excellence in acting is such that even Hopkins himself felt attempting another portrayal might be an error.

In the movie “Locked,” Bill Skarsgard (known as Pennwise in IT) plays a character who attempts to steal a car, unaware that the owner, portrayed by Hopkins, has intentionally trapped him within. The owner, William, then subjects the thief to torment, but maintains an unusually calm and friendly demeanor throughout the ordeal. Hopkins informs BI that he employed the same formula in creating this film.

In typical portrayals, villains are often depicted as wholly wicked, which fits many narratives well. However, considering the concept that “the villain is the hero of their own story,” it becomes questionable if a purely evil character truly exists. After all, there’s no rule stating that a villain can’t be charming and amiable from their perspective.

Reflecting on characters like Hannibal Lecter and other iconic cinematic villains, it’s clear that other talented actors might also choose to portray such complex roles in a similar manner. For instance, Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber from Die Hard appears quite amiable, regarding the hostage situation he orchestrates as just another business deal. Similarly, Norman Bates in Psycho, arguably cinema’s most renowned villain, comes across as unremarkable to a fault, which makes his transformation into a terrifying monster even more surprising.

In a world where hero-centric blockbusters abound, there’s equal potential for antagonists to shine. It’s possible that Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doctor Doom might leverage this concept in his future Marvel film performances.

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2025-04-02 03:39