Sir Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (CBE) was spotted in the late 1950s by Sir Lawrence Olivier, who invited him to join the Royal National Theatre. It wasn't until 1968 though that he caught his first big break in film, being cast as Richard the Lionheart in The Lion in Winter, alongside Peter O'Toole and Catherine Hepburn.
Regarded as one of our greatest living actors, he is probably best known for his spine-chilling portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in Thomas Harris' The Silence of the Lambs, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Who can forget that hushed, controlled greeting “why, hello Clarice”?! Brrr, chills!
And he's back in the limelight again, now staring in HBO's hit sci-fi series Westworld.
A little known fact about Anthony Hopkins - Not resting on the laurels of his brilliant acting career, he is also a composer and has been writing music for most of his life. In 2011, Andre Rieu released an album including a waltz written by Hopkins at the age of 27, giving the album the same name 'And the Waltz Goes on.'
| Hopkins in 2009 |
As Hannibal Lecter in Hannibal, 2001 (Stylish yet terrifying!) |
Style: Unapologetic, smart-casual, loves a blazer (and a Panama Hat of course!)
He says: “My philosophy is it's none of my business what people say of me and think of me. I am what I am, and I do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. And it makes life so much easier.”
Hannibal says: "As your mother tells you, and my mother certainly told me, it is important, she always used to say, always to try new things."
Whichever of our Panama Icons you most identify with (and we hope it's Hopkins, not his infamous character..!), remember: wearing a Panama hat is a great way to get ahead when you’re aiming for standout style.