Anthony Hopkins reveals he threatened to punch National Theatre director

Anthony Hopkins has revealed that he threatened to punch a National Theatre director in the face.

The Welsh Hollywood actor from Port Talbot said the director was “very picky”, which made him “angry”.

He made the admission in an interview with GQ magazine, which has given him the 2021 Legend Award. He added that he doesn’t “do that any more”.

Hopkins, 83, who won his second Oscar this year for his portrayal in The Father of a man suffering from dementia, told the magazine that aspiring acting students should avoid wasting their money on acting schools run by egotistical failed performers.

He said: “Don’t waste your money. They’re failed actors that set themselves up as gurus. That’s one of the reasons I left the National Theatre – we had a particular director who was very picky.

“And that’s one of the reasons that I would be angry. This was in my days of raging paranoia and I warned one director, ‘You ever speak to me like that again I’ll punch your face in.’

“Obviously, I don’t do that any more. There’s one very well-known actor with an acting class here in Los Angeles and he’s the star of the show!

“And all these other students sitting around paying their fees and he’s the star! He’s on stage with them, interrupting them, being rude to them. No, you don’t do that.”