Anthony Hopkins, 83, made history at the Oscars last night as the oldest winner of the best actor award which he won for his role in The Father.
Following a two month delay, the 93rd Oscars were held on Sunday evening, with Anthony Hopkins taking the best actor award for his performance as an elderly man with dementia in The Father. It is Hopkins’ second best actor award, with his last victory in 1992 for his famed role as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs.
Hopkins’ victory was one of the most unexpected of the night, with many anticipating a win for the late Chadwick Boseman for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Though Hopkins was not there to collect his award, he posted an Instagram video earlier this morning from his “homeland in Wales”, saying: “At 83 years of age I did not expect to get this award, I really didn’t… I’m very grateful to the Academy, and thank you.”
Hopkins has been previously nominated for The Remains of the Day and Nixon, with supporting nominations for his roles in The Two Popes and Amistad. He is now the oldest person to win an Oscar for acting, with the honour previously held by the late Christopher Plummer who won for Beginners in 2011 when he was 82 years old.
The win follows Hopkins’ previous success at the Baftas two weeks ago, where he also took the Best Actor award. The Father – directed by French writer Florian Zeller – also took the Oscar for best adapted screenplay.
You can watch Hopkins’ acceptance speech on Instagram here.
