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Anthony Hopkins has firmly pushed back against long-standing claims that he and Jodie Foster clashed while filming the 1991 classic 'The Silence of the Lambs.' In a recent appearance on the 'Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard' podcast, the Oscar-winning actor explained that he and Foster were always cordial and that the rumours of an on-set feud had no basis in reality.
Anthony Hopkins Shares on Jodie Foster's Relationship
Hopkins shared that he and Jodie Foster interacted pleasantly when they first met and that any suggestion she avoided him was inaccurate. He emphasised that the two maintained a respectful distance during production purely because it benefited their performances—his role as Hannibal Lecter demanded an intimidating presence, while Foster's Clarice Starling needed to react to that intensity with genuine unease.
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Anthony Hopkins on Portraying Hannibal Lecter
In his new memoir, 'We Did OK, Kid' released this month, Anthony Hopkins detailed how the separation between him and Foster helped them sink deeper into their characters. He recalled that during the film's first script reading in New York, Jodie Foster reacted immediately to the chilling way he portrayed Lecter. Producers were reportedly stunned as well, and Hopkins sensed that the atmosphere in the room shifted the moment he spoke in character. He remembered that the tension was so thick that even the slightest sound felt amplified.
Hopkins noted that the cast didn't break this purposeful distance until the final day of shooting, when he and Foster shared a quiet lunch. During the meal, Foster admitted she had felt intimidated by him throughout filming because of how committed he was to Lecter's unsettling presence. Hopkins said he felt the same sense of emotional distance, attributing it to the cat-and-mouse dynamic that defined their characters.
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Despite the intense atmosphere on set, Anthony Hopkins stressed that he and Jodie Foster have always shared warmth and admiration in the years since.
Their collaboration on the Jonathan Demme-directed thriller became one of Hollywood's most celebrated pairings. 'The Silence of the Lambs' went on to win five Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Hopkins, Best Actress for Foster, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture, cementing its status as one of cinema’s most iconic psychological thrillers.
