Anthony Hopkins on Hollywood: 'It’s a poisonous, toxic atmosphere'

‘There’s so much hypocrisy… and they know nothing’

‘People feel entitled to this, that and the other, and they can only be surrounded by Yes people,’ says Hopkins (Getty)

Anthony Hopkins may have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but the esteemed actor seemingly detests Hollywood itself.

While promoting the upcoming BBC adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear, Hopkins called the place ”insidious”, “poisonous” and “toxic”.

“Look at Hollywood! How insidious it is,” the 80-year-old told Radio Times.

“Look how people feel entitled to this, that and the other, and they can only be surrounded by ‘Yes’ people. It’s a poisonous, toxic atmosphere and I don’t want to be surrounded by people like that. The ‘luvvie’ and the kissing cheeks – I can’t stand it. There’s so much hypocrisy… and they know nothing.”

Hopkins, who won the Best Actor Oscar in 1992 for his performance as Dr Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, has appeared in numerous Hollywood-produced movies, including the recent features Thor: Ragnarok, Transformers: The Last Knight and Collide.

He has previously spoken about his dislike of Hollywood, telling The Telegraph in 2011: “You can have breakfast with the suits and it means eff all. I had a lawyer in Hollywood who shall remain nameless. I met him twice.

“Then Silence of the Lambs came out and was a huge hit. Literally, that afternoon I got the phone call from this lawyer. ‘Hi Tony. When are we going to see you. We miss you’.”

King Lear, which stars Hopkins, begins on BBC Two on 28 May.