A Person Close to Anthony Hopkins Believes He May Have a Neurodevelopmental Disorder

Behind the commanding presence is a man forged by chaos and quiet defiance — a two-time Oscar winner whose path from restless Welsh boy to global icon has been one of survival, not fame.

At 87, Sir Anthony Hopkins is taking a hard look back at the forces that shaped him — especially his father. In a raw and unsparing interview, the "Silence of the Lambs" star reflected on a turbulent childhood in Wales and the inner battles that would go on to define his art.

After abandoning his bakery to run a pub in Caerleon, Wales, his father emerged as a commanding figure in Hopkins's early life — a man of fierce pride and unpredictable moods whose influence loomed over the family.

Hopkins described his father's frightening emotional shifts, noting that his moods swung between "highs of manic energy" and dark, brooding lows — patterns the actor now believes would be classified today as bipolar disorder.

As he looked inward, Hopkins admitted he had long wrestled with his own mental state. Although he had once tried therapy, the experience only deepened his skepticism. Finding the process unhelpful, Hopkins said he eventually challenged his therapist's credibility — and walked away.

The implication was clear: he would find his own way out of the darkness. Hopkins also spoke candidly about his long battle with alcoholism — a destructive force that once threatened to derail his soaring success.

In 1975, at the height of his fame, he found himself waking up alone in Arizona, with no memory of driving there from Los Angeles. That terrifying blackout became his breaking point.

Determined to reclaim control, he turned to Alcoholics Anonymous, a decision that changed his life. He has remained sober ever since — a towering testament to his iron will.

In the later years of his life, Hopkins has grown increasingly introspective, taking stock of his own rigid behaviors and obsessive tendencies — patterns spotted early on by his third wife, Stella Arroyave, a 69-year-old Colombian antiques dealer.

"I'm obsessed with numbers. I'm obsessed with detail. I like everything in order. And memorising. Stella looked it up and she said, 'You must be Asperger's.' I didn't know what the hell she was talking about. I don't even believe it," Hopkins said.

When asked about modern mental health diagnoses — including ADHD, OCD, and Asperger's — Hopkins didn't mince words. He flatly dismissed these psychological labels as oversimplifications, arguing that such terms fail to account for the messy, tangled, often contradictory nature of real human lives.

To him, they're nothing more than fashionable boxes — and he refuses to be put in one. Whether discussing his father's illness, his personal descent into addiction, or his wife's unsparing insight, he speaks like a man who has seen it all — and refused to flinch.

From a modest upbringing in Wales to becoming one of the most decorated actors in Hollywood, Hopkins is more than a cinematic icon. He was born in Port Talbot, Wales, in 1937, the only child of his parents.

Hopkins did not do well in school, and by the age of seventeen, he dropped out. The youngster was inspired by local actor Richard Burton, whose autograph he obtained at the age of fifteen, and decided to become an actor himself, setting his sights on the stage.

The actor joined the National Theatre in 1960 but was given non-speaking roles in plays. Hopkins was so disgruntled and, with this fierce drive to be a star, confronted the casting director about what he had to do to get leading roles.

During the early 70s, Hopkins became a stage star in London. In 1974, the Welshman moved to America, intending to become a Hollywood star, and soon after, he landed roles in movies like "A Bridge Too Far" and "The Elephant Man."

Here is a look at Hopkins's transformation through the years:

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