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In a recent video interview with newspaper The New York Times, Sir Anthony Hopkins discussed how he never put up with bullying on a film set by a filmmaker.
Talking about tyrannical directors back in his younger days, he indicated he’d only met a few in his time, and he “would confront them in no uncertain terms” and he “wouldn’t put up with it”.
He then spoke about one time he saw a director shouting at a young actress while giving her notes and had to step in, as no film or its perceived importance was worth allowing someone to be humiliated on set:
“I remember working with a director who was giving notes to a young woman, a fine actress, and he started shouting at her. I said, ‘Hold it. You raise your voice one decibel to this lady, and I’m going. And you, my dear, should leave as well’.
She said afterwards, ‘Thank you’. I said, ‘How long has he been doing that?’ She said, ‘For the whole film ‘, and I said, ‘You should’ve told me’. I can’t even remember the director; I think he’s gone now. But no, I defend people. Don’t raise your voice. It’s a film, it’s a stupid film, that’s all it is. It’s not important. Doing take after take after take after take, who cares?”
The video has inspired not just plenty of praise but an uptick in a recounting of famous stories of actors defending either themselves or other actors from directors who bullied them.
Sir Anthony Hopkins says he never tolerated tyrannical directors who believed they could bully actors on set.
He recalls one director who started shouting at a young actress while giving her notes. Hopkins immediately stepped in.
“Hold it. You raise your voice one decibel to… pic.twitter.com/FUkvwPjt3o
— ً (@Dejisco29) August 22, 2026
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