Before he became the legendary face of Hannibal Lecter or Odin, a young Philip Anthony Hopkins served his country as a soldier in the British Army. His service took place during the twilight of the National Service era, just before he launched into the formal acting training that would define his life. He completed two years of mandatory National Service in the British Army from 1958 to 1960. He served in the Royal Artillery and was officially known as 23449720 Gunner Hopkins.
Having graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 1957, Hopkins was called up for his mandatory two-year National Service. For a young man who was a gifted pianist and a “dreamer” who struggled with traditional academics, the transition to the disciplined environment of the Royal Artillery was a stark contrast.
Hopkins has often noted that he wasn’t naturally suited for the rigid, "no-nonsense” structure of the military. However, he has reflected that the experience instilled a sense of discipline and “standing up straight” that mirrored the advice of his father, a hard-working baker from Port Talbot.
Even while serving, his passion for performance remained. Upon his demobilization in 1960, he didn’t return to a “standard” trade; instead, he made his professional stage debut in Swansea in a play titled Have a Cigarette.
His time in the army acted as a bridge between his early studies in Wales and his move to London, where he won a scholarship to the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 1961.
Though his military career was brief, Hopkins would later return to the uniform many times on screen. His real-life experience as a “Gunner” likely informed his portrayals of high-ranking military figures, such as Lt. Col. John Frost in A Bridge Too Far (1977) and Captain William Bligh in The Bounty (1984).
0 comments:
Post a Comment