Anthony Hopkins hated theatre work

Sir Anthony Hopkins hated working in theatre.

The 'Rite' actor took to the stage at London's prestigious National Theatre earlier in his career, but disliked both the experience and the people working in the industry.

He said: "I did some Shakespeare there. Jesus Christ. Never again. You always have an illusion about yourself that nobody can wait to see your next big Shakespeare performance.

"I've been onstage in Shakespeare and seen people in the front row fast asleep. That was the wake-up moment for me. That was my swansong. I left.

"In the theatre, people talk. Talk, talk until the cows come home about journeys of discovery and about what Hazlitt thought of a line of Shakespeare. I can't stand it."

However, it is not only the response of theatre critics who irritate Anthony, 73, as the 'Silence of the Lambs' star admits he also finds the film industry frustrating.

He recalled to Seven magazine: "Hundreds of years ago, I was in a film that I won't name. I remember sitting in the audience at the Ziegfield with the studio heads and actors. I could barely keep awake yet all around me, people are crying they're so moved. I thought this is the slowest film I've ever seen. I must have a heart of stone.

"At the party afterwards, they said: 'Tony, it's awesome. Amazing.' But of course, the notices were disastrous. From then on, I thought eff it. That's how I've treated it ever since. I honestly don't give a s**t."