Angela Bassett, known for her role as Queen Ramonda in the Black Panther movies, was nominated for Oscars, and she responded to Anthony Hopkins’ comment on how acting is pretty much pointless in MCU films.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is one of the most critically acclaimed MCU films, that has been immensely loved by the fans of the franchise for greatly portraying African culture. The film elevated the superhero film genre, which featured absorbing stories, well-written characters, and a star-studded cast featuring Angela Bassett, Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Winston Duke, and many more.
What did Angela Bassett Say in the Interview?
In a recent interview with The New Yorker, Angela Bassett talked about her shooting experience for the Black Panther films where the actress admitted, she had a great time, and she gave a few instances comparing how her experience was different from Anthony Hopkins’ description of Thor’s set.
The actress said the throne room was present, the elevation with the Dora Milaje flanking around, and other details of the Wakanda set, and the attention to detail was breathtaking. She sympathized with Anthony Hopkins and went on to praise the team for making the imaginary world look so real.
“The throne room was there, the floor of red clay, the elevation with the Dora Milaje flanking around, the grand doors that they walk through. So maybe you don’t see the world of Wakanda, but we had that.”
“When Shuri and I went out into the wild, we had trees and bushes and water for yards and yards and yards, and Namor came up out of the water and flew to us. We had the entire ship, and the attention to detail inside of it was just magnificent. So I had it much better than Anthony Hopkins. I’m sorry for him.”
“We were in Wakanda, and we know Wakanda is special. We had Shuri’s lab. We had the elevator opening up. We had a fake elephant and her baby come in. Of course, they made the generated elephant later, but at least we had an elephant to respond to.”
Angela Bassett’s words were true, and people who have watched the Black Panther films would know how real the movie looked.
What did Anthony Hopkins Say About Acting in MCU films?
In an interview with The New Yorker in 2021, Anthony Hopkins talked about his role as Odin in the Thor movies, the actor said that no acting is required for shooting in MCU films, and he continued, saying that he had to put on armor and the beard and had to shout a little while sitting on the throne. According to the veteran actor, it is pointless to act in a film if you’re sitting in front of a green screen.
I try to apply it to everything I do: no acting required. On “Thor,” you have Chris Hemsworth—who looks like Thor—and a director like Kenneth Branagh, who is so certain of what he wants. They put me in armor; they shoved a beard on me. Sit on the throne; shout a bit. If you’re sitting in front of a green screen, it’s pointless acting it.”
“Gregory Peck was doing “Moby Dick,” and one of the props guys found his script on the set. He opened it up and Gregory Peck had written on a certain page, “N.A.R.”
Anthony Hopkins’ comment might be surprising to some, but he is one of the most phenomenal actors to ever showcase his talent in front of the camera.
A Look at Anthony Hopkins’ Career
Anthony Hopkins started his acting career as a stage performer in the 1960s where he performed in plays such as A Flea in Her Ear, The Dance of Death, and Equus. He made his debut in The Lion in Winter which was released in 1968, and in his debut, he won a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Hopkins was one of the biggest stars in the 1970s and 1980s as he appeared in TV series, and movies such as The Elephant Man, Magic, The Bounty, and Remains of the Day. However, he is remembered for his role as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a cannibalistic serial killer in the 1991 thriller film The Silence of the Lambs. His role as Dr. Hannibal Lecter won him an Academy Award for Best Actor. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the 2021 drama film The Father.
Throughout his career, Anthony Hopkins won four BAFTA Awards, the Primetime Academy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, the National Board of Review for Best Actor, 3 Golden Globes, and numerous other awards and nominations. The Welsh actor was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1993 for his contribution.
Source: The New Yorker
