Anthony Hopkins is legendary for transforming himself for roles, but he was virtually unrecognizable in a photo posted to Instagram on Sunday.
The two-time Oscar winner, 88, was preparing to watch England’s match against Mexico during the World Cup alongside his wife, 70-year-old Stella Arroyave, and posed for the camera with what looked like a playfully competitive expression on his face.
There was no mistaking whose side he was on, however, as he was clad in the 2026 England jersey, while Arroyave, who was born in Colombia, wore Mexico’s green jersey.
‘We’re all winners… #WorldCup2026,’ read the caption.
Hopkins still appears to be working nonstop with seven projects either in post-production or pre-production, per IMDb.
Hopkins, who recently celebrated 48 years of sobriety, is perhaps best known for his iconic role as Dr Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs (1991). His chilling performance garnered him the Oscar for Best Actor.
Anthony Hopkins was virtually unrecognizable in a photo posted to Instagram on Sunday as he prepared to root for England during the World Cup alongside his wife Stella Arroyave, who cheered for Mexico
The two-time Oscar winner is legendary for transforming himself for roles; pictured in 2001
He revisited the cannibalistic serial killer and former forensic psychiatrist in the sequel Hannibal (2001) and the prequel Red Dragon (2002), which doubled as a remake of Michael Mann’s classic serial-killer thriller Manhunter (1986), in which Succession star Brian Cox played a very different version of Lecter years earlier.
As Stevens in The Remains of the Day (1993), Hopkins delivered an acclaimed performance as the repressed and devoted butler who gives up personal happiness and love to serve his employer, Lord Darlington.
The film also starred Emma Thompson as the estate’s housekeeper, Miss Kenton, whose affections Hopkins’s character couldn’t return until it was too late.
Hopkins won a second Oscar for Best Actor in 2021 for his role in The Father, which costarred Olivia Colman.
He remains active on social media as well, regularly posting updates about his artwork, piano playing, dance moves and culinary creations, or sometimes just cheerful greetings to his fans.
The latest post of him wearing an England shirt caused some debate in the comments, especially given his Welsh roots.
Born in Port Talbot, Wales, Hopkins has expressed nostalgia for his Welsh heritage over the years and continues to support Welsh causes.
‘Take that shirt off Sir… you’re Welsh!’ one fan wrote, while another commented: ‘Olympus has fallen.’
Hopkins is perhaps best known for his iconic role as cannibalistic serial killer Dr Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs (1991)
His chilling performance included the line, ‘A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti,’ and earned him his first Best Actor Oscar
In the film The Remains of the Day (1993), Hopkins portrayed a repressed and devoted butler who gives up personal happiness and love with Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson) to serve his employer, Lord Darlington
Hopkins often shares entertaining updates about his daily life on social media, but his latest post of him wearing an England shirt caused some debate among followers, especially given his Welsh roots; pictured in 2025
‘Anthony Hopkins is Welsh, not English,’ a third ventured to say.
‘What are you doing????? You are Welsh,’ another pointed out.
Others defended the actor, saying he was merely enjoying the sport as millions of others were doing around the globe.
England eventually beat Mexico 3–2 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
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