Anthony Hopkins, Ian McKellen team for Starz movie 'The Dresser'

ENTERTAINMENT
By Natalie Abrams on Jan 9, 2015 at 7:06PM   @NatalieAbrams



Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen will team together for the first time in Starz’s adaptation of Ronald Harwood’s classic play The Dresser, the network announced at the Television Critics Association’s winter TV previews.

Based on Harwood’s own experiences as a dresser for the distinguished British actor Sir Donald Wolfit, the movie is set against the backdrop of World War II. Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs, Thor) will portray Sir, while McKellen (Lord of the Rings, X-Men) will play his dresser, Norman.

“The Dresser is a timeless and poignant story about the relationship between artists, and to have this classic play brought to life on-screen by such acting giants as Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen is thrilling,” says Starz Managing Director Carmi Zlotnik. “We are glad to be working in partnership again with the BBC and Colin Callender on this very special project, and to be establishing a relationship with acclaimed theater producer Sonia Friedman.”


READ MORE HERE: http://insidetv.ew.com/2015/01/09/anthony-hopkins-ian-mckellen-starz-dresser/

Anthony Hopkins: He’s one of the busiest actors in Hollywood, but superstar Sir Anthony insists: I’m too lazy to chase roles by Robin Turner, Western MailJul 17 2012 WALES ON LINE

And at the end of this year Welsh film star Sir Anthony Hopkins will be celebrating his 75th birthday.

But that has not stopped in-demand Port Talbot born actor Hopkins claiming he is “too lazy” to go off in pursuit of interesting film roles.

The veteran actor, now based in sun-baked Los Angeles, will next be seen playing legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock in the eagerly awaited biopic Hitchcock, based on the making of the 1960 shock horror flick Psycho.


Alongside him will be fellow Oscar-winner Dame Helen Mirren as the director’s wife Alma Reville and Scarlet Johansson as Psycho’s damsel in distress Janet Leigh.

Jessica Biel will play Vera Miles who was film’s heroine.

On-set photographs of Hopkins looking a dead ringer for Hitchcock seem to suggest he was made for the role.

But in an interview with Total Film Magazine, Hopkins insists though the part was initially offered to him several years ago, he never set out to land the role.

He explained: “It came along about seven or eight years ago with one director attached and then that fell apart.

“Then about a year ago my agent called and said ‘Hitchcock is back’.

“I met the director, Sacha Gervasi, and he seemed to have such unbridled enthusiasm about it that I said: ‘OK, let’s give it a whirl.’

“I guess my saying: ‘Let’s have a go’ gave it the green light.

“But I never pursue anything – I’m too lazy.”



Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/07/17/he-s-one-of-the-busiest-actors-in-hollywood-but-superstar-sir-anthony-insists-i-m-too-lazy-to-chase-roles-91466-31408655/