Anthony Hopkins Once Worked With a Director He Called a Deranged Sadist

Anthony Hopkins is widely respected for his professionalism and dedication to his craft, often praised by colleagues for his focused demeanor on set. However, the legendary actor has admitted there was one person in the industry he truly despised working with.

That individual was theater director John Dexter, a man Hopkins did not hesitate to publicly describe as a sadist. Their turbulent professional relationship began in 1974 during the original Broadway production of Equus and continued with The Misanthrope and M. Butterfly.

Despite the acclaim their collaborations received, Hopkins harbored intense personal animosity toward the director. In his autobiography, We Did OK, Kid, Hopkins wrote candidly about his feelings, stating he did not become an actor to be punished by a “wicked, deranged little sadist” like Dexter.

Hopkins recalled a specific encounter where he described the director as “sinister.” When Dexter asked why the actor had previously walked away from him, Hopkins bluntly replied that it was because he was a “wicked little bastard.”

Dexter, unfazed by the insult, simply agreed and told Hopkins that he needed a “wicked little bastard” to direct him properly. Surprisingly, Hopkins later admitted that Dexter was right and that the director managed to draw the best performances out of him.

Dexter even encouraged Hopkins by telling him he was a much better actor than he gave himself credit for. This toxic but effective partnership ultimately culminated in Hopkins winning a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.

It is a rare example of how deep personal conflict can sometimes result in extraordinary artistic success.

We want to know if you think great art justifies a toxic work environment, so please share your thoughts in the comments.