Anthony Hopkins, a disastrous 1990 movie shoot and the performance he couldn’t defend

Before *The Silence of the Lambs* made Anthony Hopkins a Hollywood star, he appeared in Michael Cimino’s poorly received 1990 film *Desperate Hours*. Hopkins later felt he was miscast as a Midwestern Vietnam veteran, and recalled dreading work with co-star Mickey Rourke, whose confrontational behaviour made the shoot difficult.

Rourke reportedly punched Hopkins’ shoulder during a scene, prompting Hopkins to strike a nearby car and, on another occasion, walk off set in frustration. Although Rourke later sent Hopkins a complimentary letter about working with him, Hopkins said he was also disappointed in his own performance, telling *The Los Angeles Times* he was “all wrong for the part”.