Sir Anthony Hopkins finally makes his return to the Academy Awards

Sir Anthony Hopkins made his return to the Oscars on Sunday night.

The veteran actor, 84, presented the Actress in a Leading Role prize to Jessica Chastain, and was greeted with a standing ovation as he took to the stage at Los Angeles‘ Dolby Theatre.

A year ago Sir Anthony opted to skip the ceremony, http://www.redchristianlouboutinshoes.us.com/sebelum-anda-bermain-di-kasino-slot/ later explaining that he was convinced he wouldn’t win the Leading Actor gong for his performance in The Father.

On Sunday night, the star looked emotional as he finally returned to the ceremony, thanking the a-listers in attendance for giving him a standing ovation.

Presenting just minutes after Will Smith had won the Leading Actor Oscar and delivered an emotional acceptance speech where he apologised to the Academy for slapping Chris Rock mid-ceremony, Sir Anthony acknowledged the mood of the night.  

‘What an evening, Will Smith said it all, what more can be said, let’s have peace and love and quiet,’ the actor told the crowd before presenting Chastain with her award.

Hopkins was in great spirits, sharing a video of himself ‘getting ready’ and dancing as he buttoned up his tux on Sunday afternoon. 

He was later pictured catching up with old friends and co-stars including Dame Judi Dench and his Amistad director Stephen Spielberg. 

He was also seen sharing a hug with the delighted child star Jude Hill, who stars in this year’s multi-nominated Belfast.

Hopkins made headlines in April 2021 after he failed to show up at the Oscars to collect the Best Actor gong he was awarded for his appearance in The Father.

But speaking a few months after his no show, the iconic actor revealed that he ‘didn’t expect’ to win, explaining: ‘The contender was Chadwick Boseman, so I went to bed.’

‘ I didn’t expect to get it, at all.

My phone went, and it was a text from my agent saying “you’ve won the Oscar” at about 5 o’clock in the morning.’

He added: ‘I couldn’t believe it. I really couldn’t believe it. I didn’t expect it.’

Hopkins – who didn’t give his acceptance speech until he woke up the next morning – went on: ‘The next morning I made a little speech of thanks to the Academy and Chadwick Boseman.’ 

‘I really didn’t expect it.

It was a shock.’ 

Sir Anthony became the oldest actor ever win an Oscar for his heart-wrenching performance as a man with dementia in The Father. 

In his April speech, he paid tribute to the late Chadwick, who many expected to win the gong for his performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.  

Boseman died at the age of 43 in August 2020 after a private four-year battle with colon cancer.

After his no-show win, Sir Anthony shared a late acceptance video from Wales as he admitted that he ‘really did not expect’ his win.

Speaking in a short clip surrounded by sprawling Welsh countryside, Sir Anthony said: ‘Good morning, here I am in my homeland of Wales and at 83-years-of-age I did not expect to get this award.

I really didn’t. 

‘I am grateful to the Academy and thank you. I want to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman who was taken from us far too early, and again, thank you all very much. I really did not expect this, so I feel very privileged and honoured.

Thank you.’    

The star missed the Hollywood ceremony weeks after also dodging the Bafta Awards, deciding to paint in his hotel room instead. He only learned he had won Best Actor at Britain’s top film awards because of yelling and banging through the walls.