The two-time Oscar winner, now 86 and currently starring in "Freud’s Last Session," reminisced about Foster, stating, “She's lovely.” Hopkins praised Foster not just for her acting prowess but also for her down-to-earth approach to work. “What's wonderful about Jodie is that, great actor that she is, she has no entourage. She just comes on the set and does it. Very laid back. Very cool. What I like about her, she's very practical.”
In the 1991 thriller, Hopkins portrayed Hannibal Lecter, an intelligent psychiatrist and psychotic cannibal incarcerated in an institution for the criminally insane. The film, directed by Jonathan Demme, follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Foster) as she interviews Lecter to gain insights into the mind of another serial killer, Buffalo Bill.
Despite the dark and intense nature of their on-screen relationship, Hopkins and Foster developed a mutual respect during the filming of "The Silence of the Lambs."
The movie was a massive success, winning five Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Hopkins, Best Actress for Foster, Best Picture, Best Director for Demme, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Ted Tally.
While Hopkins holds Foster in high regard, he mentioned that they haven’t met since their virtual reunion for Variety’s Actors on Actors series in 2021, where they discussed the film for its 30th anniversary. During the conversation, Foster humorously referenced one of Lecter's famous lines, saying, "I'm sure you still get people who come up to you and say, 'Would you like a nice Chianti?'" To which Hopkins replied, "Oh yeah. They do."
Their discussion during the reunion also delved into the transformative impact of the movie on both their lives and the lasting impression it left on audiences.