Sir Anthony Hopkins, 88, has left fans baffled after celebrating England's victory at the Men's World Cup in an England shirt, appearing utterly unrecognisable. The Welsh-born actor looked much leaner and sported a beard as he hugged his wife Stella Arroyave, 70, who wore a green Mexico shirt and cap.
England's 3-2 win and fan reactions
England knocked out one of the host nations with a 3-2 scoreline. Hopkins captioned his post: 'We're all winners… #WorldCup2026.' Fans flooded the comments, questioning his allegiance. Susi wrote: 'What are you doing????? You are Welsh ?' Declan Mulligan added: 'Thought you were a proud Welsh man.' Lauren chimed in: 'Babes ur welsh x.' With Scotland eliminated and Wales failing to qualify, Hopkins likely chose the nearest home nation. His wife Stella, originally from Colombia, also supported a non-native team; Colombia is still competing in the tournament.
Hopkins' sobriety and career
Fans assume Hopkins didn't indulge in drinks, as he has been sober for over 50 years after a drink-driving incident in 1975. He recalled realising he was 'in big, big trouble' and 'driving a car drunk out of [his] skull.' He later said he has had 'more fun' since quitting. The acclaimed star, who began his career on stage with Laurence Olivier, has starred in films like A Bridge Too Far (1977) and The Elephant Man (1980). His role as Dr Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) earned him two Academy Awards: Best Actor and Best Picture. In 2020, he became the oldest actor to win Best Actor for The Father.
Social media presence and upcoming projects
Speaking about his online popularity, Hopkins told People: 'I'm slightly reluctant. I say, "Oh no, not again." But I do something silly because we need humour. We need a laugh in life. For good reason I guess, life is tough. The world is a savage place but life does have its beauty.' He often shares positive videos, like returning to Wales for Christmas or playing piano. He remains active with seven films upcoming or in post-production, including a Maserati family biopic starring Al Pacino.
