Sir Anthony Hopkins skipped Oscars to visit father’s grave in Wales as he becomes oldest best actor winner at 83

Sir Anthony Hopkins did not attend the 2021 Oscars as he was in Wales, where he visited the grave of his father Richard.

The ceremony took place in Los Angeles on Sunday night where Sir Anthony was named best actor for his performance in The Father, becoming the oldest winner at age 83.

Hours before his award was given out the actor tweeted a video of himself in his homeland of South Wales, where he had travelled to after being vaccinated, paying tribute to his late dad.

In the clip the star begins to recite the poem Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas, getting through the first verse. However he doesn’t complete it as he becomes emotional, putting a hand to his chest and saying: ‘God, I can’t do it.’

The camera goes on to pan down over the trees and headstones in the cemetery before resting on where Richard is buried as the clip ends.

Sir Anthony added in a tweet: ‘Richard Hopkins, my beloved father, resting in eternal peace…’ with an emoji of the Welsh flag.’

He later shared his reaction to his Oscar win in an Instagram video on Monday morning, expressing his shock and taking a moment to remember the late Chadwick Boseman, also up for best actor, who died of cancer last year.

The Thor star said: ‘Good morning. Here I am in my homeland in Wales, and at 83 I did not expect to get this award. I really didn’t.

‘Very grateful to the Academy and thank you, and I want to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman who was taken from us far too early.

‘And again thank you all very much. really did not expect this, so I feel very privileged and honoured. Thank you.’

It is the actor’s second Oscar, having won the first nearly 30 years ago in 1992 for Silence of the Lambs.

The star also missed the Baftas earlier this month, where he won best actor, as he chose to stay in his hotel room and paint instead.

He told press of his win at the time that he did not know he had won until The Father writer Florian Zeller messaged him.

Sir Anthony explained: ‘I’m just so astounded. I’m sitting here painting in fact, in my room in a hotel, and I’m covered in paint and this cheer went up from next door and I thought “Are they were watching a football match?” and then I got a message from Florian.’

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