An Interview with Sir Anthony Hopkins of “The Rite”

by Mark Armstrong | January 24, 2011 10:00 am

The Integrated Catholic Life spoke with the stars of the new movie – The Rite – including Sir Anthony Hopkins, the 73-year old Welsh actor who might be best known for his Academy Award winning performance as Hannibal Lector in the 1991 movie, The Silence of the Lambs.

This new movie, which is inspired by true events, opens in theaters on January 28th, and is billed as a “supernatural thriller that uncovers the Devil’s reach to even one the holiest places on Earth.”

Hopkins plays a priest in the film The Rite, Father Lucas.  Father Lucas has performed thousands of exorcisms.  Hopkins was asked if his own personal beliefs entered into how he portrayed the role of Father Lucas?

Audio Link: Listen to interview with Sir Anthony Hopkins…[1]

The story began as a book proposal by Matt Baglio, a reporter living in Rome in 2007 who was struck by the Vatican’s announcement in 2007 to reinstruct clergy on the rite of exorcism.  Baglio eventually met Father Gary Thomas who had come to Rome to learn about becoming an exorcist.  Father Gary, who served as a consultant for the film, is now a pastor in northern California.  On Wednesday, The Integrated Catholic Life will talk to Father Gary, Matt Baglio and Irish actor Colin O’Donoghue, who makes his feature film debut as the seminarian Michael Kovak and actress Alice Braga who plays the journalist Angeline.

I will be on Relevant Radio with Father Gary Thomas, talking to Drew Mariani about the movie on Thursday, January 27, 3-4 p.m. Eastern time / 2-3 p.m. Central time.

The Rite opens in theaters nationwide January 28th and is rated PG-13. The Rite opens in theaters nationwide January 28th and is rated PG-13.

Related Link: Wednesday’s interviews with other actors, the author and the priest on whom the movie is loosely based.[2]

Endnotes:
  1. Listen to interview with Sir Anthony Hopkins…: http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/Podcasts/Anthony_Hopkins_in_The_Rite_2.m4a
  2. Wednesday’s interviews with other actors, the author and the priest on whom the movie is loosely based.: http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2011/01/the-rite-four-catholics-four-takes/

Source URL: https://integratedcatholiclife.org/2011/01/an-interview-with-sir-anthony-hopkins-of-the-rite/