Anthony Hopkins Opens Up About His Musical Journey

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s hard to believe, but even Sir Anthony Hopkins sometimes struggles with self-doubt.

“There’s a feeling in my heart that says, ‘You didn’t write it,'” he reflects on creating his debut album, *Life Is a Dream*. “It’s what they call imposter syndrome.”

Despite those feelings, he managed to craft a collection of 12 songs over more than six decades.

Conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, the album will feature the Philharmonia Orchestra and is set for release by Decca Records on August 21st. The recording took place at London’s Alexandra Palace back in April.

“Music has always been my first love,” the 88-year-old actor says. “It sounds formal, but I was influenced by a lot of post-war music growing up. I started playing piano at a pretty young age.”

He began tinkering with the piano at four and wrote his first composition, a waltz, in 1960 when he was 22.

“I feel more freedom in music,” he shares, explaining that theater often feels like an academic exercise. “Music, on the other hand, feels like a free-spirited art form.”

He’s had significant experience in this realm. Before *Life Is a Dream*, Hopkins wrote scores for various films.

“My first venture into songwriting was for *Shadowlands*,” he recalls about the 1993 film where he portrayed CS Lewis. His film scoring journey continued with titles like *August* (1996), *Slipstream* (2007), and *Elise* (2020).

Childhood Inspirations Behind *Life Is a Dream*

The album, he says, is deeply rooted in his childhood experiences. “It’s about my upbringing in Wales, my adolescence, and so on.” Yet, he admits there’s a bittersweet element: “I’ve had a wonderful life, but there’s a realization that life is one long farewell. From the moment you’re born, you’re starting to fade away.” He chuckles. “Very cheerful, right?”

This sense of tension spreads through the album. For instance, the first single, “1947: Suite for Solo Piano and Orchestra: II. Bracken Road,” centers around a summer in South Wales. He describes it as filled with “melancholy and sadness” evoked by the cello.

“It’s a sound that invites nostalgia, the quirky pain of life,” he explains. “In truth, all music stems from pain. It sounds odd, but it’s about yearning.”

His piece “Stella Aria,” which is named after his wife, director and actress Stella Hopkins, explores the loneliness we all carry, yet he believes it’s integral to reaching “pure happiness.”

Hopkins has been contemplating life for a while now. His memoir, *We Did OK, Kid*, released last fall, is part of this musical venture. “With this year being special—I turn 89 in December—I find myself looking back. ‘Oh my God, I never expected this.’ When I decided to act 70 years ago, I thought… ‘Why did I even choose that?’ I struggled in school and felt lost until I asked for a scholarship to become an actor instead of pursuing music. Then, suddenly, I found success.”

“I have no fear of death,” he adds. “I’m just grateful to have lived this long.”

Bradley Cooper’s Unexpected Role

In a twist, Bradley Cooper played a key role in connecting Hopkins with Dudamel. After hearing Hopkins’ compositions performed by the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, he mentioned him to Dudamel.

When it came time to record, Hopkins admitted, “I sat there thinking, ‘How the hell did I write this?’ I don’t know.” Dudamel, however, was impressed. “He’s one of the most extraordinary people I’ve met—so full of life, energy, and love.”

It’s a shared passion. Dudamel commented, “The emotional truth and imagination present in his performances shine through in his music. Anthony brings the heart of a storyteller and the instincts of a poet, crafting soundscapes that feel deeply personal yet universally relatable.”

Live Performances on the Horizon

Looking ahead, live performances may be next for Hopkins. Carnegie Hall is at the top of his wish list.

“That’s where I want to be,” he expresses. The film *Carnegie Hall* left a significant mark on him, and he recalls his mother saying, “One day, you’re going to play at Carnegie Hall.”

It’s just another dream in a life rich with them.