I had noticed that Anthony Hopkins had lost a great deal of weight in the past few years, but I always assumed that he was sick and that we would find out at some point what terrible illness he was fighting, and until then, we should just respect his privacy. As it turns out, however, Sir Anthony was actually on a diet. He wasn’t sick. At least that’s what he claims. He’s promoting his supporting part in the Woody Allen ensemble, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, and he did an interview with NYP’s Cindy Adams. He tells Adams that his wife put on a diet and made him go to the gym six days a week (Jesus), and that he lost 75 pounds in two years the old fashioned way – through hard work. Just so you know, I find this whole interview charming, and I would hit it:

Sir Anthony Hopkins. In Woody Allen’s delicious new film “You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger” — about how after you get older, des perate, divorced, Viagra and so sexy you marry a hooker, it all goes lousy. Said Hannibal Lecter:

“Comedy is not my usual role. I’m not Dick Van Dyke, but this was a good part, and I enjoy offbeat New York Jewish humor. I can play any situation. My character is ‘afraid of being alone.’ I know one divorced Hollywood guy in his 60s who got into hookers. He died, alone, in six months. They can have it. I’m in my 70s, and I know.”

“For seven years I’m with my third wife, who’s 18 years younger and a nurturer. I’m a loner. Very few friends. None actors. She has her Spanish lady friends around, and I love that. We have a ball. I’m not looking for women, but I do love the ladies.”

Said newly slim Tony Hopkins: “I lost too much, 75 pounds in two years. But I gained a little back in Europe. I was addicted to bread, cookies, whatnot. I love all the bad stuff. My wife’s no dictator, but she said I must stick to a regimen. So I’m in the gym six days a week, I power walk, live on 800 calories a day. No pasta. No seconds. A sandwich occasionally. Now I’m a health nut. I can’t get back into my wardrobe. I gave it all away to some mission. I tried tailoring the pants but they look ridiculous.”

“I can’t do anything but act. I stumbled into the profession 55 years ago. I’m careless. I go astray. Misplace things. As an impractical kid I was hopeless. I’d do odd jobs. If I weren’t an actor I’d be a burglar or seafarer.”

[From The NY Post]

“She has her Spanish lady friends around, and I love that. We have a ball. I’m not looking for women, but I do love the ladies.” How much would you love that? To be one of his wife’s girlfriends and get to go over to his house and flirt with him? But it does strike me that he probably is more comfortable being around women – he seems like that kind of man, doesn’t he? I love those men. As far as his dieting and exercise – he’s 73 years old! I understand that his wife wants him to be healthy, but let him have a cookie, for the love of God.

Header: Hopkins at TIFF on Sept. 10, 2010. Credit: WENN.