The controversial role that Anthony Hopkins admits he could never play today

Anthony Hopkins believes that one of the most controversial roles of his career would hardly be performed in the same way today: his portrayal of Othello in the television adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Othello", produced in 1981. At the time, Hopkins, a white actor, played the Moorish general using dark makeup, a practice known as blackface, widely rejected today due to its history of racial stereotyping and discrimination. The actor himself recognizes that this type of casting would be unthinkable today and understands why the film industry has undergone profound changes in relation to representation. According to Hopkins, the transformation that took place in Hollywood led directors and producers to look for interpreters who more authentically represent the characters portrayed. Despite the controversy surrounding that specific work, the actor continues to be recognized for historical interpretations in films such as "The Silence of the Lambs", "Remains of the Day", "Nixon", "My Father" and "The Two Popes". Hopkins also highlighted that he considers the industry's evolution in relation to diversity to be positive, stating that cinema must keep up with changes in society. The episode serves as an example of how productions considered acceptable in previous decades began to be reevaluated from new cultural perspectives.