Anthony Hopkins Called Working With This Director His Toughest Collaboration: “Twisted Little Sadist”

Anthony Hopkins had a complicated relationship with theatre director John Dexter. The two-time Tony-winning director was well-respected in the theatre world, but his harsh and demanding style clashed with Hopkins’ personality.

The Welsh actor, known for his temper and pride, quickly grew to dislike Dexter’s strict methods.

They first worked together on Broadway in 1974 for the play Equus. Despite the tension, Hopkins returned to work with Dexter on The Misanthrope a year later, and then on the original run of M. Butterfly in 1988. While it might seem strange that Hopkins kept going back, the reason was clear: Dexter pushed him to perform at his highest level.

Hopkins described Dexter in his memoir, We Did OK, Kid, saying, “One thing I was certain of. I hadn’t come into this acting business to be punished by some nasty, twisted little sadist like John Dexter.” He admitted he hated the director’s methods but still followed him to New York because Dexter’s tough approach brought out the best in his acting.

The actor remembered a meeting with Dexter where he was asked why he had walked out before. Hopkins replied, “Because you were a nasty little b******.” Dexter responded, “Yes, dear, well, you need a nasty little b***** like me to direct you.” The director also told Hopkins he was “a much better actor than you think you are” and made it clear that their mutual dislike wouldn’t affect the production of Equus.

Hopkins eventually began rehearsals and went on to win the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play. While the process was extremely difficult for him, it showed that Dexter’s demanding style, though harsh and sometimes cruel, had a real impact on Hopkins’ growth as an actor.

The tension between them came from Dexter’s extreme control and insistence on pushing actors to their limits. Hopkins was used to independence and didn’t appreciate being forced into discomfort or challenged so aggressively. Yet he recognized that these very methods helped him achieve some of his finest work.

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