Anthony Hopkins Reacts to Oscar Win, Was Sleeping When He Won - Watch His Acceptance Speech

Anthony Hopkins‘ win for Best Actor at the 2021 Oscars was definitely one of the most surprising moments of the night, but he wasn’t even awake to see it happen!

The 83-year-old actor made history by becoming the oldest actor to win an acting prize at the Oscars thanks to his win for The Father.

Everyone was surprised that Anthony beat out Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom star Chadwick Boseman and it seems the Oscars producers were probably surprised too. They saved the Best Actor category to be the final award of the night, seemingly setting up the show to end with a tribute to the late actor. Instead, it ended with an anti-climatic moment as there was no one there to accept the award.

Anthony‘s agent has released a statement for the actor, who just learned that he won the award. The actor also posted an acceptance speech on Instagram.

Click inside to find out what Anthony Hopkins had to say…

“Tony was in Wales, where he grew up, and he was asleep at 4 in the morning when I woke him up to tell him the news,” his agent told People. “He was so happy and so grateful.”

The statement added, “After a year in quarantine, and being double-vaccinated, he was finally able to return to Wales, and age 83, it was a great relief after such a difficult year. But he loved the role in The Father – it’s his proudest performance – and to be the oldest living actor to win in the category means so much to him.”

Anthony also released an acceptance speech on Instagram.

“Good morning, here I am in my homeland of Wales and at 83-years-of-age I did not expect to get this award. I really didn’t,” he said. “I am grateful to the Academy and thank you. I want to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman who was taken from us far too early, and again, thank you all very much. I really did not expect this, so I feel very privileged and honored. Thank you.”

A few months ago, Anthony revealed that he had been vaccinated while in Los Angeles and he shared a video of the moment.

This is Anthony‘s second win for Best Actor after previously winning the award for The Silence of the Lambs in 1992.