He may be an octogenarian, but the elderly Sir Anthony Hopkins can still ball out with the best of them. And he is determined to show these ignorant young’uns how it’s done on the property front. To that end, he (via blind trust) has forked out a rude $6,600,000 for a brand-new residence in the Bluffs region of posh Pacific Palisades. Just in time for Christmas! He’s no Scrooge.
Yolanda hopes that everyone already knows who Sir Anthony is — even the ditziest of y’all need no introduction, right? But just for the sake of our OCD, Sir Anthony has long been one of the most critically-acclaimed actors in Hollywood. His 50+ year career in cinema and television includes successful films such as The Mask of Zorro, The Bounty, Meet Joe Black, Magic, and 84 Charing Cross Road.
Arguably the most impressive film in Sir Anthony’s repertoire, however (and his best-known role) is 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs. For his deliciously creepy portrayal of cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter, Sir Anthony won the Academy Award for Best Actor. The movie (and his character) have since become iconic pieces of Hollywood film history.
Born in Wales to a working-class family, Sir Anthony did poorly in school — much to his parents’ chagrin. In his early 20s, he made his acting debut at the Palace Theatre, Swansea, where he was eventually noticed by Sir Laurence Olivier, the man who would become his mentor. At Sir Laurence’s invitation, he joined the Royal National Theatre in London. And the rest is, well, history.
In the personal arena, Sir Anthony holds dual British and American citizenships but has resided in LA since the 1990s. And since 2003, he has been married to Colombian actress Stella Hopkins (née Arroyave), his third wife. He also has one child — an adult daughter from his first marriage — though the two have been estranged for decades.
Ever since his permanent move to LA twenty-odd years ago, Sir Anthony has bunked up in both Pacific Palisades or Malibu. And he continues to keep a significant real estate foothold in both communities. More on that foothold later — first, a peek at his impressive new Palisades digs.
The blocky contemporary was spec-built by a non-famous local couple who are tryin’ their hand(s) at real estate development. According to the listing, there are a generous (but not overwhelming) 5,778-square-feet of interior living space spread over three distinct levels.
From the street out front, a lighted stairway transports guests and vendors to “heaven,” aka the home’s front door. Within is the open-concept main level that features sprawling living and dining areas, plus a kitchen outfitted with fancy Miele appliances. Disappearing walls of glass blur the line between the indoors and out.
The home’s inner sanctum — aka the master suite — is located on the third level and includes a bedroom with peek-a-boo ocean views and balcony, a bathroom with glassy shower, and a spacious sitting area.
Scattered throughout the residence are four additional bedrooms and six more baths. The color scheme in the entire pad is very white and grey, which we suppose is good if y’all go in for that sort of thing.
Down on the lower level, things get rowdy with a huge home theater, games room, a gym/yoga studio and an 800-bottle (!!) wine cellar. Sir Anthony is a recovering alcoholic who has been sober since 1975, so we expect he’ll convert that cellar into storage space for his awards, records, human bodies, etc.
Also down there is a garage with space for four luxury vehicles. Currently within the garage are two Ferraris: a black F430 Spider and a gorgeous classic Testarossa ala Miami Vice. Swoon! You keep the 430, Sir Anthony, Yolanda will take the Testarossa. Deal?
Other luxury features include an elevator that accesses all four levels of the residence (including the 655-square-foot rooftop deck, with its lovely ocean and sunset views) and a large office.
The backyard is smaller than y’all might expect for $6.6 million — it’s downright puny, actually — but that’s typical for this tightly-packed neighborhood. And it does have the requisite outdoor lawn and pool with waterfall feature and inset spa.
Anywho, our boy is clearly fond of the Palisades — in addition to his big new manse, he’s also got a luxury condo in the ‘hood (bought a couple years ago for $1.1 million) and he continues to own his Palisades starter house, which was purchased way back in 1995 for a mere $660,000.
The 3-bed, 2-bath cottage has just 1,748-square-feet of living space and is mostly hidden behind a thicket of trees and tall hedges.
In addition to his three Palisades properties, Sir Anthony also keeps what is likely the most valuable property in his portfolio: a multi-acre estate in Malibu’s star-studded Point Dume community. He purchased the compound back in 2001 for $3,795,000, though it has appreciated by millions since then.
The very private blufftop home is set on one of Malibu’s most desirable streets and features unobstructed westward views that take in Zuma Beach, the Pacific Ocean, and glorious sunsets. Some of Sir Anthony’s nearest neighbors out there include Bob Dylan, Owen Wilson and Bryan Singer.
PS — If y’all need a laugh this holiday season, check out this Vice article penned by writer/blogger (and longtime Malibu resident) Merrill Markoe. Every year for the past decade, she has taken photos of her neighbor Bob Dylan’s Christmas decorations and deciphered their hidden meanings.
Her 2018 critical analysis might be the best one yet. Just sayin’.
Listing agent: Eric Knight, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Anthony Hopkins’ agent: Kevin Krakower, Douglas Elliman