Matthew Rhys Inspired by Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter for Netflix Role

Matthew Rhys, the Emmy-winning actor known for his roles in ‘The Americans’ and other dramas, has revealed that his portrayal of a character in the Netflix thriller ‘The Beast in Me’ was heavily inspired by Anthony Hopkins’ legendary performance as Hannibal Lecter in ‘The Silence of the Lambs.’ Rhys openly admits that he ‘stole’ from Hopkins, calling the iconic portrayal of Lecter a significant influence on how he approached his role in the new series. In an interview, the Cardiff-born actor expressed that revisiting the 1990s classic film during preparation for the series was a deliberate move to draw from the best. ‘If you’re going to steal, steal from the best,’ Rhys quipped, acknowledging how central Hopkins’ chilling portrayal of Lecter was in shaping his own performance. This candid admission has sparked discussions among fans of both actors and Netflix audiences about the similarities between the characters, with some drawing comparisons between the tense and calculating nature of both performances. Rhys’ role in ‘The Beast in Me’ comes as part of his ongoing exploration of complex and dark characters on screen.