Sir Anthony Hopkins has opened up about his difficult experience working with Mickey Rourke on Michael Cimino’s 1990 thriller Desperate Hours, recalling tense on-set clashes driven by Rourke’s intense method acting. Hopkins, best known for his iconic role as Hannibal Lecter, said problems began immediately when Rourke struck him on the shoulder during their first scene. Frustrated, Hopkins admitted he punched a car in anger, leaving a dent.
The tension escalated as filming continued, with Hopkins recalling moments where Rourke became physically aggressive. “He was pushing me around once, and I suddenly thought, ‘I’ve had enough of this s***,’ and walked off the set,” Hopkins revealed. Despite his frustrations, the actor returned to complete the movie, which ultimately flopped at the box office.
Ironically, Rourke later sent Hopkins a note saying he didn’t usually like actors but had enjoyed working with him—something Hopkins found mildly relatable, though the overall experience left him dreading each workday.
Rourke’s combative reputation has been noted by other co-stars, including Kevin Costner and Charlize Theron, who also reportedly struggled with his unpredictable behavior. While Desperate Hours failed critically and commercially—Rourke even earned a Golden Raspberry nomination for Worst Actor—Hopkins’ professionalism allowed him to weather the difficult production relatively unscathed.
The story offers a candid glimpse into the challenges of working alongside Rourke during that turbulent stage of his career and underscores the strain method acting can place on fellow performers.
