Former Honorary Mayor Takes Home Best Actor Oscar

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Anthony Hopkins, former mayor of Pacific Palisades in the early 2000s, won the Oscar for Best Actor on Sunday, April 25 during the 93rd Academy Awards—making him the oldest winner in any acting category.

“At 83 years of age I did not expect to get this award—I really didn’t,” Hopkins shared in an Instagram post the next day from Wales. “I’m very grateful to the Academy and thank you.”

Hopkins was nominated for his role of “Anthony” in “The Father,” the story of a man who refuses assistance from his daughter as he ages.

“As he tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality,” according to a synopsis on IMDb.

In past years, the ceremony has concluded with the announcement for Best Picture, but this year, the order was switched to put the Best Actor award at the end. Viewers speculated that this indicated the late Chadwick Boseman would win for his role of Levee in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” which was his last performance before dying in August 2020 at the age of 43 following an undisclosed diagnosis of colon cancer.

“I want to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who was taken from us far too early,” Hopkins shared in his post. “Again, thank you all very much. I really did not expect this, so I feel very privileged and honored.”

Ceremony producers implemented a “no Zoom rule” for the program, with acceptance speeches being delivered from hubs set up in cities around the world, including London, Paris and Rome. Hopkins, who, according to his reps, did not want to fly to hubs in Dublin or London, was not present to give an acceptance speech.

Other actors nominated in the category were Riz Ahmed for “Sound of Metal,” Gary Oldman in “Mank” and Steven Yeun for “Minari.”

“The Father” also took home the award for Best Adapted Screenplay, beating “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “Nomadland,” “One Night in Miami” and “The White Tiger.” The film was up for the Best Picture award, losing to “Nomadland,” and Best Film Editing, which went to “Sound of Metal.”