Dublin Film Festival: Jim Sheridan on his new Peter O'Toole documentary
L-R: Jim Sheridan; Peter O'Toole in Lawrence of Arabia
It was a red letter day for Anthony Hopkins when he was cast in the 1968 film The Lion in Winter, a ferocious study of medieval court life. It was his first big break on screen, and he was playing alongside Peter O’Toole, the man who inspired him to be an actor.
Hopkins was captivated with O’Toole ever since he’d seen him perform on stage at Bristol’s Old Vic theatre. O’Toole was like a “wolf” exclaims Hopkins in Jim Sheridan’s documentary about the life of O’Toole, which screens this weekend at the Dublin International Film Festival. O’Toole even looked “wolf-like” adds Siân Phillips, O’Toole’s ex-wife, suggesting he was a man that could lead women astray.
