Oscar-winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins ignited a wave of divided reactions after posting a photograph of himself wearing an England football shirt on Instagram. The image, shared alongside his wife Stella Arroyave who was wearing a Mexico shirt, was posted ahead of England's World Cup match against Mexico.
Hopkins, who was born in Port Talbot, Wales, captioned the photo: "We're all winners... #WorldCup2026." The post quickly garnered hundreds of comments, with many of his Welsh fans expressing surprise and amusement at his choice of jersey, given his known pride in his Welsh heritage.
"Babes you're Welsh," one commenter wrote, echoing sentiments from many who questioned why a prominent Welsh figure would wear an England shirt. Other comments included "Take that shirt off Sir... you're Welsh!" and "Anthony Hopkins is Welsh, not English." Some fans also playfully referenced his film roles, with one noting, "Olympus has fallen."
However, others defended the actor, suggesting he was simply enjoying the global sporting event and posing with his wife. Sir Anthony, 88, has seldom discussed his football allegiances publicly but has consistently spoken proudly of his Welsh roots throughout his career, despite spending much of it in Hollywood. England ultimately defeated Mexico 3-2 in the match depicted.
Hopkins is widely recognized for his portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 film "The Silence Of The Lambs," for which he received an Oscar for Best Actor. He later won a second Best Actor Oscar in 2021 for his role in "The Father."