Hopkins: 'Hannibal was role of a lifetime'

Sir Anthony Hopkin has admitted that he was lucky to be cast as serial killer Hannibal Lecter in The Silence Of The Lambs.

During an appearance on Piers Morgan Tonight, the 73-year-old Welsh actor stated that he was quick to accept the role after being offered the part by director Jonathan Demme.

"A script came over to the theatre one afternoon. My agent said read it, so I read it," he said. "Jonathan Demme came over, the director, he saw me and met me, and I started on it."

The star continued: "I thought, 'This is one of those parts that come up once in a lifetime'. I just knew how to play that part. It's the shadow at the top of the stairs that terrifies all little kids. This nightmare of our lives."

Hopkins went on to receive a 'Best Actor' Oscar for his performance in the film and later reprised the role in the sequels Hannibal and Red Dragon.

Earlier this week, Hopkins claimed that playing a priest in The Rite led him to re-evaluate his beliefs on a higher power.