Anthony Hopkins opts out of Chianti and fava beans lunch at Hollywood bistro as his iconic character Hannibal Lecter is dragged back center stage thanks to Donald Trump

When Anthony Hopkins dines out, you'd expect him to bid liver and fava beans topped disconnected by a bully Chianti.

But dissimilar his enduring characteristic Hannibal Lecter – now backmost successful nan news acknowledgment to Donald Trump's repeated mentions of him – nan Welsh character opted for lentil crockery and grilled eggplant pinch sparkling water.

Hopkins, 86, lunched astatine Taverna Tony successful Malibu a fewer days earlier Trump was making his reference to nan terrifying fictional cannibal during his acceptance speech astatine nan Republican National Convention.

In his rambling 90-plus infinitesimal speech, nan GOP's statesmanlike campaigner asked nan assemblage if they had seen The Silence of nan Lambs, nan movie that won Hopkins his first Oscar.

'The late, awesome Hannibal Lecter,' Trump, 78, said. 'Who would emotion to person you for dinner...that's insane asylums.'

In May he made several stump speeches comparing migrants to Lecter – who he again called 'late' and great' contempt him being an invention of novelist Thomas Harris.

Trump claimed countries specified arsenic Venezuela and El Salvador are 'emptying retired insane asylums' and sending terrorists to nan United States 'at numbers that we've ne'er seen before'. 

At 1 reside he moreover called Lecter 'a awesome man'.

But Hopkins isn't keen connected his astir celebrated characteristic being portion of Trump's re-election bid.

'I'm shocked and appalled what you've told maine astir Trump,' he told Dominic Patten successful an question and reply for Deadline.

'Hannibal, that's a agelong clip ago, that movie,' he said.'God, that was complete 30 years ago.'

Hopkins had luncheon pinch his adjunct Juan Miguel, aliases 'JOTS' arsenic nan prima prefers to telephone him (an acronym for 'Johnny On The Spot'),

The hold unit attending to nan Welshman asked him if he would for illustration to person his 'usual' spot successful nan backmost area of nan Greek restaurant. 

Whispering backmost successful his British accent, he replied: 'Oh yes, that would beryllium lovely.'

The nattily dressed prima wore a plaid ray bluish blazer pinch a achromatic Polo garment underneath, navy pants, achromatic sneakers and topped it disconnected pinch a jaunty bluish newsboy cap.His eyes were a twinkling icy bluish and he appeared arsenic alert arsenic ever.

Hopkins's Oscar for playing Lecter was followed by anoother 29 years later  for his domiciled arsenic a man battling dementia successful nan thriller The Father. In betwixt them he was nominated 4 much times  for The Remains of nan Day, Nixon, Amistad and The Two Popes.

His lengthy profession has spanned 5 decades, and he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II astatine Buckingham Palace successful 1993.

But he tries to stay a man of nan people. As he was packing up to time off nan restaurant, a mates pinch a young girl followed him extracurricular and asked if he would airs for a photo.

Hopkins was much than happy to entertain nan family, telling them 'certainly', earlier handing their iPhone to his assistant.

As these exclusive DailyMail.com images show, erstwhile Hopkins spotted nan photographer he waved some his hands and smiled.

Taverna Tony is simply a favourite of celebrities including Barbra Streisand, Halle Berry, Salma Hayek, Noel Gallagher, Cindy Crawford, Pierce Brosnan and Dustin Hoffman . Hunter Biden has moreover eaten there.

It was a uncommon candid sighting of Hopkins successful Malibu particularly since he sold his two-story, four-bedroom, four-bathroom, water bluff location successful nan Point Dume area 4 years agone for $10.5 million.

The octogenarian – who has been joined for 21 years to Stella Arroyave, 68 – is progressive connected societal media, posting connected some Instagram and TikTok pinch millions of followers. 

On June 23 he posted images of himself dancing pinch longtime pal and chap thespian Sir Ian McKellan, 85. 'Today I observe my beloved friend Ian, and his unbreakable spirit…I emotion this man.'

Last period McKellen fell disconnected shape during a capacity of Player Kings astatine London's Noel Coward Theater injuring his cervix and wrist.

In March Dailymail.com reported that Hopkins is group to beryllium nan lead character successful Eyes In The Trees, a re-imagined incarnation of The Island Of Dr Moreau nan 1896 book by H.G. Wells.

And location was different logic he wasn't drinking Chianti – Hopkins is celebrating almost 50-years of sobriety. On his day past December he posted a video encouraging everyone who wants it to get thief pinch addiction. 

'If you get a hangover, retrieve me. I don't get them anymore because 48-years ago, I stopped. I sewage thief for it and my life changed.'

He was antecedently joined to Petronella Barker from 1966-1972, and Jennifer Lynton, 1973-2002. 

He has a girl Abigail Hopkins, 55, from his first marriage. The 2 person been estranged for 2 decades.