10 Things You Didn't Realise Inspired Iconic Movie Voices
4. Hannibal Lecter - Katherine Hepburn, Truman Capote, And A Robot
As soon as Anthony Hopkins read the script for Silence of the Lambs, he knew exactly how to portray the charismatic serial killer - Hannibal Lecter. Not only did the Welsh actor have a clear idea how he should look and dress but how he should speak.
To portray the psychotic cannibal as calm and assertive, he emulated the voice of four-time Oscar winner, Katharine Hepburn. (It's worth mentioning that Gary Oldman's voice in the sequel, Hannibal, was also based on Hepburn.)
To make Hannibal come across as creepy and eccentric, Hopkins gave him a raspy drawl. This vocal mannerism was based on the author of Breakfast at Tiffany's - Truman Capote.
To further highlight Hannibal's disconnection from people, he often portrayed the character speaking in a drone-like monotonous tone. He based this trait on the AI unit from 2001: A Space Odyssey - HAL 9000. Like Hal, Hannibal sounds unnerving even though his tone is soft and gentle.
Considering Hannibal's voice is described as "metallic but cultured" in Thomas Harris' novels, it sounds like Hopkins couldn't have picked a better combination to find his voice.