3. John Quincy Adams
Another US President role for Hopkins, whose presence and regal manner clearly made him the ideal candidate for the Adams role in Steven Spielberg's insistent and historically inaccurate slavery biopic (which is actually entertaining despite that evaluation). As the aging former President, who ultimately steps in to give an impassioned speech in defence of the Amistad slaves, Hopkins is remarkable, suggesting just the edge of senility, at the same time as conveying that immense emotional power that comes into play in the finale of the film. It is easily one of his finest ever performances, and it deserves greater praise.
How He Really Looked
Hopkins' Version Probably Hopkins' best attempt of the bunch, thanks mostly to those impressive mutton-chop side-burns, but it's still just Hopkins with some facial fuzz added on. Arguably more than any of the other choices on this list - alongside Hitchcock - Hopkins' Quincy Adams shows how the actor can be given the tools to resemble his subject, but still look no different from the majority of his roles. But again, the physicality of the performance distracted nothing for its power, and Hopkins was rightly nominated for a Best Supporting Oscar, despite the film's unavoidable historical inaccuracies.