The cult classic horror film The Silence of the Lambs celebrated its 30th anniversary in January 2021. In those three decades since its release, the film continually grew in popularity and influence. It even spawned a sequel, Hannibal, and a similarly-titled television series, which aired on NBC between 2013 and 2015.

The film’s legacy can also be seen in the numerous homages and references to it in other films and TV shows. Silence of the Lambs is also often credited with popularizing the “serial killer thriller” subgenre, which involves the investigation and pursuit of a serial killer by law enforcement.The film’s tense atmosphere, compelling characters, and unconventional storytelling helped to set it apart from other horror films of the time and established it as a benchmark for the genre.RELATED:15 Movies Based On Serial Killers, Ranked From Least To Most AccurateSilence of the Lambs has also had a lasting influence in media and entertainment. The film’s memorable quotes and scenes have become iconic and are frequently referenced in other works of pop culture. Even the biggest franchises tend to draw inspiration from the movie. For instance, Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe shares a special connection with a character from the Jonathan Demme classic.

Jodie Foster Played FBI Agent Clarice Starling In Silence Of The Lambs

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Jodie Foster played a starring role in Silence of the Lambs, as the character Clarice Starling. Clarice is depicted as a young, ambitious FBI agent who is tasked with consulting with the infamous serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter in order to catch another serial killer who is known as “Buffalo Bill.”

The film follows Starling as she navigates the dangerous world of criminal profiling and tries to gain insights from Lecter, who is highly intelligent and manipulative. The role of Hannibal Lecter was famously played with great aplomb by prolific English actor, Anthony Hopkins.

One of the most striking aspects of Foster’s portrayal of Starling was the way that she managed to convey the character’s intelligence, determination, and vulnerability. The actress also did extensive research to prepare for the role.

Foster spent time with real-life FBI agents and criminal profilers in order to get a better understanding of the world that her character inhabits. This attention to detail was evident in her performance, which was grounded in a sense of authenticity and realism.

Jodie Foster Avoided Anthony Hopkins On The Set Of Silence Of The Lambs

While both actors’ roles were crucial in helping Silence of the Lambs achieve the success that it eventually did, Jodie Foster would later admit that she completely avoided Anthony Hopkins on the set of the movie.

She spoke about this – and her reasons for it – in an episode of The Graham Norton Show in May 2016.

With rumors already predating Foster’s appearance on the show, host Graham Norton asked her: “On Silence of the Lambs , is it true… did you never speak to Anthony Hopkins?” “No, Never spoke to him!” Foster responded, emphatically. “He was scary!”

“The first day we had like a little read-through and I got there early, and then I went to the bathroom and I came back,” she continued. “Everybody was sitting down. We did the read-through of the film. And by the end of it, I never wanted to talk to him again. I was petrified!”

“And so then we did the whole movie, he was always behind the glass partitions or he was in his cell,” Foster added. “And we got to the end of the movie and really had never had a conversation.”

How Did Anthony Hopkins React To Jodie Foster Ignoring Him?

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Graham Norton was so floored by the idea that Jodie Foster could have worked with Anthony Hopkins for days on end without actually speaking to him. He pressed her on what would happen whenever she must have happened to bump into The Elephant Man star backstage.

“No, I avoided him,” Foster insisted. She, however, continued to explain that they had the briefest of exchanges on the final day. In this conversation, Hopkins disclosed that he had actually been as petrified of her as she was of him.

“I was eating a tuna fish sandwich,” the actress and filmmaker recalled. “It was the last day and he came up to me and… I don’t know, I sort of had a tear in my eye. I was like, ‘I was really scared of you!’ And he said, ‘I was scared of you!’ [And] I think it’s funny, because why would anyone be scared of me?”

In the end, though, Silence of the Lambs was a sensational critical and commercial success, winning five Academy Awards, including “Best Actor” and “Best Actress” for Hopkins and Foster respectively.