Anthony Hopkins attends Saudi Joy Awards with Matthew McConaughey
Anthony Hopkins made his first public appearance since recently losing his home in the Pacific Palisades fire by traveling to Saudi Arabia this weekend. The legendary Oscar-winning actor, who is also a composer, organized a gala concert with his pieces played by the British Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
While in Saudi Arabia, Hopkins also attended the kingdom’s Joy Awards, which honor artistic achievements from the Arab world. Also on hand for both lavish events in the Saudi capital Riyadh was a robust representation of Hollywood stars including Matthew McConaughey, Morgan Freeman Cuba Goding Jr. Amanda Seyfried, Kiefer Sutherand and Christina Aguilera.
The gala musical evening, titled ‘Life is A Dream’, was held at the Bakr Al-Sheddi Theater in Riyadh on Friday and featured a selection of Hopkins’ compositions, including ‘Circus’ and ‘Braken Road’, as well as classical arias.
“The theme of this concert is that life is a long farewell to the bitter,” said 87-year-old Hopkins at the start of the concert, after being introduced by Morgan Freeman. “During this time, and after all the efforts made, whether in Wales or California, we believe that music can be a path to inner peace,” said the two-time Oscar winner – for ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ and ‘The Father ” – added.
Freeman was among the international talents celebrated with lifetime achievement awards at the Joy Awards on Saturday, along with composing legend Hans Zimmer and Andrea Bocelli. Matthew McConaughey was celebrated as Personality of the Year. Now in its fourth edition, the glitzy Joy Awards are set to be a standout showbiz celebration in the Middle East, combining elements of the Grammy, Emmy and Academy Awards, while also presenting prizes to local athletes and influencers.
The Joy Awards are produced and broadcast by Saudi Middle Eastern powerhouse MBC and sponsored by the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia, headed by Turki Al-Sheikh, the man responsible for Saudi Arabia’s rise as global hub for sports – especially football and boxing. and tennis – as well as the kingdom’s ambition to become a content creator. Known as a film buff, Al-Sheikh has become proficient as a screenwriter, having penned the Saudi TV series “The Eight” and the supernatural thriller “Cello,” directed by “Saw” helmer Darren Lynn Bousman and starring Jeremy Irons in the leading role.
Netflix’s original Arabic series “Al Rawabi School For Girls,” which follows a group of Jordanian high school students seeking revenge against a trio of bullies, and depicts physical and sexual violence against women and patriarchy in Arab society, was a of the evening’s award-winning titles. along with Palestinian-American director Tarek Al-Arian’s action comedy “Welad Rizk 3: The Judge,” which scored the Joy Award for Best Picture.
