Sir Anthony Hopkins thinks having a powerful memory is "essential to survival".

Sir Anthony Hopkins

Sir Anthony Hopkins

The 83-year-old actor - who played a dementia patient in 'The Father' - believes his memory is the single most "important tool" in his life.

Anthony explained: "Once you lose your memory, it must be a living hell to have no anchors left. It's the most powerful and important tool, essential to survival."

The acclaimed actor admitted that his starring role in the Florian Zeller-directed drama movie made him look more closely at his own life.

Anthony also thinks that age has made him more reflective.

He told Sorted magazine: "I think as you get older, you do go around examining life more.

"This did make me think about my past and my parents and about all the sweet sadness of it all."

Despite this, Anthony also thinks age has made it easier for him to find happiness in different things.

He said: "I enjoy it all more. I have a laugh now; I like watching old guys on TV, like Sinatra. And they've all gone too, and there's a great victory in recognising death and mortality while I'm here."

Meanwhile, Anthony recently claimed that human beings are still "very early in our evolution".

He said: "We’ve never got it right, human beings. We are all a mess, and we’re very early in our evolution.

"Look back throughout history: you have the 20th century, the murder of 100 million people, barely 80 years ago. The 1914-18 war, the civil war in America, slaughter, bloodshed … I don’t know if there’s a design in it, but it is extraordinary to look at it and get a perspective.

"I think, ‘Well, if it’s the end, there’s nothing we can do about it, and it’ll blow over, whatever happens."'