Hannibal star Sir Anthony Hopkins makes a trek back to his childhood home in Margam

IT is not every day you get a Hollywood A-list actor turn up on your doorstep.

So it was quite a surprise for Chris Trainor when Port Talbot legend Sir Anthony Hopkins popped in for a cup of tea last week.

Although Mr Trainor lives at the Margam house Hopkins was born in and lived at for 12 years, he never dreamed he would ever get to meet the Los Angeles-based star.

"I was totally shell-shocked," said the 32-year-old. "It was quite surreal."

"I was in the car and I saw a lady taking photos and a black car.

"I saw his chauffeur James Price, who I know, who said it was Sir Anthony Hopkins.

"I said why don't you bring him in. So he came in with his wife, niece and actor Michael Wincott with him.

"He was also with two security guards."

Mr Trainor, who bought the Wern Road semi in the summer, said Sir Anthony stayed for around half an hour.

"He said he was born in the house and he lived in the house for 12 years," said Mr Trainor.

"He said he had been filming Hitchcock and had renewed his vows at St David's with his wife. He was really good as he had a picture with my daughter Poppy who is 2, my partner Carly Culver, and with me. I was lost for words.

"He said it had made his Christmas."

During his visit Sir Anthony had a tour of his former home.

"He went around the whole house and went in the bedrooms and said he was born in my daughter's bedroom," said Mr Trainor, who is the managing director of a call centre in Swansea and has a property management business.

"He said he has got a place in LA and would send us a postcard with his details on it. He said we could visit.

"His wife said would we sell the house back to them and I would definitely."

Former owner of the home Brenda Lewis also had a visit from its famous former resident. In 2007 Sir Anthony called her out of the blue asking if he could visit and some time later turned up.

Mr Trainor said as he knew Mrs Lewis, and loved the house, when she put it on the market it was an easy decision.

"Brenda's son and daughter are good friends of mine so I knew the house," he said. "I was looking around for a nice house and I had been there millions of times.

"I went over there and made her an offer. I have kept all the ornamental features."

The Silence Of The Lambs Oscar winner, who turned 75 on New Year's Eve, celebrated his 10th wedding anniversary by having a blessing at a private service at St David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire on Christmas Eve. Staff at Laugharne's Browns Hotel were also shocked to welcome the star last week.