Dustin Hoffman has revealed that he channelled his teenage self into Esio Trot’s Mr Hoppy.

The 77-year-old dad-of-six, who portrays the retired pensioner in the BBC adaptation of Roald Dahl’s tale, admitted he could have easily ended up a bachelor, if he hadn’t become famous.

Dustin and Lisa Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman and wife Lisa (Chris Pizzello/Invision)

“In playing Mr Hoppy, I tried to become the person I would have been if I had not had the freak accident of becoming famous,” he said.

“I remember as a teenager being turned down to the prom and not being able to finish dialling the number of the last girl I had a chance to ask out, so I feel like we all have a bit of Mr Hoppy in us.”

The twice-married actor continued: “I began to think about what my life would be like if I hadn’t become successful? What if I didn’t have a partner to live my life with? It isn’t a big jump in the imagination to see yourself living alone like Mr Hoppy.”

Dustin Hoffman and Dame Judi Dench
Dustin Hoffman and Dame Judi Dench (Grant Pollard/Invision)

Dustin, who stars alongside Dame Judi Dench in Esio Trot, said he has always been a fan of Roald Dahl’s books.

“Whereas Richard Curtis is a fan of The Witches, my children liked James And The Giant Peach. Dahl was able to mix many generations in his books and that was something we tried to accomplish with this film,” he said.

“It’s tough to be able to appeal to children and adults at the same time, which makes Roald Dahl a unique writer.”

Dustin said filming the movie, which screened on BBC One last Christmas, gave him a new appreciation for his pet tortoise.

“I own a tortoise myself. He is called Seventy and was a 70th birthday present,” he said.

“They are amazing creatures, the fact that they are able to hibernate for so long without food or water fascinates me. I did get some great tips on what to feed them from our tortoise wrangler on set which made me excited to get home and see Seventy again and feed him strawberries, not just lettuce and bread.”

Esio Trot is available digitally and on DVD from March 30.