Anthony Hopkins opened up about his struggles with alcoholism during his early career. The actor sat down for a talk with Late Show host Stephen Colbert, who congratulated him on his 50-year sobriety while recalling times when he let booze control him. The Hannibal star also added that his addiction was so serious that it would have killed him. Another important point discussed by Hopkins is that he tried treatment with AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and how it changed his life radically.
In an interview, Hopkins shared an incident from 1975 that helped him quit drinking. The Father actor said, "I would drink anything I couldn't chew, and I couldn't stop. One day I was here in Beverly Hills, driving my car in a blackout. December 27, 1975, and I lost my car." He further added that his agent was present too, and when asked about the vehicle, his agent revealed that the actor had not lost his car; it was taken to the garage to keep him from driving.
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"I looked up to a eucalyptus tree and said, 'Someone likes me.' I knew that I was an alcoholic, and I made a phone call to AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), and it changed my life drastically," continued Hopkins.
Hopkins also claimed that knowing that he was not alone helped him feel relieved during his AA meetings. The Meet Joe Black actor recalls his first encounter, when he realised everyone in the room was much like him. He was not unusual, he was simply fearful. "That laughter, when people were telling their stories because drunks are crazy and dangerous. I never preach it to other people; I never say a word."
When the talk show presenter questioned Hopkins about how else AA helped, the actor stated that he is 88 years old and that if he had continued to drink, he would have died years ago. He explained, "I have evidence right now. I am 88 years old, and I should have died years ago. Seriously dead. "Many of my contemporaries did not stop; they died."
Similarly, in reflecting on his journey from drunkenness to sobriety, Hopkins told The Guardian that after the AA sessions, "I got out on the street, 11 am, 29 December 1975, and everything looked different. Everything seemed sunnier; everything seemed more benign. No threat in the air."
Consult a specialised doctor or therapist if you need further help to get rid of alcohol.
