Anthony Hopkins realized in 1975 that he no longer wants to keep fuelling his addiction, and felt relief then.
It is difficult to talk about addiction without being judged for it. It takes courage to put our most vulnerable self out there for the world to see. Some folks join us by congratulating while others might view it as attention-seeking behavior. However, in the end, the one who is fighting to preserve their future and get better knows that they spoke about it probably looking for compassion and acceptance, and not to forget, to spread awareness.
Sir Anthony Hopkins, who turns 83 on New Year's Eve, recently revealed that he is marking his 45th year of sobriety. The Silence of the Lambs actor shared a black and white video online and expressed "gratitude" for making the decision to quit drinking in 1975, according to Good Morning America.
"Forty-five years ago today, I had a wakeup call. I was headed for disaster, drinking myself to death. I'm not preachy, but I got a message," he said in the minute-long clip. "A little thought that said, 'Do you want to live or die?' And I said, 'I want to live.'"
With gratitude, I celebrate 45 years of sobriety. pic.twitter.com/fxzMRGlI4m
— Anthony Hopkins (@AnthonyHopkins) December 29, 2020
The Meet Joe Black actor was married to Petronella Barker, the mother of his daughter Abigal, from 1966-72. However, he moved to America to get better roles in Hollywood, which coupled with his alcoholism, led to the breakdown of their marriage. Three years after the divorce, he made the call to give up his addiction. Unfortunately, he is estranged from his daughter, according to Birmingham Live.
The Westworld actor, who has been married to Stella Arroyave since 2003, said that once he realized he wants to live, "suddenly the relief came and my life has been amazing," reported Good Morning America. However, it's not been a smooth journey as the Oscar winner has his "off days and sometimes little bits of doubt and all that."
He also offered words of encouragement to others struggling with sobriety, something people with any kind of addiction might appreciate. "All in all, I say hang in there," he continued. "Today is the tomorrow you were so worried about yesterday. Young people, don't give up. Keep fighting. Be bold. Mighty forces will come to your aid. That's sustained me through my life."
The Thor actor acknowledged that 2020 has been a "tough year, full of grief, and sadness for many, many, many people." However, he only has hope for 2021. "Happy New Year," he concluded. "This is going to be the best year."
The octogenarian will be seen in The Father, a film about a man who is dealing with memory loss. Despite his long filmography, he continues to work, attaining new heights with his acting chops.
The Hannibal actor and his wife, Arroyave, lead a quiet life indoors, where he plays the piano, paints, and walks on the beaches of Malibu, as per Daily Mail. "I have a nice life," he said. "I am happy, whatever that means."
She was an antique dealer when Hopkins happened to walk into her shop to look around. He recalled that she danced instead of walking to greet him, and quickly made a place in his heart. "She’s a wonderful woman who likes to spend money and even as I am sitting here talking to you, is out spending my money. It’s all gone, whoosh. But she’s very good for me, my wife, because she slows me down," he told the interviewer in 2013.
"This morning I was sitting in a restaurant and I was leaning back in my chair jiggling away and she said: 'Don’t do that.' I said: 'Why?' She said: 'Cause you could collapse!' She looks after me that way and she needs to, because my nature is to do things very fast because I have convinced myself that I am still 45 years old. I walk far too fast and I’m always falling over and she reminds me not to," he added.
Congratulations to the actor on his decades of sobriety!
References:
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/anthony-hopkins-hasnt-spoken-daughter-14696029
