Anthony Hopkins Opens Up About His Alcohol Addiction
Sir Anthony Hopkins has revealed that his struggle with alcohol addiction was life-threatening. The 87-year-old Academy Award-winning Welsh actor also expressed deep regret over leaving his first wife and infant daughter behind.
Reflection in His Memoir
Hopkins shared these personal insights in his upcoming memoir We Did Ok, Kid, which is due to be published on Tuesday. In the book, he reflects on the challenges he has endured throughout his life.
Drinking in Family and Theatre Circles
The actor admitted that heavy drinking was common in his family and within the theatre community. However, his addiction began to impact his professional life, leading to confrontations with directors and performing on stage while intoxicated alongside colleagues.
"It was terrible. You used to be on stage and not know where you were or why you were there, adding ten minutes to the play."
Hopkins explained how excessive drinking was once widely accepted in his environment:
"It was just the done thing... Who cares about the establishment? When you’re growing up, it’s healthy to want to punch out and be rebellious and survive. And it was a bit of fun, I thought."
He recalled a stark realization about the danger he was facing:
"But I remember thinking one day: 'Yeah, and it’s going to kill you as well.'"
Author's Summary
Anthony Hopkins candidly discusses how his alcohol addiction almost destroyed him, revealing profound remorse over the personal losses it caused.