Sir Anthony Hopkins has revealed that his alcohol addiction was on a path to "kill" him. The Academy Award-winning Welsh actor, 87, expressed deep regret over abandoning his first wife and baby daughter during his struggle with addiction.
Hopkins discusses his challenges in his upcoming memoir, We Did Ok, Kid, which will be released on Tuesday. The actor admits that heavy drinking was common in his family and the theater environment.
"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 describes the rebellious nature of his youth, saying it felt like fun at the time, but he soon realized the danger:
"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. But I remember thinking one day: 'Yeah, and it’s going to kill you as well.'"
His story is a candid reminder of how addiction can deeply affect personal and professional life.
Author's summary: Anthony Hopkins candidly reflects on how his alcohol addiction nearly destroyed his life, leading to regret over lost family relationships and turbulent professional years.