Anthony Hopkins is celebrating a big day ahead of the new year. Well, two big days: his 87th birthday, on Dec. 31, and the anniversary of his sobriety. The legendary actor took to Instagram on Dec. 29 to mark the occasion, revealing that he’s been sober for 49 years and reflecting on what inspired him to quit drinking — and how it’s changed his life for the better.
“Happy 29th of December!” Hopkins said in the video. “Why 29th? Well, 49 years ago today, I stopped,” he went on, making a drinking gesture. The Oscar-winning actor admitted he was “having such fun” drinking, yet decided to stop due to two main reasons. “I realized I was in big, big trouble because i couldn’t remember anything,” he explained. “And I was driving a car drunk out of my skull.”
On that day in 1975, Hopkins also concluded that he couldn’t stop on his own. “I realized I needed help, so I got it,” he explained. “I phoned up a group of people like me, alcoholic, and that was it. Sober.”
The video continues a tradition for Hopkins, who for the past two years has publicly recognized his sobriety anniversary with an inspirational, uplifting end-of-year message. In 2022, he recalled being in a “desperate situation, despair, and probably not long to live. I just happened to acknowledge one day that there was something really wrong with me.”
The moment actually occurred in an Arizona hotel room, he revealed in a 2020 New York Times interview, when he woke up with no memory of how he got there. “I thought, ‘Well, I’ve got to stop this because I’m either going to kill somebody or myself,’” Hopkins said in the interview. “My life, from that moment on, took on new meaning.”
With his yearly anniversary videos, Hopkins seeks to inspire others to be kind to themselves and seek help when they need it — whether it’s for addiction or another issue. “If you do have a problem — having fun is wonderful, having a drink is fine — but if you are having a problem with the booze, there is help,” Hopkins said. “… Phone any intergroup, 12-step program, whatever you could do, because it is a killer.” With New Year’s festivities and then dry January right around the corner, it’s as timely a message as ever. And while sobriety has felt a little like a wellness trend over the last few years, it’s also worth remembering that it’s a difficult and life-changing decision for many people.
For Hopkins part, he said that being sober has helped him lead a happier and “unexpectedly long life” as he prepares to celebrate his 87th birthday. Plus, he added, the good times didn’t stop just because he quit drinking. “I’ve had more fun these 49 years than ever,” Hopkins said. “… I got sober, and it sounds a dull word, but I’ve had a wonderful life.”
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This article was originally published on sheknows.com.