Anthony Hopkins turns 85 and celebrates 47 years of sobriety with a message of hope

Sir Anthony Hopkins turned 85 on 31 December, and does it in top form. The actor won his second Oscar last year for his role in Florian Zeller’s ‘The Father’, and last year we saw him in ‘Armageddon Time’, ‘Zero Contact’ and soon ‘The Son’ alongside Hugh Jackman and Laura Dern.

Just before his birthday, another very important anniversary for the British takes place: his sobriety. Hopkins celebrated on his social networks that he has been sober for 47 years and does it with a message “not meant to be harsh, but hopefully hopeful”. Here’s how she talks about his illness: “I am a recovering alcoholic and to all the people who are having a hard time in these days of cancellation, hate and no commitment, of bullied children, I say: be kind to yourselves., Be gentle. Stay away from toxic circles and people who offend you. Live your life and be proud of it. 47 years ago I was in dire straits, I probably didn’t have long to live. And it so happened that one day I realized that something was really wrong with me. But I didn’t realize it was a kind of disease. A mental, physical and emotional illness called alcoholism or addiction. I’m not a drug expert. I’m not an expert on anything. I don’t know anything except that I’ve found a life where no one makes fun of me. I will tell young people who are bullied to be careful and be proud of yourselves. Don’t listen to them, don’t let them sink you. Depression and anxiety are sometimes a part of being alive. Life is hard”.

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“Trust the 12-Step Programs”

The ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ star offers the best advice he can give to addicts like himself: “Talk to someone you respect, a counselor, or go through a 12-step program. They’re all over the world: in every city, in every small town, in every community. Trust that program, it can help you identify what you are and it costs nothing. it will give you a new life”. He ends by saying: “I have the best life I could ever imagine and I can’t even take credit for it. Wherever you are: ask for help. Don’t be ashamed. Be proud of yourself and whatever you do don’t let anyone bring you down. If you have to get angry, get angry. Celebrate like I do with myself, even if I don’t know anything. Lots of love to everyone”. Hopkins wishes us a 2023 “full of health”.

Next year we will see Anthony Hopkins again on March 3 in theaters with ‘The Son’ by Florian Zeller. He will also play Sigmund Freud to Matt Brown in ‘Freud’s Last Session’, be part of Zack Snyder’s ambitious ‘Rebel Moon’ and work with Helena Bonham Carter and Jonathan Pryce on the war film ‘One Life’.