Watch Anthony Hopkin’s Moving Video Celebrating 45 Years of Sobriety

From Prevention

Screen legend Sir Anthony Hopkins has just celebrated 45 years of sobriety, and marked the occasion by sharing a moving video message on social media, in which he reflected on his experiences and expressed his gratitude.

"45 years ago today I had a wake-up call," he said. "I was heading for disaster. I was drinking myself to death. I'm not preachy, but I got a message, I got a little thought that said 'do you want to live or die,' and I said 'I want to live.' And suddenly, the relief came, and my life has been amazing."

This means that the Welsh actor, now 82, has been sober for the majority of his storied career, which began on the stage in the 1960s, and has included an Oscar win for Best Actor as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in 1991's The Silence of the Lambs (his most famous role to date).

In the video, Hopkins also made oblique references to the many trials of 2020—a year which saw him become something of a viral sensation on Tiktok—and offered words of encouragement for the year ahead to anybody who might be struggling, either with their own personal addiction and sobriety, or with the wider issues of social inequality that have been highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic and Black Lives Matter.

"It's been a tough year, full of grief and sadness for many, many people," he said. "I have my off days, and sometimes little bits of doubt and all that, but all in all, I say: hang in there. Today is the tomorrow you were so worried about yesterday. Young people, don't give up. Just keep in there, just keep fighting. Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid. That's sustained me in my life."

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