Anthony Hopkins Celebrates 49 Years of Sobriety
Over the holidays, Sir Anthony Hopkins shared an inspiring video commemorating 49 years of sobriety. The 86-year-old actor posted the message to his Instagram account on December 29th, the anniversary of his decision to quit drinking.
In the video, Hopkins reflects on his journey: “Well, 49 years ago today, I stopped [drinking]. I was having such fun, but then I realized I was in big, big trouble because I couldn’t remember anything and I was driving a car, drunk out of my skull… I phoned up a group of people like me — alcoholic — and that was it. Sober. I’ve had more fun in these 49 years than ever.” This milestone dates back to 1975, a year when Hopkins was already gaining recognition for his acting talents in films such as *The Lion in Winter*. Shortly after achieving sobriety, he won his first Emmy Award for *The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case*.
Hopkins also used the opportunity to encourage others struggling with alcohol addiction: “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. It’s not a terrible deal. It’s a condition. If you’re allergic to alcohol, get some help. There’s plenty of help around. One thing I didn’t realize: I was not unique. There are thousands of people around like me.”
Even nearing his nineties, Hopkins continues to thrive in his career. Following his surprise Best Actor Oscar win for *The Father* in 2021, he has remained active, taking on roles as diverse as Sigmund Freud, the voice of a robot in Zack Snyder’s *Rebel Moon*, and King Herod in *Mary*.
Concluding his video message, Hopkins wished his followers a Happy New Year – a sentiment well-earned given his remarkable career achievements and personal triumph over addiction.
(The following is unrelated to Anthony Hopkins and appears to be a list of other pop culture news items from the original text):
* Will Ferrell exorcises his holiday demons by dressing as Buddy the Elf at a Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings hockey game.
* Linda Lavin, known for her role in *Alice*, has passed away.
* Netflix is reportedly using a tactic to keep distracted viewers engaged.
* Francis Ford Coppola expresses high hopes for the future of filmmaking.
* Pamela Anderson celebrates her first Golden Globe nomination.
* Prosecutors have withdrawn appeals against Alec Baldwin, dropping involuntary manslaughter charges.
* The challenging first on-screen collaboration between Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey is revealed.
* Art Evans, known for roles in *Die Hard 2* and *A Soldier’s Story*, has passed away from diabetes.
* Ringo Starr joined Paul McCartney on stage for the final stop of McCartney’s world tour.