Anthony Hopkins recalls near-fatal blackout that changed his life

Anthony Hopkins recalls moment he realised he was an alcoholic and how one voice ended his battle with addiction

Sir Anthony Hopkins has opened up about the life-changing moment that made him realise he was an alcoholic, recounting how a near-fatal incident during a blackout almost cost him everything. The Oscar-winning actor reflected on his struggles while discussing his upcoming memoir, We Did OK, Kid, during an episode of The New York Times podcast The Interview.

The Silence of the Lambs star, who has been sober for nearly five decades, revealed that the turning point came when he was driving drunk through California with no memory of where he was going. “I realised that I could have killed somebody, or myself, which I didn’t care about,” Hopkins said, describing how that terrifying moment pushed him to finally seek help.

Hopkins, now 87, shared that he looked at his watch and heard what he described as a powerful inner voice saying, “It’s all over. Now you can start living. And it has all been for a purpose, so don’t forget one moment of it.” The voice, which he described as “male, vocal and reasonable,” instantly erased his desire to drink. He added that while he doesn’t have a scientific explanation for it, he believes it was an act of divinity or a manifestation of consciousness.

The acclaimed actor also reflected on his early years in Hollywood, where heavy drinking was glamorised among stars like Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole. “Actors in those days were rebels. We could celebrate, but at the back of the mind there was always the thought, it’ll kill you as well,” he said. “Those guys I worked with have all gone.”

Hopkins, who celebrated 49 years of sobriety in December, often shares motivational messages with fans about recovery. He has credited his long-standing sobriety with saving his career and his life. Now nearing 88, he said he wakes up each morning grateful simply to be alive. “There are monstrous difficulties in life,” he said. “But finally, I wake up in the morning going, ‘I’m still here. How? I don’t know. But whatever’s keeping me here, thank you very much.’”

His memoir We Did OK, Kid is set to be published on 4 November, promising deeper insight into his struggles, resilience, and journey to self-acceptance.