Anthony Hopkins marks 45 years of sobriety in heartfelt video
"I was headed for disaster, drinking myself to death."
Anthony Hopkins marked 45 years of sobriety with an inspiring message to fans.
The "Silence of the Lambs" actor, who turns 83 on New Year's Eve, took to social media on Tuesday to share a black-and-white video "with gratitude" for the decision he made in 1975 to give up drinking.
"Forty-five years ago today, I had a wakeup call. I was headed for disaster, drinking myself to death. I'm not preachy, but I got a message," he began in the minutelong clip. "A little thought that said, 'Do you want to live or die?' And I said, 'I want to live.'"
Hopkins said that after coming to this realization, "suddenly the relief came and my life has been amazing."
Despite his success, the Oscar winner added that he has "off days and sometimes little bits of doubt and all that."
Hopkins then offered words of encouragement to those struggling with sobriety.
"All in all, I say hang in there," he continued. "Today is the tomorrow you were so worried about yesterday. Young people, don't give up. Keep fighting. Be bold. Mighty forces will come to your aid. That's sustained me through my life."
Though Hopkins said this has been a "tough year, full of grief and sadness for many, many, many people," he ended the video with an optimistic message for 2021.
"Happy New Year," he concluded. "This is going to be the best year."
Hopkins can next be seen in "The Father," a movie about a man who is dealing with memory loss, alongside a cast featuring fellow Academy Award-winner Olivia Colman.
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