Anthony Hopkins
Drunk Driving Scare Made Me Realize I Was an Alcoholic
Published October 26, 2025 7:11 AM PDT
Anthony Hopkins is opening up about the terrifying night that forced him to face his battle with alcoholism.
During an appearance on The New York Times’ “The Interview” podcast, the Oscar-winning actor recalled the moment he hit rock bottom. “I was drunk and driving my car here in California in a blackout, no clue where I was going, when I realized that I could have killed somebody. Or myself, which I didn’t care about,” Hopkins said.
He continued, “I could have killed a family in a car, you know.” That realization, he said, was the moment everything changed. “I realized that I was an alcoholic, and I came to my senses,” Hopkins said. Soon after, he saw a former agent of his at a Beverly Hills party and confessed, “I need help.”
Hopkins described what happened next as a “spooky” moment … a male voice inside him told him, “It’s all over. Now you can start living.” From that instant, he says, his craving to drink was gone.
Now nearly five decades sober, the actor reflected on his journey saying, “There are monstrous difficulties in life. But finally, approaching 88, I wake up in the morning going: ‘I’m still here. How?'”
