Anthony Hopkins: "Remember, joy and death will come to you at the right time"

Legendary actor Anthony Hopkins at the end of 2020 celebrated the 45th anniversary of his sober life. He often and frankly talks about how alcohol at one time almost ruined his life. He admits that he got drunk almost to death almost every day. Hopkins tells his stories of defeats and victories not to teach someone, he just hopes that it will help people who find themselves in a situation in which he himself was once stuck. Here is one of his stories ...

“When I was an alcoholic, my best conversationalists were casual drinking companions in bars. Imaginary friends. But, you know, in a state of alcoholic insensibility, it is pleasant to listen to endless stories about other people's sorrows and worries, while inside it is like an idol.

Then it often happened to me - you drink a bottle of tequila, and you say to yourself: "And now you can die." And at the same time, alcoholics have access to what teetotalers pass by - sincerity. Yes Yes. Many Hollywood producers would give anything to get this intimate human material.

Sometimes I heard things that made my hair stand on end. But there was one story that really rinsed me out. I don’t remember his name, he looked serious, dapperly dressed, expensive briefcase, most often these are the ones who go crazy. He sat down to me: "I see you are a good guy, let's have a drink."

Why drunks are often called "good guys" I can't imagine. Glass after glass, and soon I became the owner of the whole collected works of his life. He talked about how he was afloat, that his wife was pregnant, the coveted contract had been signed, and from Monday he was taking over the position he had dreamed of for the past 10 years.

“I'm taking off,” the man told me then. Yes, that's right: I'm taking off ... And then he grabbed another glass, and grinning through his teeth: “You won't believe what powerful projects I have in my head,” he knocked over her and rushed to the exit. Something in me screamed: stop him, let him drink some more! But no, he was already on the street. And I turned away from the window at which we were sitting. And a moment later - the screeching of brakes, screams, and I saw at the intersection of two streets something shapeless and bloody, which a minute ago was a man.

What did this guy do that the Almighty stopped him so cruelly? In what way was he worse than me, a drunken drunkard with a void inside? Why did I stay alive, and he was scraped off the asphalt?

Oh, no, after this incident I did not quit drinking, it happened much later, but I understood the main thing: be calm, never rush, do not make the Lord laugh with your plans, do not fight foaming at the mouth, driving your truth into the heads of others.

“Remember, your joy and death will come to you at the right time. You absolutely cannot influence it. "

By Anthony Hopkins