Gary Oldman has opened up about his battle with alcoholism and how sobriety saved his life, saying he believes if he hadn’t gotten off the alcohol, he’d be ‘dead or institutionalized’.
He got candid about his history
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on Monday, August 18, the Slow Horses star got candid about his health battle 28 years after getting sober.
“I’m in a very good place at the moment, and a lot of that is to do with sobriety,” the 67-year-old said.
Oldman used to need a drink at all times
The actor said of his sobriety, “It’s been 28 years. There was a point when I didn’t think I could’ve gone 28 seconds without a drink.”
Oldman added that part of the reason why he started drinking was that a lot of his ‘heroes’ were doing the same.
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He opened up about his ‘heroes’
“They were all tortured poets and artists,” Oldman shared of the people he looked up to. “You look up to them and you romanticize and want to emulate them.”
He continued, “It was a social norm, and at some point, it got out of control.”
But he doesn’t blame it on them
Although the actor said the behaviors of those he looked up to were part of the reason why he started drinking, he admitted that he doesn’t blame the issue on them.
“And that’s nothing to do with anyone other than me. But you do glamorize it, that sort of crazy behavior,” Oldman said.
One in particular was Richard Burton
Oldman mentioned one hero in particular: Richard Burton, who allegedly got drunk every night before getting on stage.
“You read about Richard Burton, who I think did 136 performances of Hamlet, eight shows a week on Broadway,” Oldman said. “He’d drink a whole bottle of vodka and then play the whole part completely drunk.”
Oldman eventually realized he should quit
Despite the influence, the Harry Potter actor eventually decided to quit alcohol, having given it up in 1997.
“It’s just an excuse, really, and you’re just kidding yourself,” Oldman said. “My own life, my personal life, is immeasurably better from just not living in a fog. But I think the work is good, too.”
He believes he could have lost his life
“Going at the rate I was going, I wouldn’t be sitting here with you by now,” Oldman added candidly. “I’d either be dead or institutionalized.”
