Actor Gary Oldman Credits 28 Years Sobriety for Life Transformation

Gary Oldman has celebrated 28 years of sobriety, crediting his recovery from alcoholism with saving both his life and career. The Oscar-winning actor revealed that he once glamorized the destructive lifestyles of his artistic heroes, like Richard Burton, who famously performed Hamlet while heavily intoxicated. Oldman described himself as a functioning alcoholic for over two decades, enduring severe physical and emotional tolls, including 'sweating vodka' and blackened tongues. He acknowledged that continuing his drinking at the previous rate would have led to death or institutionalization. Sobriety brought him clarity and a vastly improved personal life, which also positively impacted his acting work. Addiction experts note that Oldman's ability to maintain success during his addiction was rare, emphasizing the high risks associated with alcohol abuse, which causes about 178,000 deaths annually in the U.S.