Perhaps one of the most persistent myths about alcohol is the idea that it can give you a creative edge. That somehow, you can’t quite realize your full creative potential without dipping into a little liquid courage.
Not only does the science contradict that idea, but a lot of real-life stories do too!
To prove our point, here are a few famous artists who’ve elevated their careers after taking the path to recovery.
Anthony Hopkins
Widely recognized as one of the best actors of our time, Anthony has been in recovery since 1975.
While he had some modest success before 1975, he became a household name in the 90s with hits like The Silence of the Lambs (for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor).
By 2003 he was immortalized in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Since then, he’s gone on to star in classics like Legends of the Fall, The Mask of Zorro, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Marvel’s Thor franchise.
Stephen King
Few authors are as prolific as Stephen King.
While Stephen did create some great works like The Shining and Stand by Me before embarking on recovery in the late 80s, he showed us he could produce work that was just as ground-breaking without the influence of alcohol.
If you’ve seen hits like Shawshank Redemption, It, Pet Cemetery, The Green Mile, Carrie, and Misery, you know exactly what we mean.
Ewan McGregor
One of the most famous Scottish actors aside from Sean Connery, Ewan first caught the eye of Hollywood with his starring role in the small-budget but cult classic film, Trainspotting, back in 1996.
After he got sober in 2001, however, his fortunes really took off. He’s since had lead roles in the George Lucas Star Wars franchise, the animated hit Robots, and has appeared in favorites like Black Hawk Down.
And if all that’s not enough to impress you, you can also find his likeness around the world in the form of action figures, video game characters, and countless licensed merchandise from t-shirts to lunch boxes to toys.
André Benjamin (André 3000)
A well-known musician now, André found his highest level of success after he chose to get sober in 1996.
A few short years after that, his group Outkast dominated the airwaves with #1 hits like Ms. Jackson, The Way You Move, and the infectious Hey Ya.
André credits his sobriety with allowing him to take his life more seriously and live up to his abilities.
Craig Ferguson
The Scottish comedian and TV personality had such a rough relationship with alcohol that back in 1991, he planned to commit suicide on Christmas morning.
Thankfully, a friend talked him out of it, and he eventually quit drinking entirely.
Once in recovery, he moved to the U.S., where his career skyrocketed. After rising through the ranks of the comedy scene, he ultimately landed his own show, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
If you’re an established or emerging creative person, just remember that there are endless ways to get inspired and do great work.
Alcohol just isn’t one of them.
Having a true edge comes with honing your craft and having the clarity and focus to seize opportunities and the creative muse as they present themselves.
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Struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma or other mental health disorder? You can begin your recovery journey at our facilities across Canada and through virtual programs. Find out more about what we treat.
