LaKeith Stanfield Says He Noticed Signs Of Alcoholism While Shooting Film: I wasn’t able to function a whole day without having it.
LaKeith Stanfield Says He Noticed Signs Of Alcoholism While Shooting Film: I wasn’t able to function a whole day without having it.
Lakeith Stanfield is getting candid about his journey to sobriety.
In a recent interview, the California native shared with readers his personal experience with alcoholism, and noted that he first realized he was overcome by it while shooting the Jay Z produced film ‘The Harder They Fall.” He also says his former co-star Jamie Lee Curtis was very supportive of his sobriety journey.
Lakeith Stanfield wants fans to know that even their favorite celebrities and on screen talents go through hardships. During a recent cover interview, the “Atlanta” star opened up about identifying he was an alcoholic and his journey sobriety. He also says he thinks it’s an important thing to share with others.
In the interview he stated:
“This is something I never really had talked about before, but I think it’s something that I need to talk about, because I want people to understand that it’s something that you can get through, that it’s something that you can get past.”
He continued:
“And I want people to feel empowered by the fact that the person they’re looking at on that screen has gone through addiction and survived it.”
The 30-year-old actor goes on to describe the moment he realized he was dependent on alcohol while shooting for Netflix’s “The Harder They Fall”, canceling a massage due to overwhelming anxiety and immediately wanting a drink.
He said:
“I just got up, canceled the massage, and told [the masseuse] to leave, and she was probably like – what the hell is going on? And I didn’t really know what was happening either. I just thought, I’m anxious, let me just drink some wine. As soon as I drink the wine, the anxiety goes away.”
After initially attributing the thirst for alcohol to high anxiety levels, the “Sorry To Bother You” actor said he later realized it was actually the onset of alcohol withdrawal stating:
“I had become completely dependent upon it. To the point where I wasn’t able to move or function a whole day without having it.”
Following a rehab stay, Lakeith revealed that “Halloween” franchise star Jamie Lee Curtis reached out to him, offering advice and encouragement.
Jamie, a former alcoholic now 20 years sober, had this to say on why she decided to phone her “Knives Out” co-star:
“My experience is that when you feel you are alone, that’s a very scary feeling. So what I was trying to say to him was, ‘You are not alone. And if I can be a source of comfort or understanding, then I hope you will allow me to do that.'”
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Can you relate to Lakeiths journey with alcoholism or something like it? Share it in the comments!