Hopkins, 82, asked viewers to look forward to 2021 after “a difficult year, full of grief and sorrow for many, many, many people,” in the video posted Tuesday.
“Forty-five years ago I was shaken up. I was headed for a disaster, I drank myself to death. I’m not preachy, but I got a message,” said the actor, best known for playing serial killer Hannibal Lecter.
“A little thought that said, ‘Do you want to live or die?’ And I said, “I want to live.” And suddenly the relief came and my life was great. “
Hopkins acknowledged that he also has difficult moments: “I have my days off and sometimes a little bit of doubt and all.”
And he called people to stay positive: “All in all, I say wait a minute. Today is the morning you were so worried about yesterday. Young people, don’t give up. Just stay there. Keep fighting. Be brave. Mighty forces will come to your rescue. That has sustained me through my life. “
In March, Hopkins posted a video of himself playing the piano on his cat, Niblo, on Twitter.
Hopkins is an avid composer of classical music and released an album of his musical works in 2012.
He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2020 for his role as Pope Benedict XVI in the Netflix movie “The Two Popes”.