Legendary Actor Called Out For Dismissing Mental Health Labels As 'Nonsense': 'Lost A Ton Of Respect'

Anthony Hopkins recently reflected on his sobriety, mental health, and career in a series of interviews.

The 87-year-old traced his struggles to his father's alcoholism and admitted therapy didn't suit him. Though his wife suspects he's autistic, the legendary actor dismissed such labels as "nonsense" and "fashion."

Anthony Hopkins' remarks about mental health labels have now sparked mixed reactions online, with some claiming he is speaking from a place of "rich privilege."

In a conversation with The Sunday Times, Anthony Hopkins reflected on his journey to sobriety and revealed that he believes some of his mental health struggles may trace back to his early years, particularly to his father, who was also a heavy drinker.

Hopkins admitted that, as his "father's son," he often questioned whether there was "something not quite right" about the way his own mind worked.

Encouraged by fellow acting legend Laurence Olivier,  the "Hannibal" star decided to try therapy for a short while.

However, the experience didn't resonate with him. "He kept saying, 'Let's go back,'" Hopkins recalled. "And I'd just go, 'I don't want to do this.' So boring."

Hopkins' wife, Stella Arroyave, has her own take on his personality and mental state as she suspects he might be on the autism spectrum.

"I'm obsessed with numbers. I'm obsessed with detail," he explained. "I like everything in order. And memorizing. Stella looked it up and she said, 'You must be Asperger's.' I didn't know what the hell she was talking about. I don't even believe it."

When the Oscar-winning actor was later informed about the potential benefits of receiving a neurodivergence diagnosis, Hopkins admitted he remains skeptical of such "nonsense."

"Well, I guess I'm cynical because it's all nonsense. It's all rubbish. ADHD, OCD, Asperger's, blah, blah, blah. Oh God, it's called living," he said. "It's just being a human being, full of tangled webs and mysteries and stuff that's in us. Full of warts and grime and craziness, it's the human condition. All these labels. I mean, who cares? But now it's fashion."

As with many things nowadays, Hopkins' comments on mental health labels came under scrutiny online, dividing netizens, with some agreeing with the actor and others claiming he is speaking from a place of privilege.

On X, one person wrote, "Anyone who agrees needs therapy. Change my mind. Also, his generation believes in suffering in silence."

Another said, "I just lost a ton of respect for Anthony Hopkins."

In a more pointed dig at the actor, a person said, "Anthony Hopkins dismissing neurodevelopmental disorders as 'nonsense' is rich people's privilege. You'd better believe that if people with these disabilities had cash to throw at every problem they face, they'd have some space to dismiss it as nonsense as well. Daft old goat."

Amid the backlash, Hopkins received support from people, with a fan writing, "Agree with Anthony, he's right," while another person said, "He's entitled to his opinion, who cares what he thinks, really."

Hopkins, in his interview with The Sunday Times, shared a very introspective thought about his career.

"I think maybe it's some kind of embarrassment that I'm an actor," he admitted. "'What d'you do?' 'I act.' No, I've not done a stroke of work in my life. When I look at my life, the reality is I haven't had a good, decent job in my entire life."

Reflecting on his own life and career, the 87-year-old offered a more self-critical perspective.

He said, "I've done nothing except show up, speak the lines and go home," comparing his acting career to the efforts of people who "are digging the streets and working in shops and stores."

Speaking further, Hopkins noted: "I've done nothing. I look at [myself] and think, 'I haven't done a day's work in my life.' That's the reality."

In a separate conversation with "The Interview," Hopkins reflected on the night that forced him to confront his alcoholism, a turning point that ultimately led to nearly 50 years of sobriety.

He recounted being drunk and aimlessly driving through California, with no sense of direction or awareness of the danger he was in.

"It was a moment when I realized that I could have killed somebody," the "Silence of the Lambs" actor said, per Fox News. "I could have killed a family in a car."

That moment of clarity pushed him to admit the truth. "I realized I was an alcoholic," he stated. "I came to my senses and I said to an ex-agent of mine at this party in Beverly Hills, I said, 'I need help.'"

Hopkins described that as the night he made what he calls "the fatal phone call," reaching out to an intergroup in Los Angeles for a 12-step recovery program.

"They said, 'We'll send somebody over to meet you,' and I said, 'No, I'll come to you," Hopkins recalled.

When he arrived at the meeting, he said he experienced a profound sense of calm and understanding, which he described as a "deep, powerful thought" that told him, "It's all over. Now you can start living, and it has all been for a purpose, so don't forget one moment of it."