Tom Holland was ‘enslaved’ to alcohol podcast reveals

ByLydia Koh

July 13, 2023

Actor Tom Holland, the well-known British star recognised for his portrayal of Spider-Man, has candidly discussed his struggles with sobriety. In an interview with the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast, the 27-year-old actor revealed that quitting alcohol has been the best decision he has ever made, as he became alarmed by realising his dependency.

Is Holland out of the nightmare?

Tom Holland was ‘enslaved’ to alcohol podcast reveals — Photo: Instagram/Tom Holland

Following a particularly excessive holiday season in 2022, Holland noticed that during his commitment to a dry January, thoughts of drinking consumed his mind. This realization frightened him, leading him to acknowledge that he may have an issue with alcohol.

Being sober

Motivated by this revelation, Holland decided to extend his period of sobriety. However, he found it challenging to maintain in England, where socializing and alcohol were deeply intertwined. He felt isolated and struggled with the idea of socializing without consuming alcohol, making it difficult for him to go to pubs or dine out.

Moreover, Holland recognized the need to distance himself from friends in the rugby community, as their focus was heavily centred around alcohol consumption. This prompted him to question his own relationship with alcohol and why he felt so strongly compelled by it.

Improved living

By his 27th birthday on June 1st, Holland had successfully abstained from drinking for six months and declared that he was the happiest he had ever been. He experienced various benefits, such as improved sleep and enhanced coping mechanisms for everyday challenges.

Holland admitted that he had been addicted to alcohol and expressed his willingness to confront this reality. He acknowledged the positive influence of his journey, as it inspired his mother to follow suit and experience similar positive changes in her life.

Break from acting

Currently taking a break from acting following the demanding shoot of the Apple TV series The Crowded Room, in which he portrayed an American criminal with dissociative identity disorder, Holland reflected on his career.

He rose to prominence as Billy Elliot in the West End and achieved international recognition with his role in the 2012 tsunami drama The Impossible. Holland’s portrayal of Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe propelled his career further, and his most recent film, No Way Home, became the highest-grossing film of 2021.

The photo above is from Instagram