Jason Isaacs has openly discussed his difficult struggle with drug addiction and his journey to recovery after many years.
The 62-year-old British actor shared that he first tried hypnotherapy to prepare for a role, and later realized he had been constantly under the influence of something.
For many years, he struggled with addiction, but he was able to overcome it with support from his family and friends by stopping all drug and alcohol use.
Jason revealed on Josh Smith’s podcast that a past-life regression session uncovered his subconscious attempting to harm his younger self.
The actor from The White Lotus explained that they visited a hypnotherapist to prepare for a role. They were playing a detective who used hypnotherapy to revisit childhood memories, and the actor wanted to experience a regression session themselves.
She replied, “Okay, that sounds easy enough. What challenges are you hoping to tackle?” I responded honestly, “Well, I’m actually an actor.”
I’m prepared to start the research and I have no issues. Then I asked if our conversation would be kept confidential, similar to how a doctor-patient relationship works.
I told her I constantly use drugs. She seemed surprised and asked if I was currently using. I replied that I pretty much always am, either high or under the influence of something.
She told me to try and remember what it was like to be a little kid, and I immediately thought of a photo of me as a child, standing on a chair in my dad’s office.
She asked me how old I was, and I replied that I was around four years old. Then, she told me to go to little Jason, hug him, and tell him I loved him and would look after him.
For a moment, I considered being honest and admitting, “I don’t love him, and I’m not trying to help him—I’m actually trying to cause him pain.”
She snapped me out of my daze and asked what I thought it all meant. I told her I believed I was constantly hurting myself.
Jason said that while a key moment in getting sober, he didn’t fully overcome his drug use until several years later.
He shared that the biggest turning point in his life was getting sober. He’s been attending 12-step programs and has remained free from alcohol and drugs for the past 27 years, and he wished he could say it happened overnight.
It didn’t happen quickly; it took years. But from that moment on, every time I used drugs, I understood it wasn’t for enjoyment. It wasn’t about being popular or having a good time. I realized each drug I took was simply hastening my own demise.
Jason described feeling overwhelmed and isolated, as if his world was collapsing around him. He just wanted to be by himself, feeling numb and withdrawn.
I was in a lot of pain and felt hopeless, but I wasn’t actively trying to end my life. I just desperately wished for an escape from the cycle of waking up and being controlled by my addiction.
I preferred things to remain uncertain. Surprisingly, I was managing to succeed even though most people were unaware of this preference.
I simply didn’t have the energy to deal with anything, and I was past the age where people would say I was wasting my potential, or that it was a shame I didn’t live a more exciting life.
I’ve heard many inspiring stories about people finding strength through faith in difficult times, but that wasn’t my experience. I was facing a life-or-death situation and desperately needed something to hold onto, so I grabbed a piece of driftwood.
During the conversation, Jason also shared that he had experienced bullying from directors on several movie sets, explaining that he was often ‘repeatedly picked on’.
I experienced a lot of bullying while working on movie and TV sets. Some directors are known for being bullies, and I was often the target of that behavior over the years. Thankfully, it hadn’t happened in a long time, but it recently started up again.
Someone consistently tried to undermine and embarrass me. It seemed to be their usual way of behaving, likely because they felt threatened by me, or because I had good relationships with the team, or simply because I was experienced.
I’ve worked with this crew long enough to realize this person was just embarrassing themselves, and their shouting was actually their attempt to be insulting.
The crew kept wondering what was wrong with Jason, but they realized his ideas were actually good and he was treating everyone with respect.
Last year, Jason publicly shared his inspiring journey of 27 years of sobriety, marking the anniversary of his decision to get clean.
I was so touched to see his post on Instagram last October! He rarely shares such personal things, but he opened up about reaching 27 years of sobriety. He talked about what it was like starting that journey back in 1998 and how he’s managed to stay strong ever since. It was really inspiring to read.
Today marks 27 years since I woke up sober for the first time as an adult. It was the first full day I’d gone without drugs or alcohol.
I wasn’t awake because I hadn’t actually gone to sleep. Instead of trying to resist old habits – like ripping up the floor or obsessively searching through my clothes, both of which had oddly turned up results recently – I’d spent the whole night naked in a public sauna, surrounded by confused taxi drivers.
I didn’t know what the future held, but stepping out that morning, covered in glitter, bright pink, and feeling incredibly refreshed, I felt hopeful for the first time in years. I’d made it through one night, and suddenly, anything seemed possible.
I’ve learned over the past 27 years that life is really about taking things one small step at a time. Sometimes that’s a whole day, other times just an hour, a deep breath, or even treating yourself to something wonderfully indulgent – like a seriously huge chocolate bar! It’s about finding those little moments to keep moving forward.
Jason shared his story publicly hoping to inspire others facing similar challenges, and to show them that positive change is possible.
The Harry Potter actor stressed that it’s never too late to turn things around, no matter how hopeless you feel, and encouraged anyone who’s struggling to ask for help.
He explained his reason for writing: despite stepping away from social media to avoid its negativity – the amplified hatred, disguised prejudice, and lack of thoughtful discussion – he hoped his words might reach someone who, like him, hadn’t considered a life beyond it. He wanted to show them that another way of living is possible.
I’m writing to tell you that recovery is possible if you reach out for help. Your path doesn’t have to be the same as mine, but no matter how hopeless things seem, or how stuck you feel, there’s always a chance to heal and move forward. There’s always a way to find your way back to feeling okay. Just take that first small step and allow yourself to accept help.
Jason ended his heartfelt speech by thanking the people who supported him on his journey to sobriety. He emphasized that he couldn’t have succeeded without their help, and that he’d finally learned to accept both the joys and challenges life brings.
I’m so grateful to everyone who supports me and helps me stay grounded, even if it’s just by making me laugh. I truly couldn’t have gotten through things without you – I’ve tried to handle it on my own before, and it just didn’t work.
I’m truly thankful for the experience of being alive, even when things are difficult, painful, or frightening. I used to avoid these challenges, but now I often face them head-on. I’m showing up and engaging with life. And I believe in you – you can handle whatever comes your way.
Jason’s post quickly received a lot of positive feedback from his fans, famous friends, and colleagues from past projects.
As a huge fan of Jon Hamm, it warmed my heart to see such sweet messages pouring in after his incredible performance as Jason in The White Lotus! Patrick Schwarzenegger and Sam Nivola, who played his sons on the show, were among the first to share their love – Sam actually wrote ‘I love you Jase ❤️’ and Patrick just sent a heart emoji. It was so lovely to see!
Taylor Lautner simply wrote ‘Love you man thank you for sharing this,’ and actress Sharon Lawrence praised the recipient, saying their commitment to sobriety is a hard-won accomplishment and a blessing to everyone around them.
David Morrissey, a fellow actor from Sherwood, congratulated Jason, and Rachel Hurd-Wood, who played Wendy Darling in the 2003 film Peter Pan, showed her support with a raised hands emoji in the comments.
Travis Van Winkle, who worked with Jason on ‘Good Sam,’ wrote, ‘This is incredible. Thanks for sharing!’ Martha Plimpton, Jason’s co-star in the 2021 film ‘Mass,’ simply commented, ‘Happy birthday, pal.❤️’
David Furnish, an artist and Elton John’s husband, shared his admiration, writing, ‘Incredibly inspiring! Congratulations on 27 years of sobriety.’ Actor James D’Arcy also joined in the congratulations, saying, ‘Huge congratulations Jason – what an amazing achievement!❤️’
In 2020, Jason openly discussed his long-term struggles with drug use in an interview with The Big Issue. He explained that his problems started in his teens with excessive partying.
He explained that he was prone to addiction, and by sixteen, he had already experimented with alcohol and begun a decades-long struggle with drugs.
The celebrity explained he acted in a way that completely masked his true self, driven by a desperate desire to disconnect from his own thoughts and emotions. He believes it took almost 20 years for anyone to truly understand him.
Jason revealed that he first started drinking whiskey when he was only 12 years old, and it quickly caused problems for him.
He remembered that the bartender, who they initially saw as a hero but he now believes deserved to be in jail, secretly gave them a whole bottle of Southern Comfort.
We quickly finished the drink and then stumbled out into the party, acting clumsily and unsteadily.
I threw up, then accidentally brought down a large curtain while falling. I kissed a girl – she was a real sweetheart. After that, I ran outside and was sick again, tripped, and hit my head hard on the sidewalk, causing a lot of bleeding.
The Golden Globe nominee admitted that while he deeply regretted his actions the next day, he was already heading down a self-destructive spiral.
He recalled waking up the next morning feeling terrible – a pounding headache, the smell of vomit, and a painful scab. Despite feeling deeply embarrassed by his actions, his immediate thought was that he couldn’t wait to repeat the experience.
I don’t know why I did it—maybe it was my genes, my upbringing, or even just luck. All I know is that I spent the next twenty years chasing the incredible feeling I had that night, and it led to a lot of trouble.
The actor, known for his role in ‘The OA,’ described a turning point when he recognized his addiction and how it had changed his perspective on life.
He recalled a time, just before he got sober, when he realized that if everyone he knew suddenly died, he likely wouldn’t be deeply affected by it, he said.
Okay, so listen, this is amazing. Jason basically said he’d love for something awful to happen, because then he’d have a perfect excuse to just lock himself away and… well, indulge. And the best part? Everyone would understand! They’d be like, ‘Yeah, after that, it’s totally okay to just disappear and cope however you need to.’ It’s brilliant, honestly. A socially acceptable excuse for total isolation and… other things. I just get him on such a deep level.
Once he was clear-headed, he realized he’d always been a kind and compassionate person, and the idea that he wasn’t was simply untrue.
He explained that the drugs weren’t helping him cope with feeling disconnected – they were actually creating that distance.
Earlier this year, Jason revealed that he used to prefer being someone else while struggling with addiction for many years. He explained that he turned to drugs and alcohol because he felt self-conscious and uneasy with who he was.
Speaking on the Brydon & podcast, Rob Brydon explained that he initially enjoyed feeling detached, saying it was ‘fun’ because it helped him feel less like an outsider.
I’ve always struggled with feeling like myself, and often felt like I was pretending to fit in when I was around others. It always seemed like everyone else was more at ease.
When we were under the influence – whether from drugs or alcohol – it created a sense of shared experience, a level playing field. I really cherished that feeling.
He admitted his drug use severely harmed his personal life, but surprisingly didn’t affect his work. He even claimed he could easily identify which fellow actors would join him in using drugs.
He explained that it didn’t hinder his work at all – in fact, his career was thriving, with him performing at a high level both on stage and on camera.
My personal life was difficult at the time. I stopped using drugs 25 years ago, and while that might be less accepted in my profession now, I don’t really encounter that issue anymore.
I used to be able to instantly sense who on a film set would be interested in using drugs, having fun, or getting into trouble with me.
If you need confidential help with drugs or addiction, you can contact FRANK by emailing frank@talktofrank.com, texting 82111, or calling 0300 123 6600.
If you’re having trouble with alcohol, Alcohol Anonymous is available to help. You can reach them at 0800 917 7650 or by email at help@aamail.org.
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2026-02-04 19:13