Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins shared a new message with his fans as he marked 49 years of sobriety.

The veteran actor has a long tradition of sending messages of hope to people struggling with alcoholism and using his sobriety as a way to motivate them.

On his sober anniversaries, Hopkins usually records a video detailing his experience and how he decided to get sober and continued the tradition this year.

In the nearly two-minute clip, he shared his sober story with his fans, telling what led him to quit drinking.

Hopkins began: "Good morning. Happy December 29th. The 29th? Why the 29th? Well, 49 years ago today I quit (imitating the act of drinking)."

He said he was having fun at the time, but realized he was in "big trouble" because he couldn't remember anything.

The "Father" actor continued: "I was driving my car, drunk out of my mind. Then that fateful day I realized I needed help, so I got it."

After realizing he needed help, Hopkins said he "called a group of people" who were in a similar situation and began his journey to sobriety. He added: "Anyway, I've had more fun these 49 years than ever."

The actor used his message to inspire people struggling with alcoholism or alcohol-related problems. He reassured them, saying, "If you have a problem, the party is great, the drinking is fine. But if you have a drinking problem, there is help."

Hopkins explained: "It's not scary. It's a condition if you're allergic to alcohol. Get help, there's a lot of help out there."

He also said: "One thing I didn't realize is that I'm not unique. There are thousands of people like me."

In the final part of the video, Hopkins expressed hope and positivity to his followers, using his life as an example of how sober people can still have fun and great opportunities.

He said: "Anyway, I'm sober. It sounds boring, but I've had a wonderful life. They're still hiring me, they're still giving me jobs."

The 86-year-old shared: "I'll be 87 in two days, so I'm celebrating my long life - my unexpectedly long life - so if you have a problem, you know where to go."

Hopkins urged those with drinking problems to seek help by calling a group, enrolling in a 12-step program or doing whatever they can "because (alcohol) is a killer."

He ended his message by blowing a kiss and saying, "With that, Happy New Year!"

He he said"Hello, Happy New Year! All you revelers and drunks are having a great time. Great!"

Hopkins added: "Happy New Year, have a good time. If you get hangovers, remember me. I don't get them anymore because I quit 48 years ago today. I got help for it and my life has changed."

The "One Life" star concluded: "I don't envy you having fun out there, but if you need help, there's time. Life goes on. Go ahead."

In the 2020 interview The New York TimesHopkins recalled the moment he decided to quit drinking in 1975.

He found himself waking up in a hotel room in Arizona, but had no idea how he got there.

Hopkins said by Independent"I thought, 'Well, I have to stop this because I'm either going to kill someone or I'm going to kill myself. My life took on a new meaning from that moment on.'

For the actor from the movie "The Silence of the Lambs", the decision to stop drinking helped him a lot.

The icon received his first Oscar in 1991 for the role of serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the film "The Silence of the Lambs". Hopkins' second Academy Award came in 2021 when he was 83 years old.

He won the award for his role as a father suffering from dementia in the film "The Father", making him the oldest person to win an Oscar.