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Key Points Hopkins rejects wife’s idea he has Asperger’s, dismissing psychiatric labels as “nonsense.” He credits a pivotal blackout and “radio voice” for his decision to stop drinking. Now 50 years sober, Hopkins views his recovery as resembling divine intervention. Anthony Hopkins is opening up about his wife’s belief that he might be on the autism spectrum — and why he doesn’t buy into it. In a new interview with The Sunday Times shared on Saturday, November 1, the Oscar-winning actor, 87, revealed that his wife, Stella Arroyave, once suggested he might have Asperger’s syndrome. “I’m obsessed with numbers. I’m obsessed with detail. I like everything in order. And memorizing,” Hopkins explained. “Stella looked it up and she said, ‘You must be Asperger’s.’” But Hopkins, known for his sharp intellect and meticulous approach to his craft, dismissed the suggestion entirely. “I didn’t know what the hell she was talking about,” he said. “I don’t even believe it.” According to the Cleveland Clinic, Asperger’s falls under autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which affects communication, learning, and behavior. Still, Hopkins told The Times he views such classifications skeptically. “Well, I guess I’m cynical because it’s all nonsense,” he said. “It’s all rubbish. ADHD, OCD, Asperger’s, blah, blah, blah. Oh God, it’s called living.” He elaborated further, saying, “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.” 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 The interview is part of Hopkins’ press tour for his upcoming memoir, We Did OK, Kid, which hits shelves Tuesday, November 4. In a recent episode of The New York Times podcast The Interview lat week, he reflected on his battle with alcoholism, recalling the moment he realized he needed help. “I was drunk and driving my car here in California in a blackout,” Hopkins said. “I could have killed somebody — or myself, which I didn’t care about.” That near-tragedy, Hopkins said, jolted him into seeking help. “I came to my senses and said to an ex-agent of mine at this party in Beverly Hills, ‘I need help.’” Hopkins described hearing what he called a “vocal, male, reasonable, like a radio voice” that told him, “It’s all over. Now you can start living.” From that moment on, he said, the craving to drink simply disappeared. Now celebrating 50 years sober, Hopkins says he doesn’t question how it happened — only that it felt like a divine intervention. “It’s a consciousness, I believe. That’s all I know,” he said. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available 24 hours a day through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Hotline at 1-800-662-4357.
