Barry Keoghan reveals he's 'an addict': 'I'm not in denial anymore'
Barry Keoghan is sharing something deeply personal about his struggle with sobriety.
The "Saltburn" star, 32, opened up about witnessing his mother's addiction and falling prey to drugs himself. In a May 1 interview with Hollywood Authentic, he recalled his mother's death from a heroin addiction when he was a child, and how her death affected his own "curiosity" about narcotics.
"I'm not in denial anymore. I understand that I do have an addiction, and I am an addict," he told the outlet. "You know, when you accept that, you finally can move on, and learn to work with it."
He added that his father's death under "similar" circumstances, other family members dying from drug overdoses, as well as his son Brando "coming into this world didn't stop me from being curious."
"That should be enough to go, 'OK, if I dabble here, I'm (screwed). But your curiosity is a powerful thing," he continued. "You go to LA, you go to Hollywood, wherever the big scene is. There's an enormous amount of pressure, and a different lifestyle that is good and bad for you."
Keoghan showed the Hollywood Authentic interviewer marks on his arms from injuries while high, adding, "I've got scars here to literally prove it."
The "Banshees of Inisherin" actor said his longtime driver, Niall, was the one who put him on a plane to a rehab facility in England.
He said he's coming out of this low point in his life more "at peace," "present" and "responsible for everything that I do."
"I'm getting to just see that haze that was once there – it's just a bit sharper now. I feel like I've arrived," Keoghan said, adding an apology. "Mainly to myself more than anything else for all the pain I've put people and myself through."
The "Hurry Up Tomorrow" star was previously romantically linked to Sabrina Carpenter.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental and/or substance use disorders, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's free and confidential treatment referral and information service at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It's available 24/7 in English and Spanish (TTY: 1-800-487-4889).