Lucy Hale Reflects on Sobriety Journey Nearly 3 Years After Giving Up Alcohol

Lucy Hale attends the Friendly House Awards Luncheon in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 2024. Unique Nicole/Getty Images for Friendly House

In a recent interview with People, actress Lucy Hale spoke candidly about her path to sobriety, revealing that it was only after “hitting rock bottom” at the age of 32 that she made the deliberate choice to abstain from alcohol.

“I always had a desire to change, but with any form of addiction, you become powerless to this obsession,” Hale, now 35, told the publication.

“I definitely had to go through my own process of getting sober,” she continued. “It took many, many, many years, many relapses, many dark moments, many falling on my face quite literally, but figuratively as well to figure out what was working in my life, finding out why I was drinking, because removing alcohol is just one part of it.”

During an appearance on the “Call Her Daddy“ podcast, published in November 2023, Hale revealed she began drinking when she was just 12 years old.

“I remember my very first experience with alcohol was exactly how it was when it ended: I blacked out at 12,” she said. “I don’t remember what happened. I got very sick, I threw up, and I remember being so distraught when I realized what had happened.”

The “Which Brings Me to You” star said she began drinking alcohol regularly at 18, noting that her drinking “was never normal.”

“It was very clear I was drinking to escape something, even at a young age,” she said. However, it wasn’t until Hale was in her early 20s that she realized she had a problem.

On Jan. 2, 2022, 20 years after consuming her first alcoholic beverage, when the actress finally resolved to quit drinking.

“It was the scariest choice in my life, but also it’s been the best gift,” she told People. “When I made that change, everything else changed. My whole life has changed.”

Embracing Sobriety

On Jan. 2 of this year, the “Pretty Little Liars” actress took to Instagram to reflect on her two years of sobriety, noting that her decision to give up alcohol has been “the greatest gift” she’s ever given herself.

“I remain so grateful for another year of growth, growing pains, lessons, joys, and self-realizations. To be able to show up as myself and to be greeted with such warmth and acceptance is something I do not take for granted,” she wrote.

Hale shared that her conversations with loved ones, including those she has hurt and those who have caused her pain, as well as her discussions with strangers online have given her life “so much color and meaning.”

“To every person I have connected with ... thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she added before imparting a piece of advice to those facing challenges with alcoholism.

“If you are struggling please know you are not alone and that you do not have to trek this path alone. There is no right or wrong way to heal and it is deeply personal and unique to each of us. My only advice is to remain open-hearted, curious, and to find the people who see and support you. It does get better. Take it moment by moment.”

‘Miracles Can Happen’

Hale has starred in a number of recent films, including the crime thriller “Inside Man” and the romance comedy “Which Brings Me to You,” both of which debuted last year. More recently, the actress starred in the romcom “Running on Empty,” which hit theaters on Aug. 9.

However, the actress initially got her start on the small screen, appearing in a variety of television shows throughout the aughts, including “Bionic Woman,” “Wizards of Waverly Place,” “Privileged,” and “How I Met Your Mother.”

Hale landed her breakthrough role in 2010, playing Aria Montgomery in the Freeform series “Pretty Little Liars”—a part that garnered her seven Teen Choice Awards, the most for any actress in a single series.

Some of the star’s other accolades include taking home a People’s Choice Award in 2014 for “Favorite Cable TV Actress.”

On Sept. 14, the Friendly House, a women’s addiction treatment center in Los Angeles, honored Hale with the 2024 Humanitarian Award during its 34th Annual Friendly House Awards Luncheon. The event sought to highlight those who support the organization’s mission “to empower and strengthen women in these challenging times,” as indicated on the treatment center’s website.

The following day, Hale expressed gratitude to the nonprofit for honoring her with the award. “The work you do saves lives and gives women in recovery the chance to blossom. You prove that miracles can happen. Thank you for all that you do,” she wrote on Instagram.

“It’s never too late to start choosing yourself. Please know that help is out there and asking for that help could be the decision that changes your life.”