Actress Celebrates 3 Years Sober: ‘Deeply Grateful’

Published: January 6, 2025

Actress Celebrates 3 Years Sober: ‘Deeply Grateful’

By Movieguide® Contributor

PRETTY LITTLE LIARS star Lucy Hale shared an inspiring post on Instagram as she celebrated three full years of sobriety.

“3 years ago today, I began my journey in remembering who I am,” Hale wrote. “Since then, I’ve experienced moments that can only be described as pure miracles and magic. I am deeply grateful every day – for the people who have been guiding lights, for a power greater than myself that loves me unconditionally, and for my own perseverance in not giving up.”

“To all of you who have supported my journey, I have felt your love and it means everything to me,” she continued. “If you are struggling or walking a similar path, keep going. You are not alone and the world needs you.”

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A post shared by Lucy Hale (@lucyhale)

Hale’s addiction to alcohol began when she was only 12 years old as she searched for a way to cope with the messy things in life. As addiction slowly turned into reliance, Hale realized she had a problem, however, she would continue to drink for another decade.

“I remember shame after every experience drinking because my drinking was never normal,” Hale said. “There was always a very strong desire to want to try to stop. I was just in this very sad cycle for all of my twenties. I wasn’t ready to give up drinking.”

“I just held on to that belief that the real Lucy came out when she was drinking,” Hale added. “It also quieted my mind…my brain just doesn’t shut off and it’s exhausting. I was a textbook binge drinker, blackout, wouldn’t remember what I did or what I said, which is scary.”

Though she tried to stop dozens of times, it was always for somebody else, rather than purely for herself. Three years ago, though, that changed, and Hale had her last drink. While finding freedom for herself, Hale has also turned to help others struggling with alcohol.

Last year, she received a humanitarian award from Friendly House, a women’s recovery center, for her openness about her sobriety and what she went through to get where she is today.

“When I got sober, my intention was never to be the poster child of sobriety. But when I began speaking about it, it came from a place of needing to heal and take my power back,” Hale said.

“I still have to make the choice every day like, ‘Okay, today I’m staying sober and today I’m choosing me,’ but that goes deeper than just not drinking,” she continued. “My life feels so good now that I wouldn’t give that up for anything.”