Top 10 Stars Who Overcame Addiction
Many celebrities struggle with some form of addicition, but thankfully these stars were able to overcome their demons. WatchMojo is counting down 10 stars who battled addiction and are now stronger than ever. We've included former addicts like Angelina Jolie, Britney Spears and Daniel Radcliffe.
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Top 10 Stars Who Overcame Addiction
Top 10 Child Stars Who Opened Up About Addiction
Like the late, great Tom Petty sang: “I won’t back down.”. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Stars Who Overcame Addiction. For this list, we’re looking at celebrities who battled some form of addiction and came back stronger than ever.
#10: Slash
Drugs, alcohol and rock n’ roll tend to go hand in hand. The lead guitarist for the most dangerous band in the world – at the time – Slash spent the best part of twenty years exploring the effects of substance abuse. Following during his heart disease diagnosis in the early 2000s, things came to a head during hisVelvet Revolver days, when the legendary musician went on a grueling bender that snapped him back to reality - . But nowadays, the Guns N’ Roses guitarist explained that it's all about the music and his family.
#9: Angelina Jolie
Half of Hollywood’s (formerly) biggest power couple over the last decade, the famous actress has never hidden her past with drugs. Angelina Jolie has spoken frankly about her bad girl persona and the dark times she went through when she was younger. Admitting she is lucky to be alive, the director of the aptly-named “Unbroken” has put those days behind her and is a firm believer in healthy eating. Now the mother of six and a humanitarian, Angelina Jolie is one of Hollywood’s greatest leading ladies.
#8: Britney Spears
The Tragic Life of Britney Spears
It is not uncommon for high-profile celebrities to go through a rough patch, but few people’s situations compare to the Pop Princess. Britney Spears rose to fame during the late 1990s/early 2000s with songs like “...Baby One More Time” and “Toxic”. A few years later, the singer broke up with her husband, resulting in a fierce custody battle. Things came to a head when the pop starlet had a public meltdown, with drug abuse playing a part. Britney has recovered since then and continues to release new material with varying degrees of commercial success.
#7: Fergie
Rising to fame after joining the hip-hop group The Black Eyed Peas, few pop divas can match Stacy Ann Ferguson's vocal range. With her debut album spawning three Billboard Hot 100 number one singles, for a time nothing could stop Fergie. During her earlier Wild Orchid days however, the American musician battled a drug addiction, going from ecstasy to crystal meth. In an interview with Oprah. Fergie revealed she was an addict for around a year before hypnotherapy helped the singer kick the monkey off her back for good.
#6: Daniel Radcliffe
Childhood is tough enough without millions of fans watching your every move. Cast as Harry Potter by the time he’d reached the tender age of eleven, Radcliffe turned to alcohol as the franchise slowly reached its end. The Woman in Black actor discussed his addiction during a podcast with Marc Maron, explaining he was terrified of what the future had in store once Hogwarts was no longer an option. Living alone and struggling to appear normal, Radcliffe overcame his dependency after getting “bored” of feeling like crap every single morning.
#5: Eric Clapton
In his autobiography, the influential guitarist went into heart-breaking detail to recount his battle with drugs and alcohol. At one point, the Cream band member spent around $16,000 on heroin per week, before kicking that nasty habit to the curb in the mid-’70s. Unfortunately, Clapton replaced one drug with others, as cocaine and alcohol became his primary vices. After two decades of consistent abuse, which included Clapton passing out during a George Harrison concert, the musician sought out help and finally left that lifestyle behind.
#4: Demi Lovato
The Tragic Life of Demi Lovato
The “Cool For The Summer” starlet went through hell before coming through on the other side, stronger than ever. A victim of bullying during her teenage years, she later nearly succumbed to an overdose with nearly irreversible consequences, as the “Sonny With A Chance” actress mixed cocaine with Xanax. Lovato entered rehab in 2010 due to this cocaine addiction. After a separate stint in a psychiatric ward, the pop singer managed to overcome her substance addiction, while admitting she still struggles with an eating disorder.
#3: Eminem
The Heartbreaking Life of Eminem
Drugs are occasionally referenced in Marshall Mathers’ discography, often demonstrating self-awareness on the dangers they possess. Eminem does not shy away from discussing his past with substance abuse, revealing in the codumentary “How to Make Money Selling Drugs,” thatt things got particularly bad in 2005, as the Missouri-born rapper mixed pills to try and get a new high. He underwent rehab in 2007, as an addiction to painkillers destroyed his stomach. Using exercise as a motivator and distraction, the best-selling artist focused on his fight with drugs before crafting his his two comeback albums “Relapse” and “Recovery”.
#2: Drew Barrymore
The Tragic Life of Drew Barrymore
With her professional TV career beginning even before her first birthday, this “Charlie’s Angel” had a rough childhood, which eventually contributed to an 18-month stay in a psychiatric institution as a teen. An accomplished child actress, with a memorable turn in Steven Spielberg’s “E.T.,” Drew Barrymore hit the club scene at the age of 13 (and reportedly even younger than that with her mother!), leading to hard drugs and a reputation as a party girl. After two stays in a rehab center, and essentially divorcing her parents, the actress struggled to find work before making a comeback in the ‘90s. Nowadays, the mother of two boasts an impressive resume and belongs to the Hollywood elite. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Oprah Winfrey Nicole Richie Jamie Lee Curtis
#1: Robert Downey Jr.
Top 10 Momentos GENIALES de Robert Downey Jr.
As the linchpin of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and one of the most sought-after stars on the planet, Tony Stark’s comeback is one for the ages. Despite a string of compelling performances, including an Academy Award-nominated turn as Charlie Chaplin, Robert Downey Jr.’s career screeched to a halt after being arrested for possession of heroin and cocaine. Released on parole, the actor continued to struggle for years, resulting in another arrest during his run on “Ally McBeal”. With no money and a bleak future, Robert Downey Jr. turned his life around, kicked his addiction, and slowly worked his way back into Hollywood’s good graces.
