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Anna Faris is opening up about her relationship with alcohol, fame, and self-acceptance.
During an August 20 appearance on Chelsea Handler's Dear Chelsea podcast, the 49-year-old actress revealed she has taken a "step back" from drinking and noticed how sobriety has shifted her perspective.
"It was only in the last, like, year, I think, that I really started to notice and appreciate if and when people recognize me, they would usually smile," Faris said.
Handler asked if that change had to do with not drinking. Faris agreed: "Yeah, I do. One of the many gifts. Turns out there's a correlation between drinking and depression, for me, for sure. I had to take a step back and not self-sabotage."
Faris admitted that in her twenties she sometimes felt envious of how others got their big break, but now she appreciates the positive encounters her work inspires.
"I really started to notice and absorb that," she explained, adding that she no longer feels embarrassed about being recognized for "f--king stupid" roles in comedies like Scary Movie or The House Bunny.
She also credited hormone patches for improving her mental health, telling Handler they "made a huge difference." Faris reflected on how her career trajectory once left her confused, but she has since embraced gratitude for the opportunities that shaped her.
She recalled seeing Marlon Wayans on the set of the Scary Movie reboot and rushing to thank him: "Marlon, I need you to know I am so f--king grateful to be here. I can't believe I get to thank you in person."
Faris, who married cinematographer Michael Barrett in 2021, said she still faces moments of self-doubt but hopes she's "doing OK." For her, sobriety has been part of a larger journey toward self-acceptance, balance, and gratitude.
