1. Anthony Hopkins
Legendary actor Anthony Hopkins was a heavy smoker for over 40 years. He started smoking as a teen and was up to three packs per day during the peak of his addiction.
Hopkins knew he had to quit when he had double pneumonia and was told by doctors he could die. On New Year’s Eve 1975, he threw his last pack of cigarettes into the ocean and quit cold turkey.
To succeed, Hopkins recommends having a strong motive to quit and removing cigarettes from your environment so you cannot reach for them out of habit.
Anthony Hopkins’ Tips to Quit Smoking
- Have a strong reason to motivate you
- Go cold turkey and remove cigarettes
- Change your routine to break habits
2. Charlize Theron
Actress Charlize Theron started smoking as a teenager as a form of rebellion. While filming Atomic Blonde in 2015, Theron was smoking nearly two packs per day to get into character.
After filming ended, Theron used hypnosis to finally kick her 20+ year smoking habit for good. She said the therapy reprogrammed her mental associations with smoking so cigarettes became unappealing.
Charlize Theron’s Approach to Quitting
- Tried hypnosis to rewire her attitudes toward smoking
- Broke the unconscious triggers connecting cigarettes with pleasure
- Had strong motivation to quit after playing a smoker
3. Jon Hamm
Mad Men star Jon Hamm picked up smoking working in the restaurant industry as a young man. But when his acting career took off, Hamm decided to quit at age 24.
Hamm credits quitting cold turkey and relying on willpower. He recommends smokers set a firm quit date and get rid of all cigarettes so they cannot be accessed during a craving.
Doing activities to distract yourself and curb cravings is also key according to Hamm. He suggests exercise, reading, sunflower seeds, or chewing on a pen instead of smoking.
Jon Hamm’s Guide to Quitting Smoking
- Set a quit date and go cold turkey
- Get rid of all cigarettes so they cannot be accessed
- Distract yourself with other habits when cravings hit
4. Catherine Zeta-Jones
Catherine Zeta-Jones started smoking as a musical theater student and was up to two packs per day. When she was pregnant with her first child, Zeta-Jones was determined to quit smoking.
Using nicotine patches and hypnosis, Zeta-Jones stopped smoking during her pregnancy. When she experienced intense cravings after giving birth, she turned to laser acupuncture treatments to get through them.
Zeta-Jones has remained smoke-free for over 20 years since quitting cold turkey. She says the motivation of her health and her children kept her from relapsing.
Catherine Zeta-Jones’s Tips for Quitting
- Used nicotine patches and hypnosis
- Tried laser acupuncture for cravings
- Stayed motivated for health and family
5. Ewan McGregor
Scottish actor Ewan McGregor had been a smoker for over 20 years when he decided to quit. McGregor says his role in the musical Moulin Rouge was motivation to finally kick the habit for the sake of his singing voice.
McGregor credits using the Allen Carr method, a psychological approach to reverse perceptions of smoking. By reframing beliefs about smoking being a solace or crutch, McGregor overcame addiction.
Exercise and oral substitutes like lollipops also helped McGregor manage cravings when he quit smoking.
How Ewan McGregor Quit Smoking
- Used Allen Carr method to reprogram beliefs
- Exercised to relieve stress
- Sucked on lollipops for oral substitute
6. Oprah Winfrey
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey smoked for over 30 years, often claiming she was too busy to quit. But in 1992 Winfrey decided to quit cold turkey supported by her partner Stedman Graham.
Winfrey says she lay suffering in bed for four days detoxing from cigarettes. She even had the curtains closed so she could not go outside for a smoke break.
To succeed, Winfrey recommends devising strategies to combat triggers. She would go for a walk outdoors instead of taking smoke breaks. Winfrey has now been smoke-free for over 25 years.
Oprah Winfrey’s Tips for Quitting Smoking
- Went cold turkey
- Shut herself away to endure withdrawal
- Found replacement habits for triggers
7. Ellen DeGeneres
Comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres started smoking in college and was smoking over a pack a day by her twenties. She decided to quit when she first got on camera because she did not want to promote smoking to her fans.
DeGeneres initially went cold turkey but kept relapsing. She was finally able to quit completely using the Allen Carr method like Ewan McGregor. By reframing her view of smoking as negative, DeGeneres overcame nicotine addiction.
She suggests quitting gradually by setting a schedule to smoke fewer cigarettes each day. Chewing gum or eating also helped her manage cravings.
How Ellen DeGeneres Quit Smoking
- Used Allen Carr method
- Weaned herself off cigarettes slowly
- Chewed gum and ate to cope with cravings
8. Ben Affleck
Actor and director Ben Affleck was a longtime heavy smoker who felt pressured to quit. After separating from wife Jennifer Garner in 2015, Affleck quit smoking cold turkey to regain his health for the sake of his family.
Affleck says he used willpower and the desire to be alive longer for his children as motivation to quit. He also shifted to exercising obsessively and drinking lots of water.
To quit successfully Affleck recommends having a major life event motivate you and replacing smoking with a healthy habit like exercise.
Ben Affleck’s Tips for Quitting
- Used a painful life event as motivation
- Went cold turkey and exercised instead
- Focused on the goal of seeing his kids grow up
9. Robert Pattinson
Heartthrob actor Robert Pattinson had smoked from a young age. In 2012, Pattinson says he was finally guilted into quitting cold turkey by his dentist. He warned Pattinson of tooth decay and receding gums from smoking.
Pattinson recommends having your health motivate you to quit, and finding oral substitutes. He constantly chewed gum and toothpicks to mimic the hand to mouth movement of smoking.
Keeping cigarettes out of sight and out of reach helped Pattinson avoid cravings and stay smoke-free after quitting.
Robert Pattinson’s Tips for Quitting
- Had oral substitutes like gum and toothpicks
- Got motivated by a health scare
- Kept cigarettes hidden and inaccessible
10. Kristin Davis
Sex and the City star Kristin Davis was a pack-a-day smoker for 23 years until she decided to quit. Davis used the nicotine patch and Wellbutrin to gradually wean herself off cigarettes.
To succeed, Davis recommends full commitment to quitting and realizing there is no halfway. She changed her habits and avoided activities that triggered smoking urges.
Davis suggests oral substitutes like straws and exercise to manage cravings. After a decade smoke-free, she is happy to be free of her addiction.
Kristin Davis’s Guide to Quitting Smoking
- Used nicotine patch and Wellbutrin
- Committed fully and changed habits
- Chewed straws and worked out to cope with cravings
11. Daniel Radcliffe
Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe smoked for years on the Potter set due to peer pressure. He was up to 20 cigarettes per day before deciding to quit.
Radcliffe credits e-cigarettes as his method to become smoke-free. Vaping allowed him to wean down his nicotine intake gradually until he stopped completely.
Radcliffe recommends vaping as an effective aid to quit smoking. But he cautions vaping should be temporary and vape strength should be decreased over time.
Daniel Radcliffe’s Tips for Quitting
- Weaned himself down using e-cigarettes
- Lowered vape liquid strength gradually
- Views vaping as temporary method
The Takeaway
These celebrity stories demonstrate that quitting smoking is possible, even after long-term addiction. While it takes commitment and effort, you can become smoke-free for good.
Set a firm quit date, remove cigarettes from your environment, and use aids like nicotine patches or vaping strategically. Keep your motivation strong by focusing on the benefits for your health and family.
With the right techniques and support, anyone can kick the habit like these stars and reclaim their health.
FAQs
How long do celebrities smoke before quitting?
Many celebrities smoke for 20, 30 years or more before finally deciding to quit. Catherine Zeta-Jones smoked for over 20 years. Ellen DeGeneres smoked for around 25 years.
Do celebrities gain weight when quitting smoking?
Some do, but not all. Exercise helped stars like Ben Affleck stay trim after quitting. Eating oral substitutes like gum or lollipops prevented weight gain for others.
Do celebrities use prescription drugs to quit smoking?
Some do use options like nicotine patches, Nicotrol inhalers, Wellbutrin or Chantix along with other techniques. But many opt for natural methods like cold turkey, hypnosis, or vaping.
Which celebrity methods are most effective for quitting smoking?
Methods like hypnosis, counseling like Allen Carr's, nicotine patches, and e-cigarettes can be very effective. The key is finding a technique that works best for each individual.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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