David Morrissey Discusses Social Anxiety and Alcoholism on Desert Island Discs
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Liverpool-born actor David Morrissey opened up about how severe social anxiety played a significant role in his struggle with alcoholism.
"I am a recovering alcoholic," Morrissey, who has maintained sobriety for 21 years, told host Lauren Laverne.
"Drinking first was about anxiety. I’ve had this terrible social anxiety and that helped me get through it."
Morrissey explained that his drinking began during his teenage years following the death of his father. In adulthood, his alcohol use escalated to a point where it was no longer social but solitary, often drinking alone in pubs. He acknowledged the difficulty this caused for his ex-wife and those close to him.
"I started drinking in my teenage years after the death of my father and then in my adult life, I couldn’t stop. I wasn’t drinking to be convivial. I was on my own in the pub. That was really hard and very hard for my ex-wife and people around me."
Career and Early Life
At 61, Morrissey is recognized as one of the UK’s most versatile actors, with numerous roles across television, film, and stage. His credits include the series The Walking Dead, State of Play, and portraying a dedicated detective in James Graham’s Sherwood.
Born in Liverpool, he was raised on a new council estate in Knotty Ash after his family’s previous terrace house was demolished. The first of his chosen desert island discs was "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division.
Impact of Father's Death
Morrissey's father, Joe Morrissey, a cobbler, passed away at age 54 due to a fatal haemorrhage linked to a long-term terminal blood disorder when David was just 15 years old.
"I was in a terrible state"
he told Laverne, reflecting on the depression and anxiety that followed his father's death, describing these as "trauma responses."
After leaving school at 16, Morrissey spent six months traveling with a theatre company called Zip, based in Wolverhampton.
"I knew that, academically, I was never going to be able to go to university or anything – that was never going to happen to me,"he said.
"So, I had to make it happen somewhere else."
He acknowledged the difficulty this independence caused his mother but felt it was necessary.
"It was hard for my mum, but I knew I had to cut the strings and find independence. They say that hyper-independence is a trauma response. I do tend to cut off sometimes."
Path to Sobriety
Morrissey described how he eventually sought help by contacting a former colleague involved in Alcoholics Anonymous, whose number he had kept for two years.
"I was in a terrible, terrible state, and I phoned him quite late, early in the morning time."
"He came round my house and just sat with me. And I’ve not drank since that day, really. So, it’s been tough."
He emphasized that stopping drinking did not immediately end his struggles.
"When I stopped drinking, I didn’t stop being an alcoholic. My behaviour was still very self-destructive for many years."
Morrissey credited his career with helping him recover, stating it provides him with a sense of safety.
Acting as an Outlet
Morrissey revealed that his interest in acting was sparked by watching the film King Lear, where the main character feigns madness to escape his circumstances.
"That troubled me. It really upset me. I identified with him, his character, his situation, and that sort of thing that bubbled up inside me. I wanted to find out how to control that or understand it."
"I went looking for acting, I went looking for a way out."
He described feeling safe when working, though not necessarily in control, and contrasted this with his less confident personal life.
"When I’m in work, I feel safe. Not necessarily in control, but I feel it’s where I should be in my life. In my life, I’m less confident. I’m always looking for an exit strategy in every situation."
"I’m much better nowadays, but for a long time I was really telling myself I wasn’t enough and all that stuff, and that added to the alcoholism, and the inability to stop."
