Lucy Hale marked her second full year of sobriety in a celebratory Instagram post, calling quitting drinking “the greatest gift I’ve given myself.”
The Pretty Little Liars alum, 34, thanked her followers and fans for accepting her on her continued sobriety journey, writing that “to be able to show up as myself and to be greeted with such warmth and acceptance is something I do not take for granted.” She shared an image of a sobriety tracking app, tallying all 731 days since her last drink.

In a 2023 interview, Hale, then just over a year sober, opened up for the first time about her struggles with alcohol, saying at the time, “I have been working on getting sober since I was 20. I’m 33. It took time. It took patience with myself.”

She said that she’d leaned on alcohol for years since her first drink at age 14, believing that “the real Lucy came out when she was drinking. It also quieted my mind…my brain just doesn’t shut off and it’s exhausting.” She described herself as “a textbook binge drinker, blackout, wouldn’t remember what I did or what I said, which is scary.”

She said then that she’d never been a “normal, moderate drinker.”

“I was willing to go to this crazy dark place every time,” she said. “My brain doesn’t work the same way as someone who can just have a glass of wine. It always wants more. It’s craving that feeling.”

Without drinking, she said, she knows she’s showing up as her true self. “I can be Lucy, which is not always cute at times,” she said. “It’s dark and disgusting and scary and that’s what makes us all complex, beautiful human beings, is we all have got this shadow self.”

Now, another year down the line, she shared encouragement for others who may be looking to quit drinking, and a touch of advice.

“If you are struggling please know you are not alone and that you do not have to trek this path alone,” she wrote. “There is no right or wrong way to heal and it is deeply personal and unique to each of us. My only advice is to remain open hearted, curious, and to find the people who see and support you. It does get better. Take it moment by moment.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lucy Hale (@lucyhale)

Sources

Decal Releasing has acquired “Which Brings Me to You,” a romantic comedy starring Lucy Hale and Nat Wolff. The movie is based on a novel by Steve Almond and Julianna Baggott. It is directed by Peter Hutchings, who previously helmed “The Hating Game.”  Keith Bunin (“Onward”) wrote the script. The film will be released in theaters on Jan. 19.

The ensemble also includes Britne Oldford (“Free Guy”), Genevieve Angelson (“The Upside”), Alexander Hodge (“Insecure”) and John Gallagher, Jr. (“10 Cloverfield Lane”). Hale worked with Hutchings on “The Hating Game.” Her other credits include “Pretty Little Liars” and “Fantasy Island.” Wolff has appeared in “The Fault in Our Stars” and “Paper Towns.”

“We’re thrilled to work with such a talented production team. Lucy and Nat are a perfect duo and we can’t wait to start the New Year with this charming romantic comedy,” Ayo Kepher-Maat, Decal’s SVP of acquisitions, said.

“Which Brings Me to You” follows two romantic burnouts, Jane and Will, who connect at the wedding of a mutual pal. One hookup in the coatroom later and they’re spending the next 24 hours together, trading stories about their romantic pasts and prior heartbreaks.

Kepher-Maat negotiated rights for the film with David Garrett from Mister Smith representing the filmmakers.

“’Which Brings Me to You’ has turned out magnificently and we’re very happy to be working alongside Decal as they bring this to audiences in the New Year,” Garrett said. “The perfect antidote to the cold winter months ahead, we hope this film warms viewers’ hearts as much as ours.”

Produced by Claude Dal Farra and Brian Keady, the film was also executive produced by Hale and Wolff along with Decal Releasing’s Sara Castillo and Kepher-Maat.

Launched in 2021, Decal’s releases have included “Ride the Eagle,” starring J.K. Simmons and Susan Sarandon; “The Last Son” with Sam Worthington and Thomas Jane; and the sci-fi comedy “I’m Totally Fine” starring Jillian Bell.

Sources