Full Breakdown
Anna Faris Links Sobriety to Depression and Reframes Her Career Outlook
8/22/2026, 9:29:58 PM
Core Event: Faris Announces Sobriety and Its Effects
During the August 20 episode of Chelsea Handler’s *Dear Chelsea* podcast, Anna Faris, 49, confirmed she has stopped drinking alcohol. She called the decision “one of the many gifts” of her recent lifestyle change and said she recognized a direct link between her alcohol use and depressive feelings. Faris added that beginning hormone-patch therapy “made a huge difference” for her mental health.
Background & Context
Faris rose to fame as Cindy Campbell in the 2000 spoof *Scary Movie* and later starred as Christy Plunkett on the CBS sitcom *Mom* (2013-2020). She has previously expressed frustration about being typecast as a comedy actress and described a period of “perimenopausal depression” that left her feeling disconnected from both her city and her career.
Timeline
- June 2 – Faris hinted the shift in her habits occurred “in the last year.”
- June 3 – She discussed the “many gifts” of abstaining from alcohol on another podcast.
- August 20 – In the *Dear Chelsea* interview she detailed the correlation between drinking and depression, the decision to quit, and the impact of hormone patches.
Official Statements & Responses
Handler’s question—“Do you think that has to do with not drinking?”—prompted Faris to affirm the link between alcohol and her depressive episodes. Handler noted a personal parallel, saying adjusting her own estrogen dosage helped lift her from a low point, underscoring the broader conversation about hormonal influences on mood.
Data & Statistics
- Years active: over two decades
- *Scary Movie* franchise revival slated for 2026; Faris will reprise her original role.
Why It Matters / Impact
Faris’s acknowledgment adds a celebrity voice to discussions about alcohol’s mental-health effects, especially for women navigating perimenopause. Her openness about hormone-patch therapy highlights a less-talked-about treatment avenue. Professionally, her renewed public profile coincides with her return to the *Scary Movie* series and new projects such as the comedy *Spa Weekend*, suggesting that her health choices are influencing career decisions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Turns out there’s a correlation between drinking and depression for me for sure. I had to take a step back to not self-sabotage.” — Anna Faris
- “Along the way and in the arrogance of my 20s, I did feel envious of people who got their big break in a different way and I think that is a really ungracious idea,” — Anna Faris
- “I finally got on hormones, a hormone patch,” — Anna Faris
What's Next
Faris is slated to appear in the 2026 *Scary Movie* reboot and stars in the comedy *Spa Weekend*, both slated for release later this year. These projects will provide further visibility for her post-sobriety phase and may shape audience perception of her evolving comedic legacy.
