Jason Bateman is looking back on one of the wildest nights of his life. He now recalls the experience with the kind of honesty that comes with hindsight. The actor recently revealed he was arrested in Monaco after a casino-fueled night out, years before he embraced sobriety.
Bateman has previously spoken openly about overcoming alcohol abuse. His latest story gave fans another glimpse into the reckless moments he left behind. He also explained why getting sober became a turning point for both his family and career.
Jason Bateman reflected on how alcohol shaped one of the lowest points of his life
During the July 20 episode of the SmartLess podcast, Bateman recalled getting into trouble while vacationing in Monaco. The Arrested Development star said, “I was arrested in Monaco for being drunk and disorderly in a nice little leopard outfit.” He added that he had been “fresh from the casinos, all banged up on cheap Champagne and a pocket full of [casino] chips.”
Looking back on the night, Bateman admitted, “I just got rocked.” Bateman did not reveal exactly when the arrest happened. However, the actor has said that his partying days ended more than two decades ago.
In a February interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bateman reflected on that period of his life. He said he felt fortunate to have made those mistakes before smartphones and social media became part of everyday life. “Fortunately, I was living at a time without social media and camera phones,” he said. “So I got away with a lot, but it was definitely close a few times.”
The actor explained that after marrying Amanda Anka in 2001, their conversations about his drinking helped push him toward sobriety. “[She] didn’t demand that I completely absolve, but that was sort of the back-and-forth,” Bateman said. “I was like, ‘Well, I feel like my [sobriety] ETA is six months away, but if I could land this plane now, it would alleviate a lot of the tension, so let’s just f–king do it.’”
Bateman, who shares daughters Francesca and Maple with Anka, also said he wanted to change before becoming a father. “I was conscious the whole time of wanting to get a lot of these boxes checked before I became a father,” he told the publication.
Bateman also reflected on the challenges he faced earlier in his career. “Were it not for some of that cliff-hanging earlier in my career, I don’t know if I’d be as good as I am at the caretaking of these opportunities,” he said. He added that the experience taught him to stay “hungry.”
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