Mel Gibson: Humiliation made me stronger
Mel Gibson: Humiliation made me stronger
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Wednesday, 20, Jan 2010 04:24
By Lewis Bazley.
Actor Mel Gibson has said the embarrassment of his drink-driving arrest in 2006 made him a better person.
The Passion of the Christ star was said to have made anti-Semitic remarks to his arresting officer during the incident as well as reportedly calling a female office "sugart**s".
Gibson, 54, takes his first leading role in eight years in upcoming thriller Edge of Darkness and has said he has changed in his time out of the spotlight.
His drink-driving conviction has since been expunged after the Braveheart actor performed community service and attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for three years.
"You ask anybody what their number one fear is and it's public humiliation," he told the Mirror while promoting his new film.
"Multiply that on a global scale and that's what I've been through. It changes you."
In a reference to German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, he added: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. It's really that simple.
"You can't do anything but live in the moment and leave the future in the hands of providence and don't regret the past too much. Maybe just take a lesson from it."
Gibson's alcoholism was the subject of a joke by Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais last weekend, with the Extras actor remarking: "I like a drink as much as the next man... unless the next man is Mel Gibson."
Gibson took the joke well, however, pretending to slur his words as he presented the best director award.