Colin Farrell was scared of being sober in case it took away his ability to act.
The 35-year-old 'Horrible Bosses' star - who checked into rehab in December 2005 for alcohol and substance abuse - admits he feared the DRUGS and drink were somehow pivotal to his career.
He explained: ''Seven years sober. I'm really grateful. It's really lovely to be present in my life.
''I was terrified [of being sober] because, I'm not saying I was a great actor before or a great actor since, but I was terrified that whatever my capacity was as an actor beforehand, however little or large - it would completely disappear.
''I [subscribed] to the notion that to be able to express yourself in an artistic form in life, you have to live in perpetual pain, and it's nonsense. There's enough pain in the world.''
The father-of-two - who has replaced boozy nights out with yoga and spinning - believes he has ''genuinely more fun in life'' without the drink.
He also reveals he's on the lookout for a new girlfriend. Appearing on 'The Ellen Degeneres Show', he told the host he doesn't have any specific ideas about who could fill the role.
He said: ''I don't have a type. A human being, you know? I suppose kindness is kind of nice and sexy.''
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