Ray Winstone reveals he's given up smoking after 44 years and embarked on a different career in Italy after the writers strike affected his work
Ray Winstone has revealed he's given up smoking after 44 years as he embarks on a new lifestyle.
The iconic actor, 66, began lighting up in 1979 after working the film Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains in which his character had to chain smoke.
But now, after over four decades, Ray has told how he's give up the habit after finding himself not enjoying it, admitting he feels 'so much better' for it.
He told The Mirror: 'I gave up smoking about five or six months ago. One day I just bought a packet of cigarettes and I lit one up and went, "What are you doing? I don’t even enjoy this".
'I just threw them away, and I feel so much better for it. I loved an oily didn’t I?
Changes: Ray Winstone has revealed he's given up smoking after 44 years as he embarks on a new lifestyle
Bad habit: The iconic actor, 66, began lighting up in 1979 after working the film Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains in which his character had to chain smoke (pictured in 2012)
He added that he wasn’t a 'proper smoker' and treated the habit more like cigar smoking.
Meanwhile, the Sexy Beast star has made a remarkably different career change after is work was affected by the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.
Known for his blockbuster roles in films such as The Departed, Beowulf and King Of thieves, Ray is now working as a labouror in Sicily where he lives after he's acting work dried up due to the strike.
He shared: 'I’ve been doing a bit of labouring out here, a bit of graft. I hurt my back a couple of years ago, so I’ve been building my back up a little bit.
'There’s a writers' strike on at the moment, so that’s affecting a hell of a lot of stuff in my game. I’ve just been having a bit of time off. I’m just enjoying being lazy. It’s fine.'
Meanwhile, Ray opened up about enjoying the quieter life in Italy.
Candid: 'I gave up smoking about five or six months ago. One day I just bought a packet of cigarettes and I lit one up and went, "What are you doing? I don’t even enjoy this"
Smoking days are over: 'I just threw them away, and I feel so much better for it. I loved an oily didn’t I?' (pictured in 2009)
Change of direction: 'I’ve been doing a bit of labouring out here, a bit of graft. I hurt my back a couple of years ago, so I’ve been building my back up a little bit'
He told the Pound for Pound podcast: 'Here, I sit out at night. I’m at the top of the mountain and all you can see is the stars.
'At night you turn all the lights off and I’ve got a little telly outside and I watch the telly and have a drink outside. I’m here on my own at the moment.
'Don’t tell no one, though, in case someone comes up and robs me. I’ve got a great big bat with me and all that. But it’s lovely. I sit outside and all you hear is wild animals.'
