These are the words, written by Russell Brand, that made me do a major rethink of the aforementioned “over-the-top comic actor who starred in movies I’ve never watched.” For me, there is a definite “before” and “after” when it comes to Russell Brand; and the defining moment is the reading of this article that he wrote regarding his ongoing struggle with drug/alcohol addiction. I’m not sure what made me read the article in the first place, but the honest (and even vulnerable) look inside the mind of someone who struggles to live a life beyond the ever-present pull of addiction makes me glad I did read it. In addition, he has given back to the Universe by launching Give It Up for Comic Relief earlier this year to raise money and awareness for abstinence-based rehabilitation options in the UK.