Sean Hemeon is an actor, artist, and writer based in Los Angeles. He’s appeared on 9-1-1, Criminal Minds, Rake, True Blood, and CW’s Husbands. An international abstract artist, his work has exhibited in Los Angeles and Berlin. His memoir, The Good Little Drug Lord, is forthcoming.

www.seanhemeon.com

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

All the party drugs but for sure Tina (meth), but alcohol before she took over.

Q. Is there anything special in your sobriety toolkit that helps keep you sober?

My intimate connection with a higher power that aids me in zooming out and seeing the bigger picture of why we’re even here on this planet…

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?

I believe some are more genetically susceptible to addiction and addictive thinking. It helps to see it as a dis-ease to separate the person from the behavior.

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

From Northern Virginia – D.C. was my party playground but now in West Hollywood, CA.

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

Tall.

Q. Describe how you came to your “rock bottom” point.

My running mate said she wanted to go to rehab, and I innocently said, “you can do that?” believing rehab was from heroin addicts like Trainspotting or Requiem for a Dream…not daily tweakers squatting in an abandoned apartment because it would flood out when it rained.

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

I want to retire in all of that. I can’t decide. The main preference is NATURE period.

Q. How do you measure success?

By having the stress free time to invest in all my creative endeavors – time to paint, write, and act.

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?

Those that don’t put the grocery shopping carts back OR help the cashier bag.

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?

The Trevor Project.

Q. Who has been the biggest influence throughout your life?

I’ve been blessed with older gay mentors at pivotal moments in my life.

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

Don’t believe the Mormons.

Q. Who made you feel seen growing up?

No one, and then my undercover high school boyfriend.

Q. Which living person do you most admire?

Rebecca Ferguson. She’s a badass I want to work with.

Q. What major event or realization shaped who you are?

Being introduced to the teachings of Meher Baba… you know, the Don’t Worry Be Happy guy.

Q. What do you love most about living sober?

I’m in my forties but look like I’m rounding thirty lol its true – no sleepless nights or alcohol to mess with my skin.

Q. Which part of your treatment and recovery do you feel was the most interesting or unexpected?

The community through the 12 steps and beyond – doesn’t matter how people get and stay sober – once I met another who is sober, there’s an immediate bond.

Q. What’s your concept of a Higher Power?

Meher Baba.

Q. What is your Astrological sign?

Libra.

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?

Anthony Hopkins.

Q. What book(s) have you read more than once?

The Untethered Soul, The Alchemist.

Q. What books are you reading now?

My own memoir, THE GOOD LITTLE DRUG LORD, getting ready for publication.

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be?

Michael Kane, Paolo Coelho, Shakespeare, Aristotle.

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

The Last of the Mohicans.

Q. Who is your favorite film director?

Christopher Nolan.

Q. What book would you most like to see turned into a movie or TV show that hasn’t already been adapted?

My own – The Good Little Drug Lord.

Q. Are you binge watching any TV series?

Arcane.

Q. What is your favorite App?

Instagram – its how I share my ART with the world.

Q. Who is your favorite performer, living or dead?

Meryl Streep.

Q. Who are your heroes in real life?

My mentor which means everything to me and I don’t need to share who that is.

Q. What are some of the most memorable songs in your life?

Iris Goo Goo Dolls had a significant meaning in my life – HOLOCEN by Bon Iver did too.

Q. What is your favorite city?

Los Angeles.

Q. What is your favorite cuisine?

Pizza.

Q. What is the best concert/performance/play you’ve ever attended?

I saw a production of God of Carnage that inspired me to go home and break up with my then boyfriend.

Q. What are five things you always carry with you?

I carry humor, a smile, a pen, the gratitude from where I came, and a heart filled with a God that works for me.

Q. What is the best and or worse piece of advice someone has given you?

Best – acceptance is the answer to all my problems today

Worst – from myself to myself after doing meth the first time “I want to feel like this all the time.”

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else?

The only advice to ever give anyone, “Well, what do YOU want to do?” in response to any crisis.

Q. What is your most treasured possession?

My two Boston Terriers Ludo and Gus-Gus

Q. What do you value most in a friendship?

HUMOR!

Q. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Getting sober 20 years ago.

Q. What is your favorite compliment to receive, and why?

Anything that makes me feel like a good person…but who am I kidding, I LOVE when anyone compliments my acting…I work for validation lol.

Q. What is your biggest fear?

That I won’t make “it” that it being the achievements in my creative arts…and that I’ll get too old before I can financially bring children into this world.

Q. Where do you go when you’re seeking solitude?

My bedroom.

Q. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

To write top notch A list Oscar winning screenplays and tv shows.

Q. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?

Nature. My husband. My dogs. Art.

Q. What is your biggest regret?

In my memoir – there’s a story about a fellow OD’ing, and I write about regretting I didn’t act in time to save his life.

Q. What is the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?

Sharing my story with the public.

Q. Which living person do you most admire?

Pete Buttegieg – the amount of slack he gets for his name lol.

Q. Which living person do you most despise?

The same one as most who are reading this and I don’t even have to say his name.

Q. What is something you’ve learned about yourself in the last six months?

That I CAN write top notch A list screenplays.

Q. What is something you are currently curious about?

Learning French.

Q. What do you love most about yourself?

My sobriety. Truly.

Q. What is your greatest extravagance?

Dogs.

Q. When did you realize you were a grown-up?

When I married my husband.

Q. How important are your pets to you?

I can’t even answer this without crying thinking about the time when I lose them.

Q. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

This too shall pass.