The 58-year-old actor would never consume alcohol before filming any scenes in a movie after a bad experience when he was younger.
"I did a movie in London in the 80s, 'For Queen and Country', and there was a scene where we had to drink.
"So me and this other young actor said: 'Man, let's really drink.' We had some scotch and thought we were playing it pretty cool.
"And the director said: 'What's wrong with you guys?'
"The director was p***ed off and it taught me a lesson. That was the last time I ever drank while working.
"Because it doesn't work. I've worked with actors who've crossed that line and it's just not worth it.", he said to The Guardian newspaper
The star has had a distinguished career, picking up two Oscars - Best Supporting Actor for 'Glory' in 1989 and Best Actor for 'Training Day' in 2001 - and said he was drawn to acting ever since he was a child.