Do Actors Really Smoke or Drink in Movies?

Usually not. Most of what you see is prop cigarettes, herbal or electronic stand-ins, and drinks like tea, juice or coloured water, and smoke can be added in post. Some actors who already smoke do use real cigarettes, but no role is a reason to start. We also asked 22 casting directors which props belong in an audition, and three of them brought up cigarettes.

Do actors smoke real cigarettes in movies?

Some do, most don't have to. Productions have plenty of options: herbal cigarettes with no tobacco or nicotine, battery-powered prop cigarettes that glow or release vapour, unlit cigarettes framed so the smoke isn't needed, and smoke added by the visual effects team after the shoot.

What gets used depends on the budget, the shot and the actor. If you're cast in a role that smokes, ask the props department or the AD what they're planning before the shoot day, so you can raise any concerns early. If you don't smoke, you don't need to start for a part, and we'd never suggest it.

What are herbal cigarettes, and are they safe?

Herbal cigarettes are made from plant material instead of tobacco, so they don't contain nicotine. That doesn't make the smoke harmless. In 2000, the US Federal Trade Commission required one herbal cigarette maker to state on its packs and ads that "Herbal cigarettes are dangerous to your health. They produce tar and carbon monoxide."

So treat any lit prop as smoke you're breathing in, take after take. If that worries you, ask whether an electronic prop or an unlit cigarette would work for the shot. For any health concern, talk to your doctor; this is general information, not medical advice.

Do actors really drink alcohol in movies?

Almost never on a professional set. Whisky is usually tea or coloured water, wine is juice or a soft drink, beer is non-alcoholic, and spirits in shot glasses are water. You'll do many takes over many hours, often in the morning, and you need to stay safe, consistent and able to hit your marks.

Being drunk on screen is acting, not drinking. Work out the physical and vocal choices in rehearsal and keep them consistent, because you'll repeat them from several angles.

How do actors handle eating and drinking on camera?

With a plan, because every take has to match. Director Kate Dennis, who once worked in continuity, told us the simplest thing actors can do is take a drink on the same line every time. If you sip at a different moment on every take, the editor can't cut between angles and will cut away from you instead.

Common habits on set: take small bites, keep the glass level consistent, and ask props whether there's a spit bucket between takes if you'll be eating a lot. Kym's on-set masterclass adds a rule many new actors break: don't touch the food, drinks or props on a hot set once they're placed for continuity.

What if you have an allergy or dietary need?

Say so early and never hide it. A commercial casting expert in our library was emphatic that you should never lie about an allergy to book a job: tell your agent so you aren't sent out for it, and if you find out at the audition, tell the casting director and walk away if you need to. Nobody wants you hurt.

Once booked, tell the props team and the second AD about allergies, dietary rules or alcohol you avoid. Props can usually swap in something safe that reads the same on camera.

Can you smoke or drink in an audition or self tape?

Not for real. We asked 22 casting directors which props, if any, belong in an audition. Most said keep it minimal, and the most recommended prop by far was your own phone, which 13 of them suggested. Three raised cigarettes:

• Scot Boland said bringing a cigarette and not lighting it is fine, and looks better than miming.
• Victoria Burrows said that if the scene needs a cigarette she'd use a real one but not light it.
• Kahleen Crawford said holding one can help, but don't smoke it as you would for real; just suggest it.

On drinks, Gayle Pillsbury likes a water bottle worked into a bar or cafe scene, while Kerry Barden joked that a bartender doesn't need to bring a blender. Risa Bramon Garcia noted that on the day, props will hand you the glass. At home, Kym says a cup or glass is fine in a self tape, but keep it to one or two props.

What can actors ask for on set?

Ask what's in the cigarette, the glass and the plate, and ask for an alternative if something doesn't work for you. Kym's advice in her on-set class is to raise concerns with the second AD or a producer directly, early, rather than staying quiet and complaining later.

Smoky scenes often use artificial smoke, fog or haze as well. As of November 2026, SAG-AFTRA's guidance on artificial smoke, fog and haze says members have the right to be told on the call sheet when special effects like these are planned, to ask for the safety data sheet for the product, to ask for a break from long exposure and to see the on-set medic if it seems to be harming them. The union also lists safety hotlines on that page.

What about teen actors?

The same rules, with extra care. Productions and parents should agree in advance exactly what a young actor will handle in a scene that involves smoking or drinking, and what's in it. Parents can ask props and the second AD before the day.

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