20 Actors Who Admitted to Being High During Their Most Famous Scenes

Actors often go to great lengths to achieve authenticity in their performances by blurring the line between fiction and reality. Some method actors take this dedication to the extreme by using substances to enhance their connection to a character. Other performers simply found themselves under the influence due to on-set culture or personal struggles during production. These moments have resulted in some of the most memorable and chaotic scenes in cinema history. Here are twenty actors who admitted to being intoxicated or high while the cameras were rolling.

Jack Nicholson – ‘Easy Rider’ (1969)

Jack Nicholson delivered a breakout performance as an alcoholic lawyer who joins a cross-country motorcycle trip. The campfire scene required the characters to smoke marijuana and discuss extraterrestrials. Nicholson later admitted that the cast smoked real cannabis throughout the shoot to maintain authenticity. The actor noted that the repeated takes eventually left him struggling to remember his lines properly.

Jennifer Lawrence – ‘Don’t Look Up’ (2021)

Jennifer Lawrence played a scientist attempting to warn the world about an approaching comet in this satirical disaster film. She requested permission from the director to smoke marijuana for a scene where her character is meant to be high. Lawrence later explained that she wanted her physical performance to be genuine rather than acted. She noted that everyone on set was professional while she navigated the scene in an altered state.

Brad Pitt – ‘True Romance’ (1993)

Brad Pitt had a small but memorable role as a stoner named Floyd who spends his time on a couch. The actor wanted to fully embody the lethargic and disconnected nature of the character. He admitted to consuming a significant amount of marijuana before filming his scenes to achieve the perfect look. The result was a hilarious and convincing portrayal that remains a fan favorite.

Carrie Fisher – ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)

Carrie Fisher famously portrayed Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy while battling personal demons. She admitted to using cocaine on the set of the ice planet Hoth to cope with the pressures of filming. Fisher also revealed that she and Harrison Ford stayed up all night partying with The Rolling Stones before shooting the arrival at Cloud City. They arrived on set completely sleep-deprived and still under the influence from the night before.

Daniel Radcliffe – ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ (2009)

Daniel Radcliffe grew up in the spotlight while playing the titular wizard in the massive fantasy franchise. The actor has been open about his struggles with alcohol abuse during the later films in the series. He admitted that he would often arrive on set still drunk from the previous night although he never drank at work. Radcliffe pointed out specific scenes where he can see that he was not entirely present behind his eyes.

Shia LaBeouf – ‘Charlie Countryman’ (2013)

Shia LaBeouf is known for his intense commitment to method acting and immersive preparation techniques. For a scene requiring his character to be on acid he decided to take the drug for real. He wanted to experience the physical and mental effects to deliver a truthful performance on camera. The crew had to manage the situation carefully to ensure safety while filming his unpredictable reactions.

Seth Rogen – ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno’ (2008)

Seth Rogen has built much of his career around stoner comedy and open advocacy for marijuana use. He admitted to smoking a large amount of cannabis before filming a scene where his character is supposed to be in pain. Rogen claimed that being high helped him handle the physical comedy and the improvisational nature of the dialogue. His relaxed demeanor often bleeds into his characters regardless of the script requirements.

Martin Sheen – ‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979)

The opening sequence of this war epic features Captain Willard having a breakdown in a Saigon hotel room. Martin Sheen was heavily intoxicated and battling real emotional turmoil during the filming of this unscripted moment. He punched a real mirror and smeared his own blood on his face while the cameras continued to roll. The director Francis Ford Coppola kept the footage because it captured a raw and disturbing reality.

Billy Bob Thornton – ‘Bad Santa’ (2003)

Billy Bob Thornton played a depressed and alcoholic mall Santa in this dark holiday comedy. The actor admitted that he was genuinely drunk during the filming of the scene where his character collapses on an escalator. He aimed to portray the sloppy and chaotic nature of the character accurately without faking the physical symptoms. His intoxication added a layer of gritty realism to the otherwise absurd situation.

Ethan Embry – ‘Can’t Hardly Wait’ (1998)

Ethan Embry played the romantic lead in this cult classic teen movie from the late nineties. He later revealed that he was arguably the world’s biggest stoner during the production of the film. Embry admitted to being high for the vast majority of his scenes throughout the entire shooting schedule. He noted that his glazed look in the movie was not an acting choice but a result of his habit.

Robert Downey Jr. – ‘Home for the Holidays’ (1995)

Robert Downey Jr. struggled with severe addiction issues before his massive career resurgence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He admitted to being under the influence of hard drugs during the filming of this Jodie Foster drama. The director famously told him that he could act perfectly while high which was the saddest thing she had ever seen. This period marked one of the lowest points in his personal life before his eventual recovery.

John Belushi – ‘The Blues Brothers’ (1980)

John Belushi was a comedic force whose energy was often fueled by heavy drug use during production. His co-star Dan Aykroyd admitted that cocaine was prevalent on the set to keep the cast and crew going during long nights. Belushi struggled to stay awake and focused during scenes due to his fluctuating physical state. The production became legendary for its delays and the chaotic behavior of its lead star.

Robert Shaw – ‘Jaws’ (1975)

Robert Shaw delivered one of the most chilling monologues in movie history regarding the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. The actor convinced Steven Spielberg to let him drink real alcohol to capture the weariness of his character Quint. Shaw ended up blacking out and had to be carried off the set after the first attempt failed. He returned the next day to deliver the iconic speech in a single perfect take while nursing a hangover.

Margot Robbie – ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (2013)

Margot Robbie had her breakout role as Naomi Lapaglia opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in this high-energy biopic. She felt extremely nervous about filming her first major nude scene and required liquid courage. A crew member offered her tequila at nine in the morning to help settle her shaking hands. The alcohol helped her gain the confidence needed to perform the scene boldly and without hesitation.

Denise Richards – ‘Wild Things’ (1998)

Denise Richards starred in this erotic thriller that became famous for its steamy pool scene. She admitted that she and co-star Neve Campbell drank tequila and wine to prepare for the intimate sequence. The actress explained that the liquid courage was necessary to overcome the awkwardness of the situation. The scene became one of the most talked-about moments in nineties cinema history.

The Beatles – ‘Help!’ (1965)

The legendary band filmed their second movie while at the height of their experimentation with marijuana. Ringo Starr admitted that the group was stoned for most of the production and often forgot their lines. He recalled scenes where they would break into hysterical laughter and ruin takes because of their altered state. The director had to work around their giggles to piece the film together.

Kevin Spacey – ‘American Beauty’ (1999)

Kevin Spacey played a suburban father going through a midlife crisis in this Academy Award-winning film. Director Sam Mendes confirmed that Spacey was actually high during the scene where his character smokes pot in the garage. The director wanted the actor to have a genuine reaction and a giddy demeanor for the pivotal moment. Spacey reportedly descended into uncontrollable laughter that worked perfectly for the scene.

Olivia Wilde – ‘Drinking Buddies’ (2013)

The cast of this mumblecore comedy drank real beer throughout the production to maintain a naturalistic vibe. Olivia Wilde admitted that the actors were legitimately buzzing during the filming of many scenes. She noted that the alcohol helped with the improvisation but made the long shooting days exhausting. The result was a film that felt incredibly grounded and realistic regarding social drinking.

Anna Kendrick – ‘Drinking Buddies’ (2013)

Anna Kendrick starred alongside Olivia Wilde and Jake Johnson in this movie set within a craft brewery. She was surprised to find that the beer on set was real rather than non-alcoholic props. The actress accidentally got drunk during a scene where her character plays a drinking game. She later expressed relief that the camera crew managed to focus while she struggled to stay composed.

Snoop Dogg – ‘Starsky & Hutch’ (2004)

Snoop Dogg played the role of Huggy Bear in this comedic adaptation of the classic television series. Co-star Owen Wilson noted that the rapper was constantly high during the production of the film. Snoop famously convinced Ben Stiller to break character and laugh during their scenes together. His authentic stoned persona brought a natural charisma to the role that a sober actor might have missed.

Please share which of these behind-the-scenes stories surprised you the most in the comments.