Top 20 Actors Who Got Drunk to Shoot Their Movies

Actors often go to great lengths to deliver a convincing performance but sometimes the method involves a bottle of alcohol. Liquid courage has been used by stars to calm nerves before nude scenes or to cope with the stress of a chaotic production. Some performers even drink to ensure their portrayal of an intoxicated character feels completely authentic to the audience. The following list explores the stories behind famous scenes where the actors were genuinely under the influence.

Martin Sheen

The opening hotel room scene in ‘Apocalypse Now’ features a very real breakdown captured on film. Martin Sheen was celebrating his birthday on set and became heavily intoxicated during the shoot. He punched a mirror and smeared his own blood over his face while the cameras continued rolling. Director Francis Ford Coppola kept the footage in the final cut because it captured the raw psychological state of Captain Willard.

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie felt extremely nervous about filming her graphic nude scene in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. She decided to drink three shots of tequila at nine in the morning to calm her nerves before stepping onto the set. This liquid courage helped her perform confidently alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in the famous doorway scene. The actress later credited the alcohol for helping her overcome the intimidation of working with Martin Scorsese.

Robert Shaw

Robert Shaw convinced Steven Spielberg that his character Quint should be genuinely drunk for the USS Indianapolis monologue in ‘Jaws’. The actor consumed too much alcohol during the first attempt and had to be carried off the set after passing out. He called Spielberg in a panic the next morning and asked for a second chance to get the scene right. The final version in the film showcases a haunting performance that remains one of the best in cinema history.

Daniel Radcliffe

The actor behind the boy wizard admitted that the pressure of fame led to drinking issues during the later films. Daniel Radcliffe stated that he never drank on set but often arrived still intoxicated from the night before. He pointed out that there are scenes in ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ where he appears dead behind the eyes. His candid admission shed light on the struggles of child stars growing up in the spotlight.

Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton practiced method acting to an extreme degree for his role as a mall Santa in ‘Bad Santa’. He admitted to being genuinely intoxicated during the filming of several scenes to accurately portray the self-destructive character. This included the moment where his character drunkenly destroys a decorative donkey in the mall lobby. His commitment to the chaotic nature of the role resulted in a cult classic performance.

Jennifer Lawrence

Filming her first sex scene for ‘Passengers’ caused Jennifer Lawrence significant anxiety. The actress drank wine to steel herself for the intimate sequence with her married co-star Chris Pratt. She later expressed guilt about the situation but acknowledged that the alcohol helped her get through the uncomfortable filming day. This incident highlighted the awkward reality actors often face during romantic scenes.

Shia LaBeouf

Shia LaBeouf took his role as a bootlegger in ‘Lawless’ very seriously by drinking authentic moonshine. He believed that the physical effects of the alcohol would enhance the realism of his performance and his bloated appearance. His co-star Mia Wasikowska reportedly tried to leave the production because his behavior became too aggressive and unpredictable. The actor defended his choices by claiming he wanted to truly embody the prohibition era character.

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt and Edward Norton decided to bond over drinks during a break on the set of ‘Fight Club’. Director David Fincher saw the two actors hitting golf balls while intoxicated and decided to film the moment. The scene made it into the final movie with the actors slurring their lines and hitting balls into the catering truck. This unscripted moment added to the anarchic spirit that defines the film.

Edward Norton

Edward Norton joined Brad Pitt for the improvised golf scene in ‘Fight Club’ after consuming several drinks. The actor can be seen stumbling slightly as he takes swings at the golf balls in the middle of the night. He and Pitt genuinely enjoyed the chaotic energy of the moment while the cameras rolled on their antics. This scene serves as a rare glimpse of authentic camaraderie between the two leads.

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage wanted to understand the physical sensation of being a severe alcoholic for ‘Leaving Las Vegas’. He filmed himself while drunk to analyze his speech patterns and mannerisms before production began. The actor also admitted to drinking during certain scenes to capture the blurry reality of his character Ben Sanderson. His dedication to the role earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor.

Peter O’Toole

Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif were terrified about the prospect of riding camels during a charge scene in ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. The pair decided to get heavily intoxicated on brandy to numb their fear before mounting the animals. O’Toole was so drunk that he had to be strapped onto his camel to prevent him from falling off during the take. The actor later joked that he was more concerned about the safety of the brandy than the battle sequence.

Dennis Hopper

The campfire scene in ‘Easy Rider’ features genuine marijuana usage and alcohol consumption by the cast. Dennis Hopper wanted the dialogue and reactions to feel completely authentic to the counterculture movement. The crew dealt with erratic behavior on set due to the constant substance use throughout the production. This approach resulted in a film that effectively captured the spirit of the late sixties.

Jack Nicholson

Jack Nicholson joined Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda for the stoned campfire conversation in ‘Easy Rider’. The actor fully participated in the real drug and alcohol use occurring during the shoot. His giggling and rambling monologue about aliens were fueled by the actual substances consumed that night. This performance launched Nicholson into stardom and defined a new era of Hollywood acting.

Anna Kendrick

The low budget film ‘Drinking Buddies’ used real beer because it was cheaper than utilizing non-alcoholic alternatives. Anna Kendrick found herself inadvertently drunk during a scene where her character plays a drinking game. The actress admitted that she was surprised by the potency of the craft beer provided on set. Her genuine tipsiness added to the naturalistic mumblecore style of the movie.

Bob Hoskins

Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo realized quickly that ‘Super Mario Bros.’ was going to be a disastrous production. The two actors drank scotch between takes to cope with the chaotic direction and constant script changes. Hoskins later described the filming experience as a nightmare that required alcohol to endure. The visible lack of seriousness in some scenes can be attributed to their on-set coping mechanism.

John Leguizamo

John Leguizamo joined his co-star Bob Hoskins in drinking away the frustration of filming ‘Super Mario Bros.’. He admitted that they were often intoxicated while performing the stunts and dialogue sequences. This led to an accident where Leguizamo drove a van too quickly and broke the finger of Bob Hoskins. The actor has since expressed regret over the movie but laughs about their method of survival.

Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire usually avoided drinking while working because he was a perfectionist about his choreography. He made an exception for the drunken dance number in ‘Holiday Inn’ by taking two shots of bourbon before the first take. He continued to take a shot of bourbon before each subsequent take to ensure his stumbling appeared genuine. The resulting scene is considered one of the most convincing portrayals of intoxication in a musical.

Julie Andrews

The famous hilltop opening of ‘The Sound of Music’ was filmed in freezing temperatures and difficult weather. A local farmer offered Julie Andrews a shot of schnapps to warm her up between the helicopter shots. The actress accepted the drink and ended up spinning in the field while slightly intoxicated. She later laughed about how the majestic scene was fueled by local liquor.

Denise Richards

Denise Richards required some liquid courage to film the steamy pool scene in ‘Wild Things’. She and Neve Campbell shared a bottle of tequila to relax before the cameras rolled. The alcohol helped them navigate the complex choreography of the highly publicized scene. Richards noted that the director wanted them to feel comfortable during the intimate moment.

Neve Campbell

Neve Campbell joined Denise Richards in drinking tequila to prepare for their love scene in ‘Wild Things’. The actress felt apprehensive about the nudity and sexual nature of the script. Sharing a drink with her co-star allowed them to bond and reduce the tension on the closed set. The scene became one of the most talked about moments in nineties cinema.

If you know of other actors who tippled on set or have a favorite scene from this list, please share your thoughts in the comments.