You’d think with all the green juices, Pilates reforms, and biohacking trends, the classic cigarette would be extinct in the hills of Hollywood. It’s not. Not even close. Honestly, if you walked through the 2026 Golden Globes after-party, you’d probably have seen enough smoke to think you’d traveled back to 1995.
Just a few days ago, Sean Penn basically broke the internet (again) by lighting up right at his table during the Golden Globes telecast. He was sitting next to Leonardo DiCaprio, looking completely unbothered while the rest of the world debated whether he was breaking California's indoor air laws. He was. But that's Penn for you. It’s that "I don't care" energy that makes people obsessed with tracking which stars are still puffing away behind the scenes.
The Young Guard: Why Gen Z Stars Are Lighting Up
There’s this weird thing happening. For a while, smoking was "old person" stuff. Then came the vapes. But now? The actual cigarette is having a bizarre, gritty renaissance with the younger crowd.
Jenna Ortega is a prime example. A couple of years back, photos of her smoking a cigarette in London went absolutely nuclear on TikTok. People were shocked. Even her mom, Natalie Ortega—who is a nurse, by the way—started posting anti-smoking memes on Instagram to low-key shade her daughter’s habit. It didn't seem to stop the trend, though.
Then you’ve got Lily-Rose Depp and Anya Taylor-Joy. Anya is basically the poster child for the "coffee and a cig" aesthetic. She’s been spotted countless times on sidewalks and film sets, looking like a French New Wave actress from the 60s. It’s a vibe, sure, but it’s a polarizing one.
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Why is this happening?
- The "Edgy" Aesthetic: In a world of filtered, perfect Instagram faces, a cigarette feels "real" or "grungy."
- Stress Management: Let's be real—fame is exhausting.
- Appetite Control: It’s a dark Hollywood secret, but nicotine is still used by some to stay "camera-ready."
The Heavy Hitters Who Never Really Quit
Some celebrities are just synonymous with tobacco. You can’t imagine them without it.
Leonardo DiCaprio is the king of the "secret" smoker club. He’s often seen with a vape in public, but he’s been a cigarette guy for decades. Even though he’s a massive environmentalist, the personal habit remains. It's a weird contradiction, right? Saving the planet while polluting his own lungs.
Ben Affleck is another one. The man is a paparazzi magnet, and half the photos of him involve a Dunkin' coffee in one hand and a burning cigarette in the other. Reports have circulated for years that his smoking was a point of contention in his marriage to Jennifer Lopez, though they've since moved on.
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And then there’s Lana Del Rey. She doesn't just smoke; she makes it part of the show. She’s been known to light up on stage during performances, leaning into that "tragic Americana" persona that her fans adore.
Quick Hits: Stars You Might Not Expect
- Jennifer Lawrence: She’s been snapped many times over the years with hand-rolled cigarettes.
- Dakota Johnson: Caught in that infamous Met Gala bathroom photo a few years back.
- Sophie Turner: Often seen grabbing a smoke break between filming scenes.
- Bella Hadid: Admitted she started at 14, though she's tried to keep it more private recently.
The Wellness Paradox: When "Health Icons" Smoke
This is the part that usually confuses people. How can someone like Gwyneth Paltrow, the queen of Goop and $100 candles, admit to smoking?
Paltrow famously told Harper’s Bazaar that she treats herself to one cigarette a week. Specifically on Saturday nights. She calls it her "guilty pleasure." It’s a fascinating look at how celebrities compartmentalize. They’ll spend $20,000 on a detox retreat but still want that one hit of nicotine.
Dua Lipa is another interesting case. She told everyone she quit back in 2022 to protect her voice for the Future Nostalgia tour. But paparazzi shots from 2024 and 2025 showed her smoking again while on vacation. It just goes to show that even with the best trainers and vocal coaches in the world, the addiction is hard to kick.
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Who Actually Managed to Quit?
It’s not all bad news. Some stars have actually kicked the habit for good, and their stories are pretty relatable.
- Barack Obama: He struggled for years, famously using nicotine gum to quit while in the White House. He did it mostly because he promised his daughters he would.
- Lady Gaga: She used to smoke up to 40 cigarettes a day. She quit "cold turkey" and described the process as "brutal."
- Matt Damon: He credits hypnosis. He went to a hypnotist in Los Angeles and reportedly hasn't touched one since.
- Adele: After her vocal cord surgery, she had to stop. She didn't have a choice if she wanted to keep her career.
The Reality Check
Look, we see these photos of Zayn Malik or Snoop Dogg (who is more of a weed icon, but still) and it looks cinematic. The lighting is perfect. The clothes are expensive. But the science hasn't changed just because a famous person is doing it.
In 2026, the data is even clearer than it was ten years ago. Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death. It wrecks your skin, yellows your teeth, and destroys your lung capacity—something singers like Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga have talked about openly.
What You Can Actually Do
If you’re looking at these celebrities and feeling the urge to start or finding it hard to quit, remember that they have teams of people to hide the physical toll. You don't.
- Find Your "Why": For Obama, it was his kids. For Adele, it was her voice.
- Don't Cold Turkey Alone: Most successful celeb quitters used tools—hypnosis, gum, or apps.
- Change the Scenery: If you always smoke when you drink coffee (the Anya Taylor-Joy special), switch to tea for a month.
The "cool" factor of smoking in Hollywood is a cycle. It comes, it goes, it gets replaced by vapes, and then it circles back to "vintage" cigarettes. But at the end of the day, a habit is just a habit, no matter how famous the person holding the lighter is.
Next Steps for Your Health:
If you're ready to quit, check out the latest resources from the American Lung Association or look into the Allen Carr method—it's the one Hrithik Roshan and several other stars used to finally break free.