Are roles that require the actor or actress to smoke really REALLY prevalent even outside of hollywood?

Question

outside of hollywood means in theater and indie films.

Is this something that a budding actor has to get used to while looking for that big break?

Answer 1

That's a hard question to answer.... there are a lot of characters (both on stage and on screen) who are shown smoking. As an actor, if you are a non-smoker you will usually have options.  In a film, especially, there are prop cigarettes that do not containe nicotine.  

In theatre, its a bit trickier since the audience is right there but there should still be ways of working around it.

I can't imagine a director forcing you (as a non-smoking actor) to physically smoke a cigarette even though you are portraying a character who smokes.

With today's technology, there's always ways around it.

Don't worry about it. :)