Louis Theroux smoked nightly spliff to sleep
The world of documentary filmmaking is often defined by unflinching scrutiny of complex human behavior, yet even those who shape narratives about the extreme and the bizarre have plenty of surprising, relatable human habits. For documentarian Louis Theroux, the line between the intensely observed and the casually flawed has been surprisingly porous.
In a recent episode of Katherine Ryan’s popular podcast, What’s My Age Again?, Theroux opened up about his habits during his younger years, revealing a stark contrast between his public image and his personal indulgences. He confessed that during his late teens and twenties, seeking a night’s sleep, he relied on smoking “a nightly spliff.”
When asked about the reaction to this admission, Theroux noted the surprise of his peers. “There was a reaction in the room to that. Did that surprise the kids?” he reflected, acknowledging the unexpected nature of the confession.
The details of his routine extended beyond smoking. Theroux also shared his relationship with alcohol, admitting that he enjoyed the associated experience, confessing that he “even enjoy the hangovers” because he felt progressively better throughout the day.
Theroux’s career has been built on exploring the fringes of society, whether profiling American subcultures in Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends or investigating notorious figures like Jimmy Savile and the rise of Neo-Nazis and ultra-Zionists.
More recently, he channeled this observational skill into a Netflix documentary, Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere, which delves into the world of hyper-masculine content creators. The film found acclaim for its ability to frame the movement as a battleground, positioning Theroux as someone who understood the insecurity driving these powerful voices.
This shift from examining the world’s most extreme groups to examining the insecurities within modern masculinity provides a fascinating lens through which to view Theroux’s own journey—a journey that, it turns out, included a healthy dose of youthful, slightly rebellious habits.
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