Actress Charlize Theron credits her smoking habit with her Hollywood success.

The Monster star, 32, admits cigarettes are "filthy", but claims the unhealthy practice inadvertently landed her a role In The Valley Of Elah.

She explains, "I still smoke, occasionally. But it led to a role in my new film. I kept on running into writer and director Paul Haggis when we were at an awards event. He was there for his film Crash and I was there for North Country.

"We were the only two losers in an alley, smoking. He said, 'I'm going to write a film for you.' And he did." (PAW/WNBIN/LJ)

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