Wrestling Legend Jake The Snake -- To Be Or Not To Be ... An Actor

But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It's wrestling legend Jake The Snake!!! Because he's a freaking actor now!!!

Snake (real name Aurelian Smith Jr.) has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for decades -- but his rep tells TMZ, the 57-year-old has been sober for over 180 days ... and has decided to kick start his life by embarking on a new career ... as a thespian.

The rep says Jake has just started acting classes this week -- and hasn't locked down an agent yet -- but he's already been offered part in an independent film (probably playing some gruff old dude with a mustache).

Once Jake gets into the swing of things, we're told he's also planning to go on tons of auditions very soon ... TV, commercials, movies, you name it.

FYI, Jake and fellow wrestling legend/recovering addict Scott Hall are currently living with former wrestler Diamond Dallas Page, who has converted his Atlanta home into a kind of sober living facility.

Pretty cool.