30 Actresses Who Absolutely Hated Their Own Character

For actors, one of the biggest challenges isn’t the demanding hours or physical risks, but rather having to truly inhabit a character they personally dislike or disagree with. Several actresses have been surprisingly open about this struggle, expressing discomfort with a character’s morals, disappointment with how the role was written, or concern about the impact of the character. Here are 30 instances where actresses publicly voiced their issues with the roles they played.

Emilia Clarke

Emilia Clarke has admitted she wished she hadn’t taken the role of Sarah Connor in ‘Terminator Genisys.’ She explained that watching the film’s creative process struggle was difficult, and the director seemed increasingly unhappy. The negative atmosphere on set made the experience harder than it should have been. Clarke also expressed relief that the film wasn’t followed by any sequels, highlighting her desire to move past the character.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow has described her role in ‘Shallow Hal’ as a mistake and admitted she felt embarrassed by it. She explained that wearing a costume to appear overweight made her realize how differently people behaved towards her, and she was particularly critical of what the experience revealed about society’s attitudes towards women’s bodies. It wasn’t just that the movie hasn’t aged well, but the way people reacted to her altered appearance that bothered her.

Allison Williams

Allison Williams has openly admitted she wouldn’t be friends with her character, Marnie, from ‘Girls’ if they met in real life. She explained that Marnie often made choices that were so destructive, Allison had to actively suppress her own opinions to portray the character convincingly. There were also times when Allison disagreed with the direction Marnie’s story was taking, but she committed to playing the part regardless.

Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet admits she finds it difficult to watch her performance as Rose in ‘Titanic’ and has often criticized her own acting in the film. She specifically dislikes aspects like her accent and how she delivered her lines, wishing she could re-film those scenes. Her issue isn’t with the character herself, but with her own performance when she looks back at the movie.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox has said that her role as Mikaela in the first few ‘Transformers’ movies didn’t really feel like acting. She explained that she mostly just ran, screamed, or did both, and she didn’t want to pretend it was more complex in interviews. Her comments sparked a larger conversation about how female characters were written and portrayed in those films.

Cher

Cher has admitted that her movie ‘Burlesque’ wasn’t as good as it could have been, and she believes the direction was the main problem. She felt the filmmakers focused too much on the musical performances and not enough on developing a strong, engaging story. While she enjoyed some aspects of making the film, she ultimately thinks it didn’t reach its full potential.

Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl has spoken about her discomfort with how her character, Alison, was depicted in ‘Knocked Up,’ and criticized the film for what she saw as sexist attitudes. She felt she was unfairly portrayed as someone who ruined the fun, and she questioned why the female characters were consistently shown as nagging and tense, while the male characters were praised for acting immaturely. Her main concern wasn’t the plot itself, but the way the character came across and the overall message the film sent.

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner has openly described the movie ‘Elektra’ as terrible, explaining that she felt contractually obligated to do it after appearing in ‘Daredevil.’ She didn’t just dislike the film – she strongly rejected the way the character and story turned out, making it a rare instance of an actress being completely honest about a spin-off movie connected to her career.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker has admitted that the movie ‘Sex and the City 2’ wasn’t a success and understands why fans were disappointed. She honestly acknowledged the film’s flaws, which is unusual for an actor reflecting on a continuation of a popular story. Despite the movie making money, she didn’t try to defend its artistic shortcomings.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey considers her appearance in the movie ‘Glitter’ her biggest professional mistake and describes that time in her life as very difficult. She doesn’t just dislike the film itself, but feels it negatively impacted her career and how the public saw her. When an artist publicly regrets a project, it often means the work didn’t align with their artistic vision or the image they wanted to project.

Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne once playfully said she “hated” Margo, the character she played in ‘Paper Towns,’ when asked about similarities between herself and the role. Even as a joke, this comment is interesting because it highlights how quickly she publicly separated herself from the character’s personality. It just goes to show that you can often get the most honest reactions to a role during interviews with the press.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence initially thought the film ‘Mother!’ might have been too extreme. This reaction is significant because her character serves as a stand-in for the audience, and she herself was deeply affected by the role. While she later supported the film’s message, she admitted that her character’s experiences were emotionally challenging and uncomfortable.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry didn’t hold back when accepting an award, jokingly calling her movie ‘Catwoman’ a disaster and thanking the studio for the opportunity anyway. It was a surprisingly direct admission that the film didn’t work, and she openly acknowledged her disappointment with the role – essentially giving it a public ‘thumbs down’.

Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer has openly admitted she strongly disliked ‘Grease 2,’ even saying she ‘hated’ it. She attributes this to her inexperience at the time, explaining she wasn’t yet able to properly evaluate films. Her criticism focuses specifically on the final result of the movie and how her character was portrayed.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus has talked about the challenges of playing Hannah Montana, explaining how the role forced her to conform to a limited standard of beauty. She said this created confusion about her own identity when she wasn’t filming the show and its elaborate makeup and costuming. While she didn’t directly say she disliked the character, her comments suggest she felt burdened by the image Hannah Montana projected.

Rooney Mara

Rooney Mara has strongly expressed her regret over playing Tiger Lily in the movie ‘Pan,’ acknowledging the criticism about whitewashing was justified. She said she deeply disliked being part of that controversy and doesn’t want to repeat the experience, explaining she understood why people were upset with the casting and portrayal of the character.

Evangeline Lilly

Evangeline Lilly has admitted she grew frustrated with her ‘Lost’ character, Kate, as the show progressed. She felt Kate became too focused on romantic pursuits and lost the independent drive she originally had. Lilly’s comments are a rare example of an actor openly disliking the direction their character took over the course of a series, rather than just a specific plot point.

Blake Lively

I recently heard Blake Lively talk about her time playing Serena on ‘Gossip Girl,’ and it really resonated with me. She admitted that sometimes it felt tough, even compromising, because she personally wanted to promote more positive messages. She specifically mentioned some of Serena’s actions that she found hard to support. What struck me most was that her problem wasn’t with the acting itself, but with the character’s morals – she wasn’t going to pretend Serena’s bad choices were okay, and I really respect her for that.

Shailene Woodley

Shailene Woodley has explained that as ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’ went on, she struggled with the show’s values, feeling they didn’t reflect her own beliefs. It was difficult for her to continue acting when she disagreed with the messages the show was sending to its audience, and that disconnect ultimately made her feel frustrated with her role.

Connie Nielsen

Connie Nielsen has openly admitted she disliked how her character’s story ended in ‘Demonlover.’ This is significant because she didn’t just have reservations – she strongly rejected the character’s final path. When an actress expresses such strong disapproval, it often suggests she felt the character’s actions or ultimate fate were unacceptable to her personally.

Patricia Routledge

Patricia Routledge, who played Hyacinth in ‘Keeping Up Appearances,’ has admitted she actually disliked the character, finding her personality unpleasant. This highlights how demanding comedic roles can be, even when the character is intentionally annoying. Her dislike stemmed from Hyacinth’s snobbery and inflated ego, not from any issues with the show itself.

Helen Flanagan

Helen Flanagan has admitted she often disliked her role as Rosie in ‘Coronation Street,’ particularly when the character was portrayed as mean. She explained that playing a character who constantly behaves badly – even if you wouldn’t approve of those actions yourself – can be emotionally exhausting over time. It highlights how challenging it can be for actors to consistently portray unlikeable characters.

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba has described a frustrating experience on the set of ‘Fantastic Four’ where she was discouraged from showing genuine emotion, even being told how not to cry during a scene. This kind of direction can make an actor feel distant from their character, as they’re focused on achieving a certain appearance rather than embodying a real person. While her issue was with the director’s instructions, it ultimately limited how she could portray her character on screen.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis has expressed regret over her role as Aibileen in ‘The Help,’ stating the film didn’t truly prioritize the perspectives of the Black characters it portrayed. She believes the story relied too heavily on a ‘white savior’ trope, which limited the depth and authenticity of Aibileen’s voice. Davis emphasizes that her critique isn’t about the acting itself, but about how the character served the overall story.

Hunter Tylo

Hunter Tylo has openly admitted she disliked her ‘Days of Our Lives’ character, Marina Toscano, so much that it made going to work difficult. She explained that the character was intentionally unlikeable, and she shared that she personally felt the same way. Tylo was very direct about her feelings, acknowledging that her personal dislike mirrored the audience’s negative perception of the character.

Eva LaRue

Eva LaRue has shared that viewers strongly disliked her ‘General Hospital’ character, Natalia, to the point where efforts to make the character more likable failed. She felt personally attacked by the audience’s reaction, which made it difficult for the show to move the storyline forward. Even without an actor explicitly saying they disliked a character, such a negative response can significantly impact their experience playing the role and working on the show.

Ella Purnell

Ella Purnell has shared how negative reactions to her character didn’t bother her personally, as the criticism was directed at the character, not her acting. She actually saw it as a sign she was succeeding in her role, as provoking a strong reaction meant she was doing her job well. It offers a unique perspective on dealing with audience dislike of a character you play, and how it feels to be associated with someone viewers strongly dislike.

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams remembers how intensely the public reacted to a character she played, with many people expressing strong dislike. She described the personal criticism as harsh and explained how difficult it was to be connected to a role that made people so angry, even though she, as the actor, wasn’t to blame. She said playing a disliked character created a hostile work environment and made it hard to separate her own feelings from those directed at the role.

Jennette McCurdy

I recently read Jennette McCurdy’s account of her time as a young actress, and it was really striking. She admitted feeling ashamed of some of her earlier work, including her hugely popular role as Sam in ‘iCarly.’ What came across most powerfully was her sense of being steered into a career and public image that didn’t feel authentic to her. It’s a sadly familiar story – when an actor expresses that level of regret about the part that made them famous, it usually means they felt trapped by the character and unable to truly be themselves.

Fantasia Barrino

Fantasia Barrino has talked about how challenging it was to play Celie in ‘The Color Purple,’ saying she dreaded revisiting the character’s painful experiences. Roles that require actors to repeatedly portray intense trauma can be emotionally draining, and some performers later regret taking them on. In these situations, an actor’s dislike isn’t about the character themselves, but rather the mental toll of constantly reliving such difficult circumstances.

Tell us in the comments: which actress has been most open about disliking a role she played?

2025-12-15 09:17