Superhero Actors and Actresses Who Absolutely Hated Their Costumes

Many actors want to play superheroes, but wearing the costumes can be surprisingly difficult. While these outfits look amazing on screen, they often make it hard for performers to move and breathe. Several stars have talked about the struggles of using the bathroom and overheating while filming action scenes. Here’s a look at some performers who didn’t enjoy wearing their superhero suits.

Oscar Isaac

Let me tell you, seeing Isaac as Apocalypse was incredible on screen, but the suit nearly killed him! It weighed almost forty pounds and they actually had to use cooling tubes to keep him from overheating. He said it was unbelievably painful – the prosthetics were so restrictive he couldn’t even sit down between scenes. It was really isolating for him too, because they had to move him around in a special tent just so he could rest. All that glue and latex trapped his sweat, making the whole shoot a truly miserable experience for him. You really have to appreciate the dedication he brought to the role considering everything he went through!

Scarlett Johansson

The actress found her ‘Avengers’ costume extremely hot and uncomfortable to wear during filming. The suit, which felt like a wetsuit, trapped heat and made her sweat a lot while doing stunts. She even famously recalled feeling delirious from the heat while filming a rooftop fight. Plus, the suit was so tight that taking bathroom breaks was a real challenge during production.

Christian Bale

The Batman suit worn in ‘Batman Begins’ was incredibly tight, giving Christian Bale almost instant headaches. While he used the discomfort to enhance his portrayal of the angry character, he found it very frustrating that he couldn’t move his head easily. He jokingly advised any future Batman actors to make sure their suits had zippers for bathroom breaks! The suit was also so hot that Bale was often exhausted and nearly fell asleep between scenes.

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie admitted she wasn’t comfortable with Harley Quinn’s revealing costume in ‘Suicide Squad.’ The short shorts and damp t-shirt were physically uncomfortable to wear, especially during cold nighttime filming. She also felt insecure on set and questioned how practical the outfit was for a character who fights. Robbie was happy when Harley Quinn got a more covered-up costume in later movies.

Andrew Garfield

Let me tell you, being Spider-Man wasn’t all fun and games for Andrew Garfield! That suit… wow, it was incredibly itchy and honestly made me feel pretty exposed. The biggest problem? No zippers! Seriously, going to the bathroom was a whole production. And the mask? After a few hours, it felt super claustrophobic, and it was hard to see clearly when we were doing stunts. To top it all off, the paparazzi were constantly snapping photos, which just made me even more self-conscious while filming in that tight suit. It was a challenge, to say the least!

Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer’s Batman suit in ‘Batman Returns’ was incredibly difficult to wear. It was so tight – requiring a vacuum seal to get it on – that she could only wear it for short times before struggling to breathe and feeling dizzy. The mask was also a problem, squeezing her face so tightly that it often made it hard to hear and act alongside other performers. Pfeiffer herself said it was the most uncomfortable costume she’d ever worn.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds didn’t enjoy wearing the motion capture suit for ‘Green Lantern,’ finding it silly and unflattering compared to traditional costumes. Later, while filming ‘Deadpool,’ he found the heavy makeup and prosthetics restrictive. The full face mask, in particular, initially caused him panic attacks until he got used to the limited airflow.

Jennifer Lawrence

Mystique’s blue body paint in ‘X-Men: First Class’ was a lengthy and irritating process for Jennifer Lawrence. It took hours to apply and she was concerned about the harmful chemicals she was exposed to. To make things easier, the production team later used a full bodysuit instead of paint. Lawrence was always uncomfortable and couldn’t wait to take off the makeup and prosthetics at the end of each day.

Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman shared that the Black Panther suit was incredibly uncomfortable and made it hard to breathe, especially during fight scenes. The thick rubber suit trapped heat and sweat, and he often struggled to stay cool while wearing it. The helmet limited his airflow, so he had to practice deep breathing exercises to remain calm. These physical challenges made the already demanding martial arts choreography even more difficult.

Olivia Munn

Rachael Munn, who played Psylocke in ‘X-Men: Apocalypse,’ shared that her costume was incredibly tight and difficult to get on – it took two people and lubricant! The delicate latex suit actually ripped during her first day of filming. It also wasn’t practical for her character’s action scenes, like sword fighting and using wires, and she had to be very careful with her movements because it didn’t breathe and could tear easily.

Paul Bettany

Paul Bettany’s experience playing Vision in the Marvel movies was physically demanding. He had to wear a tight-fitting suit, heavy makeup, and prosthetics, which caused him pain and discomfort – the headpiece especially pressed uncomfortably on his ears. The elaborate costume also made it hard to hear and connect with the other actors, leaving him feeling isolated. Bettany said the most enjoyable part of his day was removing all the glued-on pieces from his face.

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck admitted he felt embarrassed and not at all heroic while wearing the motion capture suit for some scenes in ‘Justice League’. He also found the heavy, armored suit difficult to move in during fight sequences. While he liked how the character ultimately looked on screen, he disliked the experience of wearing all the bulky equipment and said it often made him feel ridiculous while filming.

Tom Holland

Tom Holland, who plays Spider-Man, has often mentioned difficulties with his mask, particularly limited side vision. It’s also hard for him to drink water while in the suit, so he uses a tube inserted through the eye hole. The one-piece costume also makes simple tasks, like going to the bathroom, challenging. Plus, the tight fit leaves marks on his skin after long days of filming action scenes.

Ron Perlman

It took four hours of makeup each morning to turn Ron Perlman into Hellboy. The detailed red chest and heavy tail were tiring to wear all day, and the special contacts and fake teeth made it hard to see and speak. Ultimately, the demanding makeup was a major reason he didn’t reprise the role in a third movie.

Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot shared that her original Wonder Woman costume in ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ was incredibly tight, making it hard to breathe. The corset squeezed her so much she struggled to talk during fittings. The designers had to make major changes so she could safely perform stunts without fainting. Even after the adjustments, the metal parts of the armor were still cold and uncomfortable, especially when filming in the winter.

Michael Keaton

The original Batman suit from 1989 made Keaton feel extremely confined. The rubber material was so rigid it encased his upper body, preventing him from turning his head without moving his whole torso. He actually used this awkwardness to create the character’s famously stiff and controlled movements. Keaton also said the suit’s isolating effect helped him embody Batman’s brooding and solitary nature.

Rebecca Romijn

Rebecca Romijn famously spent as much as nine hours having makeup applied to transform into Mystique for the first three ‘X-Men’ movies. The process involved covering her entire body with prosthetics and blue paint, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable during filming. Removing the makeup was also extremely time-consuming, often taking several hours each day. Eventually, the demanding and exhausting process led her to take a smaller role in the third movie.

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer has said that the Batman suit he wore in ‘Batman Forever’ was incredibly uncomfortable, almost like a torture device. It completely blocked out sound, making it impossible to hear anyone around him, and the mask covered his ears. He needed help from assistants just to stand up, and found it difficult to move and quickly became exhausted. Kilmer famously felt that portraying Batman in that suit was less about acting and more about simply being able to withstand the physical strain of wearing it.

George Clooney

Everyone remembers the suit George Clooney wore in ‘Batman & Robin’ for its unusual nipples, but Clooney himself disliked it because it was incredibly heavy. He said the thick rubber caused him back pain and made it hard to move. The helmet was also stiff and limited his neck movement, just like in previous Batman films. Clooney has often apologized for being in the movie, and he frequently points to the over-the-top costume as a major regret.

Burt Ward

Dick Ward, who played Robin in the 1960s ‘Batman’ TV series, endured a lot of discomfort and pain due to his costume. The tight-fitting suit was made of itchy wool, offering no protection when he performed stunts, and often caused skin rashes. To maintain a wholesome image, he was even pressured to take medication to reduce his size. Throughout the show, Ward found the entire wardrobe experience both physically painful and deeply embarrassing.

Idris Elba

Honestly, watching Idris Elba as Heimdall was amazing, but hearing him talk about the experience… it was rough! He really didn’t enjoy being stuck in that heavy armor and those gold contact lenses. He’s said it felt like torture being suspended on wires in the costume, and it even made him wonder if he’d made the right choices with his career. The lenses messed with his vision so badly during the big fight scenes, leaving him feeling totally disoriented. He actually felt like the role held him back as an actor because of how much the costume limited him.

Dave Bautista

Originally, it took five hours to transform Dave Bautista into Drax for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ and he had to remain perfectly still during the process. The grey makeup was tough to wash off and stained his bedsheets for weeks. Bautista also felt incredibly hot because the silicone prosthetics trapped heat, like being in a sauna. He was eventually able to get a vest made for later movies, which meant less makeup and helped him stay cooler.

Elizabeth Olsen

I remember reading that Elizabeth Olsen wasn’t thrilled with her Scarlet Witch costume in ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ specifically the really low-cut top. She felt like it was just too much, and that she was the only female character dressed so provocatively. She was constantly worried about something popping out while she was doing all the action scenes! I was so glad to see her costume changed in later movies to be more comfortable and practical for her. It seemed like a really good move.

Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy said the Bane mask from ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ was extremely uncomfortable. It was so tight it gave him headaches and pressed heavily on his face, making it hard to hear himself speak. Because the mask muffled his voice, he had to use hand signals to let the crew know when he was in pain. Despite the discomfort, it actually helped him create a more intimidating performance as the villain.

Brie Larson

Brie Larson, who played Captain Marvel, had a surprisingly difficult time with her costume. Going to the bathroom required a team to help her carefully remove the many layers of armor and fabric, often taking around thirty minutes and stopping filming in the process. The tight leather suit also made the physically demanding wirework training challenging.

Jason Momoa

Jason Momoa said his original Aquaman costume was incredibly heavy and uncomfortable, making it difficult to wear for extended periods. He had trouble with simple things like going to the bathroom, and the weight of the armor pulled him down. The suit also hindered his ability to convincingly portray underwater movement and caused painful rubbing. Momoa much preferred filming scenes where he could wear less clothing or go shirtless to avoid the bulkiness.

Amber Heard

Amber Heard described her Mera costume as being incredibly tight, almost like it was vacuum-sealed to her body, to achieve its streamlined look. She said it constantly felt constricting and made it difficult to move and walk normally. The outfit was so tight she couldn’t comfortably sit and had to lean against a board for support. Getting into and out of the elaborate costume also took a significant amount of time, causing delays on set.

Anthony Mackie

Okay, so switching from Falcon to Captain America was way harder than it looked for me, Anthony Mackie. The new suit? Forget about it. It was seriously heavy and bulky. I was having a real struggle just lifting my legs high enough to do the running kicks they wanted for the fight scenes. And the cowl… ugh, that thing was constantly pressing against my face and I was overheating like crazy. I kept joking that it looked amazing on camera, but honestly, wearing it felt like being wrapped in a carpet on a scorching summer day!

Sebastian Stan

The metal arm Stan Lee wore for his role as the Winter Soldier needed a lot of lubrication to get on, and it was difficult to move. Filming action scenes in the heat made the prop stiff and uncomfortable for long periods. The actor explained that the arm sometimes cut off his circulation, forcing them to remove it often to get the blood flowing again. He said it felt like carrying a heavy, dead weight on one side of his body.

Grant Gustin

Grant Gustin felt very anxious when he first put on The Flash’s cowl because it was stuck directly to his face. The tight fit and poor airflow gave him headaches. He eventually asked for a zipper to be added so he could breathe more easily between scenes. The leather suit also soaked up sweat and quickly started to smell bad from the heat of the studio lights.

John Cena

John Cena said his Peacemaker costume was incredibly uncomfortable – a tight uniform that didn’t keep him warm on set. He particularly disliked the heavy, awkward helmet, comparing it to a toilet seat. While he wore the costume for promotional interviews, he really didn’t enjoy wearing it, finding the tight material revealing and uncomfortable.

Alicia Silverstone

While filming ‘Batman & Robin,’ Silverstone experienced hurtful criticism about her body, which made wearing the Batgirl suit a deeply upsetting experience. The rubber costume was heavy, restrictive, and made performing action scenes, like kickboxing, very difficult. She described the costume fittings as painful and felt the final suit was unflattering, leaving her feeling humiliated by the unwanted focus on her weight while wearing it.

Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke really disliked wearing the Whiplash suit in ‘Iron Man 2’. Weighing almost forty pounds, the heavy costume caused him a lot of back pain and made it difficult to move, quickly tiring him out. He often spoke about how uncomfortable it was and how it hindered his ability to perform.

Jared Leto

Leto disliked the Joker’s appearance in ‘Suicide Squad,’ finding the many tattoos and metal teeth distracting and difficult to deal with during filming. They bothered his speech and eating, and he felt the over-the-top costumes moved the character away from the traditional look, making him seem more like a criminal than the classic clown. The metal grills especially caused him discomfort and gum pain over the course of production.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

The Mr. Freeze suit in ‘Batman & Robin’ was extremely heavy and full of lights powered by large batteries. During filming, Arnold Schwarzenegger accidentally got battery acid in his mouth due to a flaw in the suit’s design. The bulky armor and helmet put a tremendous strain on his neck and shoulders, forcing him to take regular breaks to prevent injuries from the weight.

Zoe Saldaña

Zoe Saldana spends hours in makeup to transform into Gamora, requiring green paint and prosthetics. She doesn’t enjoy the process, finding the paint sticky and prone to smudging. Removing the makeup is also tough on her skin, leaving it feeling irritated, and she dislikes having to wake up so early to get ready.

Nicholas Hoult

Nicholas Hoult found wearing the Beast makeup for the ‘X-Men’ films to be very uncomfortable. The heavy fur suit got hot and made him sweat a lot during action scenes, sometimes causing the prosthetics to shift. He also had trouble eating and drinking while in costume because of the fake teeth and lips. He was glad when the character was redesigned to appear more human in later films, which made things much easier.

Karen Gillan

To play Nebula, Karen Gillan shaved her head and then spent hours each day having makeup applied. She said the prosthetics felt like a heavy rubber cap stuck to her head, making it hard to move her face and show emotions. Removing the makeup was also quite painful, as the adhesive irritated her skin.

Jessica Alba

Alba didn’t like wearing the Invisible Woman costume in ‘Fantastic Four’. She thought the blue spandex was unflattering and made her feel insecure while filming. She also disliked the itchy, unnatural blonde wig. She believed the costume seemed designed to be visually appealing rather than to portray a strong female character.

Matthew Lewis

Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom, found wearing a fat suit for the role embarrassing. He wore padding and fake teeth to show how his character awkwardly grew up, but he didn’t like how it restricted his movement and made him feel less like himself. He was relieved to get rid of the prosthetics in the later movies so audiences could see his natural physical transformation.

Robert Pattinson

Robert Pattinson said the Batman suit was really hot and made it hard to move, especially during fight scenes. He compared wearing the cowl to being trapped in a warm sleeping bag you can’t get out of. The suit’s limited vision and heavy cape, which pulled him backwards, were also challenges. Pattinson even had to manage how much he sweated to keep his eye makeup from blurring his vision.

Henry Cavill

Henry Cavill shared that his Superman suit was extremely tight-fitting and lacked a fly, making even simple bathroom breaks a complicated process. He had to carefully time when he drank water to avoid holding up filming due to the difficulty of getting the suit off. He also found the suit uncomfortable, as the material was both unforgiving and cold during outdoor shoots in the winter. Ultimately, he explained that the suit prioritized looks over comfort and practicality.

Share your thoughts on which costume sounds the most miserable in the comments.

2025-12-18 19:19