Actors Who Hated Their Most Iconic Roles

It’s common for actors to become incredibly well-known for certain roles, but surprisingly, they don’t always love those projects. While fans might cherish those performances, the actors themselves sometimes develop negative feelings. This can be due to the overwhelming attention the role brought, or simply because they weren’t happy with the script or how the filming went. It shows that an actor’s relationship with their most famous work can be surprisingly complicated, even when it’s a crowd-pleaser.

Robert Pattinson

Robert Pattinson rose to international fame playing Edward Cullen in the ‘Twilight’ films. However, he often jokingly pointed out flaws in the story and his character’s actions while promoting the movies. He thought the plot didn’t make much sense and felt the intense popularity of the series might limit his future acting opportunities, as the level of fame was difficult to manage.

Sean Connery

Sean Connery was the original James Bond, first appearing in ‘Dr. No’ in the early 1960s. Although the Bond films became hugely popular, Connery eventually grew tired of being associated with the character and the intense public interest surrounding it. He even said he wished he could ‘kill off’ the spy! Later in his career, he deliberately chose very different roles to move away from the 007 image.

Alec Guinness

Alec Guinness, a respected actor, unexpectedly gained a new following thanks to his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original ‘Star Wars’ films. However, he didn’t enjoy the part, finding the dialogue difficult and even asking for his character to be killed off early in the series. He was also frustrated by the large amount of fan mail about the films, as it interfered with his more serious acting work. In one memorable instance, he even encouraged a young fan to find different, more fulfilling interests instead of watching the movies.

Christopher Plummer

Christopher Plummer is best known for playing Captain von Trapp in ‘The Sound of Music’ with Julie Andrews. Though he initially didn’t like the movie—even giving it unflattering nicknames—and found it overly sentimental, he later changed his mind. He once felt the role was shallow compared to his stage work, but seeing how much happiness the film brought to viewers over the years led him to appreciate it more.

Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig starred as James Bond for more than ten years, beginning with ‘Casino Royale’ in 2006. After finishing ‘Spectre,’ he jokingly said he’d rather do almost anything than play Bond again, highlighting how much the role had taken a toll on him. The demanding action scenes and lengthy filming process left him feeling exhausted. He ultimately agreed to one last film, but continued to talk openly about how difficult the job was.

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck played the lead role in the 2003 film ‘Daredevil,’ but has since said he really wasn’t happy with how it turned out. He’s admitted he regretted the movie and how the character was portrayed, and that this disappointment actually inspired him to later take on the role of Batman, hoping to get a superhero film right. He believed ‘Daredevil’ didn’t fully capture the quality of the original comic book.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds starred in ‘Green Lantern,’ but he didn’t like how the movie turned out and now jokes about it often. He makes fun of the film in his other work and on social media, explaining that the script wasn’t strong enough and they used too many special effects. He later found success playing a different superhero, which gave him more creative control.

George Clooney

George Clooney played Batman in the 1997 film ‘Batman & Robin,’ and he’s repeatedly said he wasn’t happy with how it turned out. He’s even joked that he nearly killed the Batman franchise with his performance. To remind himself to carefully choose roles, he kept a picture of himself in the Batman suit as a warning against picking projects just because they seemed likely to be financially successful.

Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum took on the role of Duke in ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra’ because he was contractually obligated to do so. He later shared that he disliked the script and wasn’t enthusiastic about the film. Feeling the story wasn’t strong, he’d been cast early in his career before he had much influence over his projects. He ultimately requested that his character be killed off in the sequel to allow him to leave the franchise.

Shia LaBeouf

Shia LaBeouf played the son of Indiana Jones in ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.’ Afterwards, he expressed regret about the film and his own acting, feeling it didn’t live up to the standards set by the original movies. He believed he had disappointed both the fans and the director, and his comments led to disagreements with some of the people who made the film.

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg starred in M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘The Happening,’ but he’s been very vocal about how much he dislikes it. He’s particularly critical of the film’s premise – people running from trees and wind. Wahlberg took the role hoping to challenge himself, but ultimately felt the movie didn’t succeed, and he often cites it as a career low point.

Matt Damon

Matt Damon reprised his role in ‘The Bourne Ultimatum,’ but he was very unhappy with how the movie was made. He found the first draft of the script difficult to understand and thought the production lacked organization. Damon was also frustrated with the studio’s approach to developing the third Bourne film, and despite the movie’s success, he remained disappointed with the overall experience.

Edward Norton

Edward Norton took on the role in ‘The Italian Job’ simply to meet his contractual obligations with Paramount Pictures. He wasn’t particularly interested in the film and reportedly showed that during filming. Even though he had a significant part, he didn’t actively participate in promoting the movie, preferring instead to concentrate on projects where he had more creative freedom and control.

Bill Murray

Bill Murray voiced Garfield in the original movie and its sequel, but he later revealed he took the job under a misunderstanding. He believed the script was written by the Coen brothers, a highly respected filmmaking team, and was surprised to find out it wasn’t. Years later, he jokingly referenced his involvement with the film in a brief appearance in another movie.

Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman received an Oscar for his role as Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in the early 1970s film, ‘The French Connection.’ He found Doyle to be a prejudiced and extremely violent character, making it a challenging experience to portray him. Hackman almost left the movie because he had trouble becoming someone so unlikeable. However, despite his personal struggles, the performance is now considered one of the greatest in film history.

Hugo Weaving

Hugo Weaving voiced Megatron in the ‘Transformers’ movies, but he didn’t enjoy the experience. He’s said he felt disconnected from the character, largely because he never interacted with the director and recorded his lines in isolation, with little understanding of the bigger picture. Weaving saw the role as simply a way to earn money, not a fulfilling creative endeavor.

Idris Elba

Idris Elba is well-known for his role as Stringer Bell, a shrewd drug lord, in the highly praised TV series ‘The Wire,’ where he appeared for three seasons. He was concerned that viewers often admired Stringer Bell, despite the character’s criminal actions and involvement in violence. Elba hoped audiences would recognize Stringer Bell as a villain, not someone to look up to, and that the show’s deeper, more somber messages wouldn’t be lost because of the character’s popularity.

Jamie Dornan

Jamie Dornan became well-known internationally for his role as Christian Grey in the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ movies. However, he wasn’t comfortable with the books or the character, finding them very different from himself. He also found the attention from fans to be overwhelming. Since then, he’s chosen to work on different, smaller projects to move away from that role.

Zac Efron

Looking back, it’s funny how things change! I remember when Zac Efron was the teen heartthrob as Troy Bolton in ‘High School Musical’. But he’s actually said he cringes when he thinks about that time – he even wished he could’ve punched his younger self! He felt like Troy was a bit of a one-note character and it was hard to be seen as a serious actor because of it. That’s why he really threw himself into those darker, more independent films for years – he was determined to shake off that Disney image and prove he could do more.

Penn Badgley

Penn Badgley plays Joe Goldberg in the hit series ‘You,’ a show that delves into the disturbing thoughts and actions of a stalker and killer. Badgley often speaks out against the character, urging fans not to see him as a romantic hero. He strongly disapproves of Joe’s behavior and finds it difficult that the show sometimes portrays him as appealing. He consistently uses his public voice to emphasize that Joe is, in fact, a villain.

Jacob Elordi

I first noticed Jacob Elordi in ‘The Kissing Booth’ – it was such a fun series on Netflix! It’s interesting to hear him talk about it now, though. He’s admitted he found the movies a bit silly and really just saw them as a way to start his career. I’m so impressed with the choices he’s made since then, moving into much more serious and compelling roles on TV and in film. It’s great to see him really showcasing his talent!

Jason Bateman

Jason Bateman appeared in ‘Teen Wolf Too,’ a follow-up to the popular Michael J. Fox comedy. He’s often joked about the film, considering it a major low point early in his career. Bateman believes the movie was a weak attempt to recreate the success of the original and wasn’t well-made. He frequently uses it as an example of what not to do in Hollywood.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

At the peak of his action movie fame, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred as Kalidor in ‘Red Sonja.’ He famously quipped that the movie was so poor he’d make his kids watch it as a punishment! Schwarzenegger considered it a weaker film compared to his other fantasy adventures, like the Conan movies, and he continues to be openly critical of his performance in it.

Paul Bettany

Paul Bettany was the voice of JARVIS in the ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Avengers’ movies before he played Vision. At first, he thought the job was incredibly easy – he’d just spend a few hours recording. He even joked that it felt like getting paid a lot of money for very little work, like a pirate! Later, he moved into a more hands-on role in the films, but he still liked to point out how simple his early work as JARVIS had been.

Stephen Dillane

As a big fan of ‘Game of Thrones’, I was surprised to hear Stephen Dillane, who played Stannis Baratheon, say he often didn’t fully grasp what was going on! Apparently, he’d frequently ask his co-stars to explain the plot and his character’s reasoning during filming. He’s a fantastic actor, but he’s admitted that the whole experience wasn’t the most creatively fulfilling for him, which is a shame to hear.

Mandy Patinkin

Mandy Patinkin, known for his role as Jason Gideon on ‘Criminal Minds,’ unexpectedly left the show because he was deeply disturbed by its content. He later admitted that joining the series was a major error in judgment. Patinkin felt the show’s dark themes and depictions of violence against women were harmful to his emotional and mental health, leading him to prioritize his well-being and leave the popular program.

Andrew Garfield

Andrew Garfield, who starred as Spider-Man in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ movies, was a lifelong fan of the character. He was saddened by the studio’s emphasis on creating a large, interconnected movie universe rather than focusing on the emotional core of the story. Because he loved Spider-Man so much, he found the experience particularly disheartening.

David Cross

David Cross, who played the villain in the ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’ movies, openly admitted he didn’t enjoy making them, saying he only took the job for the paycheck. He often made fun of the films and working with computer-generated characters. These critical comments caused some friction with the studio when the later movies came out.

Michael Caine

Michael Caine starred in ‘Jaws: The Revenge,’ a film often cited as one of the worst sequels of all time. He jokingly admitted he’d never actually watched it, but he had seen the house the movie’s earnings bought for his mother. Caine was working on a different film when he won an Oscar and had to miss the awards ceremony because of his commitment to the shark movie. Despite its failure, he still talks about it with a good sense of humor.

Burt Reynolds

In the late 1990s, Burt Reynolds received an Academy Award nomination for his performance as Jack Horner in ‘Boogie Nights.’ Surprisingly, despite the film’s critical success, Reynolds disliked it intensely and even dismissed his agent after viewing an early version. He found the film’s content objectionable and had a difficult working relationship with the director. Despite winning significant awards, he largely avoided promoting the movie.

Crispin Glover

Crispin Glover originally played George McFly in ‘Back to the Future,’ but he didn’t reprise the role in the following movies. He was dissatisfied with the first film’s conclusion, believing it suggested that wealth leads to happiness. Glover also had creative differences with the directors about how his character should evolve. Ultimately, the filmmakers used a different actor and created his likeness with prosthetics, which resulted in a well-known legal battle.

John Boyega

John Boyega became well-known for playing Finn in the recent ‘Star Wars’ films, beginning with ‘The Force Awakens.’ He later shared his disappointment that Finn’s role became smaller in the later movies. Boyega felt the marketing made it seem like Finn would be a central character, but the storyline didn’t deliver on that. As a result, he became a strong voice for fairer representation of diverse characters in big film series.

Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke, who played the villain in ‘Iron Man 2’, put a lot of effort into developing his character, including detailed research. He was disappointed that much of this work, and the character’s backstory, didn’t make it into the final cut of the movie. Rourke believed the studio preferred a simple villain instead of a more nuanced one, and he felt they prioritized action sequences over the creative choices he made while filming.

Jared Leto

Jared Leto fully immersed himself in the role of the Joker for ‘Suicide Squad,’ using a very dedicated acting approach. He was upset when a lot of his scenes were cut from the finished movie, feeling that his carefully crafted performance was lost. He’s spoken openly about his disappointment with how the character ended up in that film.

Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brosnan starred as James Bond in four movies and is often credited with bringing the series back to life in the 1990s. However, he later confessed he never fully felt comfortable in the role and wasn’t satisfied with his performances. He thought the storylines became too over-the-top and missed the more realistic feel of earlier films. He was ultimately relieved when another actor took over the part.

Matthew Goode

Matthew Goode appeared in the romantic comedy ‘Leap Year’ with Amy Adams, but he later revealed he only accepted the role because it allowed him to be near his family and visit them on weekends. He didn’t think the movie was very good and considered it one of the least enjoyable projects of his career, and he was surprisingly open about his lack of enthusiasm for it while promoting the film.

Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy appeared in the action comedy ‘This Means War’ alongside Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon, but he later confessed he didn’t quite fit the genre and didn’t enjoy making the film. He found it challenging and unfulfilling to work on such a light, commercial project. As a result, after the movie came out, he decided to concentrate on roles that were more demanding and allowed for greater artistic exploration.

Brad Pitt

In the 1990s, Brad Pitt appeared in ‘Seven Years in Tibet’ and ‘The Devil’s Own,’ but wasn’t pleased with either film. He considered the making of ‘The Devil’s Own’ particularly chaotic and unprofessional. Pitt was frustrated by alterations to the script and a lack of consistent leadership on set. Ultimately, he felt the final movies didn’t live up to the potential of the original stories he’d agreed to be a part of.

Colin Farrell

Colin Farrell starred as Sonny Crockett in Michael Mann’s film version of ‘Miami Vice,’ but he’s openly admitted he didn’t enjoy making it. He found the on-set environment oppressive, and this feeling was compounded by personal struggles he was facing at the time. He’s been consistently honest about his dislike for the movie ever since.

Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando became famous for his portrayal of Stanley Kowalski in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire,’ but he eventually grew to resent the role. He worried that it promoted a kind of forceful masculinity he didn’t admire and was bothered that audiences continued to identify him with the character throughout his career. He frequently attempted to break away from this image by acting unconventionally and choosing a wide variety of roles.

Tell us which of these actor reactions surprised you the most in the comments.

2026-02-07 16:27