Celebrities Who Openly Despise the Roles That Made Them Famous

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It’s surprisingly common for Hollywood actors to become famous for roles they actually didn’t enjoy. While these parts often bring financial success and open doors for future work, they can also become sources of long-term dissatisfaction. Some actors feel their most well-known characters were poorly written or didn’t allow them to showcase their full acting talent. This article looks at actors who have openly talked about their negative feelings towards the roles that made them famous.

Robert Pattinson

Robert Pattinson first gained widespread fame playing Edward Cullen in the ‘Twilight’ movies. However, he often jokingly criticized the character and the storylines while promoting the films, admitting he found the vampire’s behavior odd and the plot illogical. He was relieved when the series ended, allowing him to explore more challenging roles. Since then, Pattinson has focused on independent films to move away from the type of role that made him famous.

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford is best known for playing Han Solo in the ‘Star Wars’ films. Surprisingly, he actually asked for his character to be killed off as early as ‘Return of the Jedi,’ believing it would have made for a more powerful ending. Ford wasn’t a big fan of science fiction and generally preferred roles that felt more realistic. He also struggled with the way George Lucas wrote the dialogue, finding it hard to deliver naturally. When he reprised the role in ‘The Force Awakens,’ Han Solo finally got the ending Ford had envisioned for years.

Alec Guinness

Alec Guinness, famous for playing Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original ‘Star Wars’ film, didn’t enjoy making the movie. He thought the script was weak and found the whole process boring. He was also annoyed that ‘Star Wars’ became so popular, feeling it took attention away from his more respected acting roles. In fact, he even asked for his character to be killed off early to avoid being involved in future films. Guinness reportedly felt uncomfortable with how obsessed fans became with the series.

Sean Connery

Sean Connery was the original James Bond in the movies, but he later grew to dislike the role and the constant attention it brought. He even said he wanted his character to die in a film so he could move on. After appearing as Bond in seven films, Connery felt the public saw him as Bond, rather than as himself, and he spent much of his career trying to show his range as an actor beyond the famous spy.

Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl became a well-known actress after appearing in the popular romantic comedy ‘Knocked Up’. However, she later spoke out about the film, saying she felt it presented sexist ideas and showed women in a negative light. She believed her character was unfairly portrayed as less appealing than the male characters. These comments created tension with the film’s director and other actors, and unfortunately led to a reputation for being challenging to work with in Hollywood for a time.

Christopher Plummer

Christopher Plummer, known for playing Captain von Trapp in ‘The Sound of Music,’ actually didn’t enjoy making the film. He jokingly called it ‘The Sound of Mucus’ because he thought it was too sweet and sentimental. Plummer felt his role was unchallenging and dull, and he even confessed to drinking a lot during filming to get through it. It wasn’t until many years later that he began to recognize the film’s lasting cultural significance.

Jamie Dornan

Jamie Dornan became widely known for his role as Christian Grey in the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ movies. He’s talked about how uncomfortable he felt with the story’s themes and the constant attention on his body. Dornan has said he didn’t really connect with the character of the wealthy billionaire, and he’s often made light of how unusual some of the filming was. Since the movies ended, he’s been choosing more challenging and realistic roles.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox became famous for her role as Mikaela Banes in the first two ‘Transformers’ movies. She gained attention after comparing director Michael Bay to a dictator in an interview, which resulted in her not being asked back for the third film. Fox has spoken openly about feeling frustrated with being seen as just a sex symbol and wanting more substantial roles with deeper character development. She’s also discussed the challenges of being a young woman working on large-scale blockbuster films.

Shia LaBeouf

Shia LaBeouf became known for playing Sam Witwicky in the ‘Transformers’ movies, but he later said he wasn’t happy with how the sequels turned out. He thought they relied too much on special effects and lacked the emotional core of the first film. He also wasn’t pleased with his role in ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,’ feeling it didn’t meet fans’ expectations. He publicly apologized for his performance, admitting he hadn’t liked the script, which caused some friction with prominent directors like Steven Spielberg.

George Clooney

George Clooney starred as Batman in ‘Batman & Robin,’ a film he’s been jokingly apologizing for ever since. He often quips that his performance nearly killed off the superhero movie genre. Clooney felt the film prioritized toy sales over a good story, and he particularly disliked his Batman costume, famously known for its nipples. He’s since learned from the experience and now carefully considers scripts and directors before taking on a role.

Mark Wahlberg

You know, I really loved Mark Wahlberg in ‘Boogie Nights’. That performance as Dirk Diggler was incredible, and critics at the time totally agreed. But it’s always struck me how much he’s talked about struggling with the role later on. He’s mentioned hoping for forgiveness for being in a movie about the adult film industry, which I get – his faith is clearly important to him. It’s interesting to see how that’s shaped his career since then, moving towards more action and family-friendly films. He’s said his beliefs evolved, and the film didn’t really fit with where he was headed personally. Still, even with those feelings, that ‘Boogie Nights’ performance is consistently ranked as one of the best he’s ever given, and I think most film fans would agree.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry starred in the movie ‘Catwoman,’ which was widely disliked by both critics and viewers. Showing good humor, she actually showed up to accept her Razzie Award for Worst Actress, and during her acceptance speech, she jokingly thanked the studio for making such a bad film. Berry has admitted the movie was a mistake in her career, but she’s since laughed about it while continuing to thrive in other successful film series.

Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum has said he didn’t like the script for ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra’ when he starred in it. He felt obligated to do the film because of a previous contract requiring him to appear in multiple movies. He attempted to get out of the project several times, and even faced the threat of a lawsuit. Tatum was disappointed with the film, feeling it didn’t do justice to the toys he remembered fondly from his childhood. Since then, he’s taken more control of his work by producing his own films.

Matt Damon

Matt Damon starred in the first three ‘Bourne’ movies, but he wasn’t happy with the script for ‘The Bourne Ultimatum.’ He found it difficult to work with, and felt the movie was being made too quickly and without enough planning, which made his job harder. He almost quit the role because of these issues. Although he eventually reprised the character years later, he always emphasized how important a good script is.

Daniel Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe is best known for playing Harry Potter for ten years. He admits he struggles to watch ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ because he felt his acting was flat and he’d become too comfortable with the part. He’s spoken about the difficulties of growing up famous and being very critical of himself. Since then, Radcliffe has intentionally chosen varied and unusual roles in both theater and film to demonstrate his versatility as an actor.

Zac Efron

Zac Efron first became famous playing Troy Bolton in the ‘High School Musical’ movies. He later said he wished he’d made different choices about taking that role, as it led people to see him as a teen idol instead of a dedicated actor. He actively worked to change this perception by choosing more challenging and dramatic parts in films like ‘The Paperboy’. While he appreciates how ‘High School Musical’ launched his career, he’s largely moved away from that type of music and filmmaking.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus became famous playing Hannah Montana on Disney Channel. Later, she talked about struggling with body image issues because she felt pressured to appear as a flawless pop star while still very young. She felt the role kept her from being herself and expressing her creativity. After the show ended, she intentionally changed her image through her music and how she presented herself to the public. Cyrus has explained that the stress from the show continues to affect her mental well-being.

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez became famous as a young actress on the Disney Channel show ‘Wizards of Waverly Place,’ but she’s talked about how difficult it was to maintain a perfect public image. She often felt controlled and like she couldn’t be herself while working with Disney. Since then, she’s pursued more serious acting roles and a thriving music career, and she wants people to recognize her as a mature artist, not just a former child star.

Blake Lively

I always loved Blake Lively as Serena on ‘Gossip Girl,’ but she’s talked about how playing that character was actually pretty tough for her. She’s said Serena wasn’t someone she admired, and honestly, I get it! The show was all about gossip and appearances, and Blake herself wasn’t comfortable with that. She didn’t want to be linked to someone who consistently made questionable choices. That’s why it’s so great to see her taking on more complex and interesting roles in movies now – she really gets to show off her range as an actress.

Penn Badgley

Penn Badgley, known for playing Dan Humphrey on ‘Gossip Girl,’ often questioned the show’s plot and his character’s choices. He thought revealing his character’s secret was illogical and didn’t make sense. He’s frequently joked about the show in interviews promoting his newer work, admitting he was often annoyed by the writing and its emphasis on shallow storylines. Badgley has since achieved success with the series ‘You,’ where he plays a far more complicated and morally ambiguous character.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker is famous for playing Carrie Bradshaw in ‘Sex and the City.’ Although she loves the original show, she wasn’t happy with the second movie, feeling it didn’t measure up to the quality of the earlier stories. She understands why fans disliked the movie’s plot and how the characters were portrayed. Parker has continued playing Carrie in the show’s recent revival, hoping to address the issues with the previous film.

Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher is best known for playing Princess Leia in ‘Star Wars,’ a role that made her a movie icon, but it was a complex one for her. She often joked about the uncomfortable costumes and unusual hairstyle she had to wear in the original film. Fisher felt Leia was often relegated to being a helpless character or simply a supporting role in a story focused on men. The massive fame brought by the franchise also took a toll on her personal life and mental well-being. She used her humor and writing to explore her feelings about her time in the ‘Star Wars’ universe in her autobiographies.

Kelly Clarkson

As a huge Kelly Clarkson fan, I always feel bad hearing about her experience with ‘From Justin to Kelly’. Apparently, after winning the first ‘American Idol’, she was stuck making that movie because of her contract, and she really hated it! She’s said she even cried before filming started because she didn’t want to be an actress and thought the movie was a terrible idea for her career. She tried to get out of it, begging her team, but they made her finish it. It’s amazing to see how far she’s come since then – she’s become such a successful singer and TV host, it’s clear that movie didn’t define her!

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba, who played Susan Storm in the ‘Fantastic Four’ movies, had a difficult time during filming. She remembered a director prioritizing her looks over her performance, asking her to be ‘prettier’ even during a serious scene. This made her feel like her acting skills weren’t valued, and she almost quit acting altogether. Eventually, she stepped away from Hollywood to focus on building her own businesses, and later returned to acting when she felt ready.

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck, who played the main role in ‘Daredevil,’ has often talked about how much he disliked the movie. He felt it didn’t do justice to the comic book character he loved. He said making the film was a struggle and that the story felt unfocused. His disappointment with ‘Daredevil’ actually motivated him to pursue the role of Batman, hoping to get a second chance at a successful superhero film.

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt acted with Harrison Ford in ‘The Devil’s Own,’ but he wasn’t pleased with how the movie was made. He felt it was a poorly executed film and a case of filmmaking done carelessly. Pitt was especially bothered that the script wasn’t complete when they began filming, and he even thought about quitting, though he worried about potential legal issues if he did. Since then, Pitt has taken a much more active role in all stages of his projects, from development to final production.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger admits that ‘Red Sonja’ is the worst movie he’s ever been in. He’s even joked about making his kids watch it repeatedly as a punishment! He felt the story wasn’t very good and the movie just didn’t meet his usual high standards. He only took the role to help out a producer, but he quickly wished he hadn’t. Over the years, Schwarzenegger has often used ‘Red Sonja’ as a humorous example when talking about his career in Hollywood.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron appeared in the thriller ‘Reindeer Games,’ but later admitted it wasn’t a good film. She took the role primarily because she admired the director, John Frankenheimer, and hoped for a better outcome. Theron acknowledges that not all of her movies have been hits, but she soon followed ‘Reindeer Games’ with an Oscar-winning performance in ‘Monster’.

James Franco

James Franco appeared in the comedy ‘Your Highness,’ but the film wasn’t successful with critics or audiences. He later acknowledged the movie didn’t work as well as he’d hoped, feeling it was overly focused on itself and didn’t resonate with viewers. Franco has often been open about taking risks with his career, and accepting the occasional failure. Since then, he’s shifted his focus towards directing and producing his own independent films.

Colin Farrell

Colin Farrell, who played a leading role in the ‘Miami Vice’ movie, has admitted he wasn’t a fan of the film. He found the whole process of making it challenging and felt the story wasn’t strong enough. At the time, he was also dealing with personal issues, which colored his opinion. He thought the movie took itself too seriously and didn’t capture the cool, stylish vibe of the original TV show. Since then, Farrell has been widely praised for his performances in smaller, more focused films.

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone famously starred in the comedy ‘Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot,’ but he’s always considered it a terrible film – one of the worst ever made, in his opinion. He later revealed he only accepted the role because he thought Arnold Schwarzenegger was also interested in it. It turned out Schwarzenegger had deliberately spread that rumor to get Stallone to take the part! Stallone has since joked about the prank, and considers the movie a definite low point in his career as an action star.

Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke played the villain Whiplash in ‘Iron Man 2’ but was unhappy with how the movie turned out. He felt the studio significantly altered his performance and removed the nuance he’d worked hard to create for the character. Rourke believed the producers preferred a straightforward villain instead of a more layered and complex one. Since then, he’s generally avoided working on large-scale studio films.

Paul Bettany

Paul Bettany originally voiced the character J.A.R.V.I.S. in the first ‘Iron Man’ movies, before later playing Vision. He jokingly described his early work as feeling like getting paid a lot of money for very little effort. For several years, he didn’t even watch the films he was a part of. He felt that voice acting was a bit separate from traditional acting, but he became more engaged with the ‘Iron Man’ universe once he started appearing on screen as a physical character.

Bill Murray

Bill Murray famously voiced Garfield, but he initially took the job because of a mix-up. He believed the script was written by Joel Coen, one half of the Coen brothers directing duo, when it was actually written by someone else named Joel Cohen. Murray didn’t discover the error until he started recording his lines. He’s since playfully referenced the mistake in interviews and even made a joke about it during a cameo in ‘Zombieland.’ He’s said the experience taught him a valuable lesson about always checking the credits.

Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey starred as Colonel Stars and Stripes in ‘Kick-Ass 2,’ but later distanced himself from the film before it came out. He explained that a real-life school shooting made him reconsider the movie’s intense violence. Carrey felt he could no longer support such graphic content and chose not to participate in promoting the film or giving interviews. While he respected the work of his colleagues, he stood by his decision.

Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore, known for her role in the popular movie ‘A Walk to Remember,’ has admitted she feels a bit embarrassed when she looks back at her early work as an actress and singer. She felt inexperienced and unsure of herself during those early roles, and cringes at the overly-produced image she presented as a pop star. Since her teen years, Moore has worked diligently to be recognized as a skilled dramatic actress, and has received critical praise for her leading role in the series ‘This Is Us’.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow has publicly admitted she made a mistake starring in the romantic comedy ‘View from the Top,’ calling it a bad movie. She took the role simply for the paycheck and didn’t think the story or jokes were very good. Paltrow has often spoken about films she regrets doing earlier in her career. Now, she mainly focuses on her lifestyle brand, Goop, and appears occasionally in Marvel movies.

Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer, known for her successful career and multiple Oscar nominations, has confessed she disliked her role in ‘Grease 2’ when it first came out. She thought the sequel didn’t live up to the original and felt it lacked the same appeal. Being early in her career, she also felt a lack of guidance on set. She was actually surprised that the film didn’t derail her career, and she went on to become a highly respected actress in Hollywood.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds starred in the movie ‘Green Lantern,’ which wasn’t well-received by critics or audiences. For the past ten years, he’s jokingly referenced the film in interviews and even in his ‘Deadpool’ movies. Reynolds felt the movie suffered from a weak script and an over-reliance on visual effects. He’s openly expressed his relief that a sequel never happened, and he used the experience as a learning opportunity to make ‘Deadpool’ a more meaningful and personal project.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in ‘The Help,’ but she now regrets being a part of the film. She believes the movie prioritized the stories of white characters over the experiences of the Black maids it depicted, and that their true voices weren’t fully represented. Davis has said she feels she compromised her principles and let down her community by participating in a story that didn’t feel complete. Since then, she’s become a strong voice for more genuine and accurate portrayals in Hollywood.

Idris Elba

Idris Elba became well-known for his role as Stringer Bell on ‘The Wire,’ but he has mixed feelings about how the character is remembered. He worried that some viewers admired Stringer Bell without acknowledging his violent behavior. After ‘The Wire,’ Elba actively sought roles that weren’t just criminals or tough characters, wanting to avoid being typecast. He’s also been open about disliking his experience working on ‘Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance,’ describing it as challenging. Overall, Elba has intentionally chosen diverse roles to demonstrate his acting abilities beyond his initial success on television.

Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet is famous worldwide for playing Rose in ‘Titanic,’ but she’s often been self-critical about her performance. She admits she feels embarrassed when she hears her American accent in the movie. The sudden and intense fame after ‘Titanic’ was also difficult for her, and she spent years working on smaller, more artistic films to demonstrate her acting range. While she now accepts the film’s lasting impact, she still isn’t easy on her younger self.

Jason Momoa

Jason Momoa, who played Conan in the 2011 reboot, has openly criticized the film, calling it a failure. He felt the movie didn’t do justice to the original story, despite his own dedication to preparing for the role and his love for the source material. He explained that even strong acting isn’t enough to save a film with a flawed overall concept. Momoa later achieved much greater recognition and success playing Aquaman in the DC films.

Sally Field

Sally Field, known for her powerful performances, played Aunt May in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ movies, but she found the role somewhat unsatisfying. She accepted it as a personal favor and to continue working with a producer she greatly respected. Field felt the character wasn’t developed enough and lacked a strong personality, playfully noting in interviews that it’s hard to portray depth in a character primarily confined to the home. She remains highly regarded for her more complex and rewarding roles in film and television.

Andrew Garfield

Andrew Garfield starred as Spider-Man in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ movies, but he became unhappy with how much the studio controlled the creative process. He felt they prioritized building the franchise over staying true to the character’s core values, which was upsetting for him. He struggled with the demands of making a big-budget blockbuster and longed for more artistic freedom. Later, he revisited the role in another film and felt he was finally able to portray Spider-Man in a way that felt right, bringing him a sense of resolution.

Emilia Clarke

Emilia Clarke has spoken openly about her challenging experience making ‘Terminator Genisys.’ She described a stressful set and a difficult working relationship with the director, and felt the film didn’t measure up to the quality of the earlier ‘Terminator’ movies. She was reportedly happy when plans for sequels were scrapped, avoiding the need to reprise her role. Since then, Clarke has concentrated on completing ‘Game of Thrones’ and taking on a variety of different film projects.

Shailene Woodley

Shailene Woodley played a main role on the TV show ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’ for five years. Later, she shared that she started to have concerns about the show’s direction, feeling the storylines became predictable and didn’t match her own beliefs. Even though she was unhappy with the writing, she was obligated to complete her contract. Since then, Woodley has focused on film projects that better reflect her values and creative vision.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, known for his role in ‘500 Days of Summer,’ has often discussed how audiences misunderstand his character. He emphasizes that the character is actually self-centered and misinterprets the actions of a woman who was upfront with him. Gordon-Levitt wants viewers to see the film as a warning about unrealistic expectations in relationships, not a typical love story. For years, he’s used social media to point out his character’s flaws and continues to seek out roles in films that break from traditional narratives.

Allison Williams

Allison Williams, known for her role as Marnie Michaels in ‘Girls’, frequently discussed her frustration with the character’s decisions. She felt Marnie was self-absorbed and often didn’t realize her own flaws throughout the series. While she appreciated the acting challenge, Williams found it tough to play someone who consistently made irritating choices and was glad to take on different roles after the show ended. She’s since found success in horror films, including ‘Get Out’.

Evangeline Lilly

Evangeline Lilly gained recognition for her role as Kate Austen on ‘Lost,’ but she wasn’t entirely happy with how the character evolved. Initially, Kate was portrayed as a strong, independent woman, but Lilly felt she increasingly became defined by her romantic relationships. She was particularly frustrated with the love triangle that took over her storyline in the later seasons, even finding herself annoyed with Kate’s choices as she read the scripts. After ‘Lost’ ended, Lilly stepped away from acting for a while before later joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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2026-02-25 16:22