Actresses Who Hated Being Labeled “Sex Symbols” On-Screen

I’ve always been struck by how often actors, especially women in Hollywood, are judged more for how they look than for their actual talent. It seems like being called a ‘sex symbol’ can bring quick fame, but it often means people don’t see you as a serious artist or acknowledge your intelligence. So many actresses have talked about how uncomfortable it is to be constantly viewed that way, and how the industry values looks over skill. But I’m really inspired by these twenty women who managed to break free from that image and take control of their careers, defining themselves on their own terms.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway recently talked about the intense pressure she faced to look a certain way while playing Catwoman in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’. She found being seen as a sex symbol during the movie’s promotion to be draining and emotionally difficult. Hathaway has often spoken out about Hollywood’s unrealistic beauty expectations, which often value being thin more than an actor’s well-being. Now, she prioritizes roles that allow her to grow as an actress, rather than just focusing on her appearance.

Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot became world-famous after starring in ‘And God Created Woman,’ but she quickly grew to dislike the attention. She felt trapped by her image as a “sex symbol,” believing it robbed her of her privacy and dignity. At 39, she left acting to escape an industry she felt treated her like a product, and instead devoted her life to advocating for animal rights, completely abandoning her career as a film star.

Cameron Diaz

You know, I always felt bad for Cameron Diaz. After ‘The Mask,’ everyone just saw this super cute, bubbly thing, and it was tough for people to see her as a real actress. She spent years trying to prove she could do more than just rom-coms, taking on challenging roles in movies like ‘Being John Malkovich.’ She’s talked about how frustrating it was being labeled a ‘sex symbol’ and how she had to carefully manage that image if she wanted a lasting career. Ultimately, she decided to step away from acting to focus on her life outside of movies and pursue other things she was passionate about, which I totally respect.

Charlize Theron

Early in her career, Charlize Theron felt her good looks often prevented her from being considered for serious, challenging roles. She famously changed her appearance dramatically for the film ‘Monster,’ winning an Oscar and proving she could play characters far removed from the glamorous image she’d built as a model and actress. Theron has said being seen as a sex symbol can limit an actress, making it hard for directors to recognize her full range. She continues to choose roles – and produce films – where she can explore complex characters with both physical and emotional depth, rather than just playing the typical Hollywood beauty.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor was widely considered one of the most beautiful women ever, but she felt this overshadowed her skills as an actress. She challenged the traditional Hollywood studio system, pushing for roles that allowed her to showcase her talent, like her acclaimed performance in ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’. For that role, she deliberately gained weight and altered her appearance to demonstrate her commitment to serious acting. Ultimately, she hoped to be remembered for her acting and her charity work, not just her striking violet eyes.

Emilia Clarke

Emilia Clarke experienced a lot of pressure to perform nude scenes during the first seasons of ‘Game of Thrones’. She later shared that she felt forced into some of those scenes and found it difficult to deal with being seen as a sex symbol. Eventually, Clarke pushed for more say in how her body was portrayed and stopped doing nude scenes in later seasons. Since then, she’s been a strong voice for better safeguards and the use of intimacy coordinators to protect young actresses in the entertainment industry.

Helen Mirren

For decades, Helen Mirren has been seen as a sex symbol, but she’s always pushed back against the media’s focus on her looks. Back in the 1970s, she famously challenged interviewers who were more interested in her appearance than her work with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Mirren has said being labeled a ‘sex symbol’ was limiting and frustrating for actresses trying to build varied and lasting careers. Even with that label, she managed to move into playing strong, complex characters, as seen in films like ‘The Queen’.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence frequently jokes about the constant focus on her appearance, but she’s also spoken honestly about her discomfort with being labeled a “sex symbol.” She’s criticized the pressure to be thin for roles, like in ‘The Hunger Games,’ worried about the example it set for young people. Lawrence wants to be remembered for her talent as an actress, not just her looks on the red carpet. She continues to be a strong voice for body acceptance and fairer standards in Hollywood.

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba felt typecast as a sex symbol early in her career, with roles in films like ‘Into the Blue’ and ‘Sin City’. She was frustrated that Hollywood seemed more interested in her looks and ethnicity than in her talent as an actress. This led her to take a break from acting and start her own company, The Honest Company. Alba wanted to be recognized for her business acumen and intelligence, not just her physical appearance.

Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet has consistently spoken out against the media’s focus on women’s appearances and its tendency to judge them based on attractiveness. Following the huge popularity of ‘Titanic’, she intentionally chose roles in smaller, independent films like ‘Holy Smoke!’ to move away from the typical glamorous leading lady image. Known for her commitment to realism, Winslet has often asked that her photos not be digitally altered, hoping to present a more genuine portrayal of herself and encourage healthier beauty standards. She values the honesty and imperfections of her characters more than conforming to traditional Hollywood expectations.

Margot Robbie

As a huge movie fan, I always find it interesting to hear about what goes on behind the scenes. I recently read that Margot Robbie wasn’t thrilled with Harley Quinn’s costume in ‘Suicide Squad.’ She felt it was overly revealing and seemed designed to appeal to the audience’s gaze rather than making sense for the character herself. That’s why, when she became a producer on ‘Birds of Prey,’ she made a point of giving Harley a more practical and empowering wardrobe. It’s awesome that she’s so passionate about making sure female characters have control over how they look and how their stories are told – it makes a real difference on screen!

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe often wished people would appreciate her as a serious actress, not just for her looks. She worked hard at the Actors Studio, hoping to move beyond the silly, stereotypical roles she played in films like ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’. She felt Hollywood focused too much on her appearance, which hid her intelligence and dedication to acting. This conflict between her public image and who she really was was a constant and heartbreaking part of her life and career.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox has openly discussed feeling uncomfortable with how she was portrayed as a sex symbol early in her career. She pinpointed her time working on the ‘Transformers’ movies as a key moment, realizing how the overly sexualized image led to her being objectified by the media and those in the film industry. This experience ultimately led her to move away from big-budget films so she could take back control of how the public saw her.

Natalie Portman

As a critic, I’ve always admired Natalie Portman’s talent, but hearing her speak about her experiences after ‘Léon: The Professional’ was truly eye-opening. She described how the media immediately sexualized her, a 13-year-old girl, and how damaging that felt – like her safety was compromised. It was fascinating to learn how she deliberately chose roles that weren’t overtly sexual, and prioritized her education at Harvard, as a way to regain control during a time when she was constantly being objectified. And it’s no surprise she’s a strong advocate for movements like Time’s Up; she clearly wants to ensure no other young woman in the industry has to go through what she did.

Pamela Anderson

For years, Pamela Anderson was known mostly for her role on ‘Baywatch’ and as a sex symbol. Recently, she’s taken control of her own narrative with a memoir and documentary, explaining how that label felt limiting and like a role she had to play. Anderson has shared that she often felt unseen as a person, with the world focusing solely on her appearance. Now, she’s embracing a more natural style and dedicating herself to writing and advocating for animal rights.

Raquel Welch

Raquel Welch became famous for a scene in ‘One Million Years B.C.’ where she wore a fur bikini, but she felt this moment overshadowed her abilities as an actress. For years, she tried to prove to directors that she was capable of more than just playing a beautiful woman, and wanted to be recognized for her comedic and dramatic skills. Welch often said being seen as a sex symbol was a challenging, unintended role. She worked hard to be taken seriously and maintain her respect within an industry that frequently focused solely on her appearance.

Salma Hayek

As a lifelong movie fan, I was really struck by what Salma Hayek shared about her experiences in Hollywood. She talked about how, as a Latina actress, she constantly faced being typecast in overly sexualized roles. It was frustrating for her – and honestly, as a viewer, it’s frustrating to see – because producers would often assume she wasn’t intelligent or capable of carrying a film, simply because of her looks. That’s why ‘Frida’ was such a passion project for her – she fought for years to get it made so she could finally show her range as an actress and express her creative vision. And she’s still working hard to push for more complex and meaningful roles for women from all backgrounds, which I think is fantastic.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson has spoken out about how her character, Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff), was first presented in ‘Iron Man 2’. She felt the initial portrayal focused too much on her appearance and treated her as a sex symbol instead of a complex person. Over the next ten years, she collaborated with Marvel to develop Black Widow into a more well-rounded and powerful character. Johansson has consistently championed stronger and more empowering roles for women in superhero movies, emphasizing skill and leadership over appearance.

Sharon Stone

After her breakout role in ‘Basic Instinct,’ Sharon Stone found it difficult to be taken seriously as an actress. For years, she struggled to find parts that weren’t based on the seductive and dangerous character she played in that film. Stone has often discussed how Hollywood judges women differently than men when it comes to age and sexuality. She strongly believes that an actress’s talent and versatility should be just as valued as her appearance.

Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren frequently emphasized how important it was to be acknowledged for her background in Naples and her skills as an actress. Although famous for her beauty worldwide, she was particularly proud of roles, like the one in ‘Two Women,’ that allowed her to portray genuine, unfiltered emotions. Loren felt that real attractiveness came from a person’s inner self and disliked being seen as simply a pretty face in films. She consistently focused on perfecting her craft, and ultimately received an Academy Award that confirmed her talent extended far beyond her looks.

We’d love to hear your opinion: which actress do you think did the best job of changing how people saw her? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

2026-01-15 14:56