Actresses Who Openly Despise the Roles That Made Them Famous

Some actors are proud of the roles that made them famous, but others come to dislike or even regret them. Difficult filming experiences, clashes with directors, or problems with a project’s message can all lead to these negative feelings. Sometimes, a hugely popular role creates a public image that an actor struggles to escape for years. Throughout film history, many well-known actresses have openly discussed their disappointment with the performances that brought them fame.

Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl publicly shared her concerns about the 2007 comedy ‘Knocked Up’ soon after it came out. She felt the movie relied on sexist tropes, depicting female characters as overly stressed and lacking a sense of humor. Despite the film’s huge success and its role in establishing her as a prominent actress, Heigl found it challenging to play her character, Alison Scott. Her comments created lasting friction with director Judd Apatow and co-star Seth Rogen. Later, she explained that while she had a good experience filming, she disagreed with how the movie portrayed men and women.

Shailene Woodley

Shailene Woodley is well-known for her five seasons on the popular show ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager.’ As the series went on, she became uncomfortable with the storylines and the messages they conveyed, finding them didn’t align with her own beliefs. Being bound by contract to say lines she didn’t agree with was difficult for her as a young actress. She’s said the experience helped her understand what she didn’t want in future projects. However, the role was ultimately what launched her career and introduced her to a wider audience.

Blake Lively

Blake Lively became well-known for her role as Serena van der Woodsen on ‘Gossip Girl,’ but she’s often said playing the character felt like a trade-off. She felt Serena’s actions were often reckless and didn’t align with her own values. Lively has pointed out it can be tricky for viewers to separate her from a character who frequently makes poor decisions. While she found playing Serena for six years a bit monotonous, ‘Gossip Girl’ remains a beloved and iconic show from the 2000s.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus has often discussed the negative impact of her role on the Disney Channel’s ‘Hannah Montana.’ She explained that portraying a character with a double life caused her to struggle with body image issues and a confused sense of who she really was. The pressure to appear flawless as a pop star during her teenage years created a lot of stress even after filming ended. Eventually, Cyrus intentionally changed her music and public image to separate herself from the character. While the show gave her a huge career boost, she admits it also significantly harmed her mental well-being.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox first gained widespread recognition through the ‘Transformers’ movies, but her career there was complicated by a public disagreement with director Michael Bay. She criticized Bay’s directing style, drawing comparisons to dictators, and was subsequently not included in the third film. Fox also felt the films focused too much on her appearance as Mikaela Banes, rather than her talent as an actress. While ‘Transformers’ brought her fame, she’s often talked about how it also led to her being seen as only able to play certain types of roles. Even with the controversy, she’s still best known for her work in those early ‘Transformers’ films.

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba almost quit acting after a difficult experience on the set of ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.’ Director Tim Story reportedly asked her to look “prettier” while she was attempting a realistic, emotional scene, which made her doubt her abilities and her future in acting. Alba felt the film prioritized her appearance over her performance as Susan Storm. This negative experience led her to focus on becoming an entrepreneur and to be much more careful about the roles she chose.

Dakota Johnson

Dakota Johnson became famous for her role in the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ movies, but she’s described making them as a chaotic experience. There were frequent clashes between the book’s author and the filmmakers, leading to constant changes in the film’s direction. Johnson has said that disagreements about how to tell the story created a challenging work environment. Though she doesn’t regret taking the role, she’s been open about how strange and uncomfortable filming the intimate scenes often was. Afterwards, she focused on independent films to show her abilities as an actress beyond the character of Anastasia Steele.

Kate Winslet

Even though ‘Titanic’ was a massive box office success, Kate Winslet isn’t a fan of her own performance in it. She’s often said her American accent in the film was terrible and that she struggles to watch herself as Rose DeWitt Bukater. She even admits the constant airplay of the theme song, “My Heart Will Go On,” makes her feel nauseous. While she’s remained good friends with Leonardo DiCaprio, she prefers to highlight her more recent, complex roles. Her criticism is about her own acting in the film, not the movie itself.

Sally Field

Sally Field has said she wasn’t particularly inspired by her role as Aunt May in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man.’ She explained that she took the part mostly as a personal favor to a friend, producer Laura Ziskin, who was fighting cancer. Field felt the character wasn’t developed enough and it was hard to deliver a compelling performance within the typical superhero movie format. She’s been open about the fact that the role wasn’t artistically rewarding, but many fans enjoyed the warmth she brought to the character during the films with Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry famously accepted her Razzie Award for ‘Catwoman’ in person, using the opportunity to playfully criticize the film. Holding her Oscar, she jokingly thanked the studio for casting her in what she called a “terrible” movie. Berry has often discussed the film’s shortcomings, particularly its weak script. Though intended to launch a big franchise, ‘Catwoman’ was a critical and financial failure. By being able to laugh at the movie, Berry managed to protect her image despite its poor performance.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow has often described her 2003 movie, ‘View from the Top,’ as a failure. She played a woman from a small town who wanted to be a flight attendant, but has since said she took the role for the wrong reasons. Paltrow considers it the worst movie she’s ever made and would prefer people forget about it. The film was poorly received by critics and didn’t do well in theaters, and felt like a step down for an Oscar-winning actress like herself.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron hasn’t hidden her feelings about the 2000 movie ‘Reindeer Games’ – she’s openly said she didn’t think it was a good film and wishes she hadn’t done it. She accepted the role hoping to work with director John Frankenheimer, but was ultimately disappointed with how it turned out. The movie was poorly received by critics, and Theron has since prioritized more challenging and meaningful roles. She now sees the film as a valuable lesson early in her career.

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner apparently didn’t think much of her 2005 movie, ‘Elektra.’ Her former co-star, Michael Vartan, shared that she called it “awful” while they were filming ‘Alias.’ The movie was made because of a contract she had after appearing in ‘Daredevil.’ Critics didn’t like ‘Elektra,’ and it didn’t do well in theaters, which Garner reportedly expected while making it. She’s gone on to star in more successful films, but ‘Elektra’ remains a memorable role in her career.

Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer has confessed she really disliked working on ‘Grease 2,’ explaining she only took the part because she was young and needed the job. She called the movie a misstep and was shocked by how much she didn’t like it when it came out. Pfeiffer felt she wasn’t skilled enough as an actress to handle the difficulties of making the film. Although ‘Grease 2’ later became a cult classic, Pfeiffer’s career really flourished when she started taking on more dramatic roles, like the one in ‘Scarface.’ She’s often made light of spending the early 1980s trying to distance herself from the musical sequel.

Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis hasn’t been shy about her dislike for the 1999 sci-fi horror film ‘Virus’. She’s openly called it terrible and admitted she only took the role for the money. Curtis has explained that the movie’s production was difficult and the final result didn’t live up to its potential. She even jokes that it’s so bad, it’s a good excuse to stay in! Despite being a horror icon, she considers ‘Virus’ the low point of her career.

Cher

Despite many fans enjoying the 2010 film ‘Burlesque’, Cher has repeatedly expressed her disappointment with it. She felt the director didn’t make the most of the cast’s abilities and that the finished movie was very different from what she originally expected. Cher specifically criticized the weak storyline and the lack of development for her character, which hadn’t been what she was promised. She’s been open about finding the experience frustrating and considers the film itself to be subpar, even though her own performance received positive reviews.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg reluctantly starred in the 1995 movie ‘Theodore Rex’ because of a legal battle. She initially agreed to be in the film, but when she read the script, she tried to withdraw. The producers then sued her for $20 million, ultimately forcing her to fulfill her contract to avoid a huge financial penalty. Goldberg has openly said she disliked the movie and only finished it because she had no other choice. The film, which is about a dinosaur working as a police officer, was poorly received by critics and released directly to video in the US.

Mischa Barton

Mischa Barton has said she regrets being on the popular show ‘The O.C.’. She explained that the show’s huge success and the constant media attention were overwhelming when she was young. Barton felt her character, Marissa Cooper, was stuck in a never-ending loop of difficult experiences, which was draining to act out. Ultimately, she decided to leave the series, leading to her character’s death and a change in her career. Looking back, Barton thinks she might have chosen not to take the role to avoid the intense public attention.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis has often said she regrets being in the 2011 movie ‘The Help,’ even though she was nominated for an Oscar for her role. She believes the film didn’t truly focus on the experiences of the Black women it portrayed. Davis has explained that the movie was told from a white point of view and mainly aimed to satisfy a white audience’s understanding of the Civil Rights era. She felt the voices of her character and other Black characters weren’t fully represented in the script, and this realization has made her more careful about the projects she chooses as an actress and producer.

Shelley Duvall

Shelley Duvall’s time filming ‘The Shining’ is well-known for being incredibly challenging and emotionally draining. Director Stanley Kubrick relentlessly pushed her, especially during the famous scene with the baseball bat, which they filmed over 100 times. Duvall has described how isolating the experience was and the constant anxiety she felt. The stress severely impacted her health, leading her to take a long break from acting afterward. Despite the film being a classic, Duvall connects it with a very painful time in her life.

Rooney Mara

Rooney Mara has openly discussed how unhappy she was while filming the 2010 remake of ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’. She even considered quitting acting altogether because of it. Mara felt the film lacked imagination and was a creatively stifling experience. Fortunately, she quickly landed the starring role in ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’, which reminded her why she loved acting. Since then, she’s focused on more independent and artistic films, steering clear of large-scale horror franchises.

Miriam Margolyes

Miriam Margolyes, known for playing Professor Sprout in the ‘Harry Potter’ films, has said she doesn’t consider them particularly significant. She’s puzzled by the continued enthusiasm fans have for the series and admits she doesn’t understand the ongoing hype. Margolyes has been open about doing the films purely for financial reasons, stating she never felt a personal connection to the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling. She’s even told some adult fans to move on and stop being so focused on the franchise. This straightforward and honest approach is typical of her public image, despite the series’ immense popularity.

Elizabeth Berkley

As a film buff, I remember the fallout after ‘Showgirls’ came out in ’95 – it was rough for Elizabeth Berkley. The movie was panned by critics, and honestly, it was pretty explicit, which led to her getting dropped by her agency. For years, she was the target of a lot of jokes about her performance, but she always maintained she was just following the director’s very specific style. It was so damaging that she actually stepped away from acting for a while to recover. It’s interesting now, because she’s come to terms with the film’s cult following, but she’s still very honest about how incredibly hurtful the initial reaction was.

Zoe Saldaña

Zoe Saldaña had a difficult time filming ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’. She felt the atmosphere on set was exclusive and that the film’s leaders didn’t treat her with respect. This experience was so upsetting that she almost stopped acting altogether. However, Saldaña learned a valuable lesson about how she expected to be treated on set, and her career eventually rebounded with successful roles in films like ‘Avatar’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’.

Emily Blunt

Okay, so as a movie fan, I always found it fascinating to learn about the behind-the-scenes stuff. Apparently, Emily Blunt had a really tough situation with ‘Gulliver’s Travels.’ She was basically obligated to do it because of a previous deal with 20th Century Fox. It meant she had to pass on the chance to play Black Widow in ‘Iron Man 2,’ which she was really disappointed about – she’s said it broke her heart! She’s been pretty open about how she didn’t want to be in that movie and found the whole experience frustrating, even though she was professional about it. Thankfully, it didn’t derail her career. She’s become a huge star now, and it’s clear she’s really careful about the projects she chooses, which is awesome to see.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey has often joked about and tried to distance herself from her 2001 movie, ‘Glitter.’ The film was a major disappointment with critics and audiences, and came at a tough time in her life. She’s described that period as confusing and would often avoid saying the film’s name, calling it “the G-word.” Interestingly, while the movie itself flopped, its soundtrack has become popular with her fans over time.

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts apparently struggled during the filming of the 1991 movie ‘Hook,’ leading to a difficult working relationship with director Steven Spielberg. The crew jokingly nicknamed her “Tinkerhell” due to her behavior. At the time, Roberts was going through personal challenges that reportedly impacted how she acted professionally. Spielberg later acknowledged that the timing wasn’t ideal for them to collaborate. Despite the film’s success, Roberts hasn’t often spoken positively about the experience in the years since.

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan has always disliked the 2007 thriller ‘I Know Who Killed Me.’ She even told a fan online to “stop” mentioning it, because she hated the film. The movie was a critical failure, winning eight Golden Raspberry Awards – including Worst Actress for Lohan – and significantly damaged her reputation after a period of successful teen comedies. Since then, Lohan has mostly avoided talking about the film.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman has said she found it difficult to watch herself in the 2008 film ‘Australia.’ She felt disconnected from her performance and believed she hadn’t acted well. Kidman was so unhappy with the movie that she apparently left a screening early. Despite still respecting director Baz Luhrmann, she was very critical of her own work in the film and has since focused on roles in smaller, more critically praised projects.

Eva Mendes

You know, as much as I love movies, I’ve always felt a little bad for Eva Mendes when people talk about ‘Ghost Rider.’ She’s been really open about how that experience wasn’t what she hoped for creatively – she didn’t feel the movie really clicked, and honestly, she found all the CGI stuff pretty draining as an actress. It makes sense why she shifted gears after that, focusing on smaller, more interesting projects and building her fashion line. I really respect her honesty about it all; it’s cool that she wasn’t afraid to say it wasn’t her favorite experience, and a lot of fans and critics seem to agree!

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence has said she regrets making the film ‘Passengers,’ admitting she should have taken her friend Adele’s advice and turned down the role. She understands fans were disappointed with the movie and feels she didn’t deliver what they expected. Lawrence has described the script as weak and felt pressured into doing the film for the sake of maintaining her public profile, rather than for artistic reasons. She now wants to concentrate on projects with stronger stories and more relatable characters. ‘Passengers’ is one of the few films she’s publicly criticized.

Amy Adams

Amy Adams has openly said she took the main role in the movie ‘Leap Year’ mostly because she wanted to film in Ireland and have a fun, easy job at the time. While she enjoyed the experience, she later admitted the movie wasn’t her best work and didn’t really stretch her as an actress. Known for her powerful, serious roles, ‘Leap Year’ is a bit of an exception in her filmography. She sees it as a specific point in her career, rather than a standout achievement.

Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone is still upset about the now-famous interrogation scene in the movie ‘Basic Instinct’. She says director Paul Verhoeven didn’t tell her exactly how much nudity would be shown, and she didn’t realize the full extent of it until she saw the film in a crowded theater. This led to a heated argument between her and the director at a screening. Although the role launched her to international fame, Stone has continued to feel uncomfortable with the controversy surrounding that scene.

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder has described the 2000 film ‘Lost Souls’ as a project she regretted being a part of. She explained that the production process was difficult and the final script differed significantly from what she originally anticipated. Ryder believed the movie was a typical horror film that didn’t challenge her as an actress. The film wasn’t successful with critics or audiences, and Ryder subsequently became more careful about choosing her roles. She has rarely discussed the film in later interviews or when looking back at her career.

Glenn Close

Glenn Close has often spoken about her disappointment with how the movie ‘Fatal Attraction’ (1987) ended up. The original script had her character, Alex Forrest, commit suicide, but viewers who saw early test screenings preferred a more dramatic and violent showdown. Close disagreed with this change, believing it simplified Alex’s complex personality and made her seem like a typical villain in a horror film. Although she ultimately filmed the revised ending, she still thinks the original was better. Despite her reservations, the film was hugely successful and became a defining example of the psychological thriller genre.

Faye Dunaway

Faye Dunaway is well-known for disliking the film ‘Mommie Dearest’, where she portrayed Joan Crawford. Though the movie has become a beloved cult classic, Dunaway felt it harmed her career by undermining her image as a serious actress. For decades, she’s rarely spoken about the film, often avoiding questions about it in interviews. She felt her performance was overly dramatic and that the public’s reaction reduced her to a caricature. Despite its enduring popularity as a ‘guilty pleasure’ film, Dunaway remains frustrated by its legacy.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker has openly admitted that ‘Sex and the City 2’ didn’t quite live up to expectations, and that many fans didn’t enjoy it. While she stands by the effort everyone put in, she recognizes the movie strayed from what made the original series so popular, feeling out of touch with the characters people loved. Parker has been honest about the sequel being a disappointment, but she ultimately decided to revisit the role in the show ‘And Just Like That…’

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren has often said that making the 1979 film ‘Caligula’ was the most awkward experience of her career. The movie became famous for its explicit scenes, which the producer added after filming, and weren’t part of the original artistic vision. Mirren believes these additions ruined the film’s integrity and has frequently described the production as chaotic and confusing. Although ‘Caligula’ is remembered for being boldly unconventional, Mirren still regrets being involved.

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie has said she didn’t enjoy everything about playing Harley Quinn in ‘Suicide Squad’. She particularly disliked the very short shorts her character wore, feeling they were designed to be sexy rather than practical, and made even worse by the cold and physically demanding filming conditions. Although she loves the character and has continued to portray her, Robbie advocated for more comfortable and practical costumes in subsequent films, hoping to move away from the character being overly sexualized.

Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher had a complicated connection to ‘Star Wars’ and the character of Princess Leia, which became central to her life and identity. She often joked about the downsides of the role, like the hours it took to create her iconic ‘cinnamon bun’ hairstyle and how it affected her appearance. She famously quipped that George Lucas insisted Princess Leia wear no underwear in space, claiming bras didn’t exist in that galaxy. While she accepted being a science fiction icon, Fisher frequently discussed how the character’s fame overshadowed other aspects of her career and personality. Her honest and humorous take on the franchise ultimately became a defining part of how the public saw her.

Tell us in the comments which of these actresses’ admissions surprised you the most.

2026-02-26 05:52