Not every actor loves the role that made them famous. While audiences may adore these iconic movie characters, the actors behind them often have a different story to tell, whether it was due to grueling filming conditions, creative conflicts, or simply disliking the character itself. Here are 14 famous movie characters that their own actors secretly despised.
Robert Pattinson – Edward Cullen, Twilight Series, 2008-2012
While Twilight fans swooned over the brooding vampire Edward Cullen, Robert Pattinson himself was not impressed. He openly criticized the character for being “too perfect” and “creepy,” even joking that if he were not in the movie, he would probably make fun of it. Pattinson has since distanced himself from the franchise, leaning into more critically acclaimed roles.
Alec Guinness – Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars, 1977
Sir Alec Guinness may have played the wise and legendary Jedi Master, but he had little love for Star Wars. He found the dialogue unbearable, called the film’s story “rubbish” and reportedly got so annoyed with fans that he once refused to give an autograph unless a young fan promised never to watch Star Wars again. Despite his disdain, his performance remains one of the most beloved in the franchise.
Harrison Ford – Han Solo, Star Wars Series, 1977-2015
Han Solo might be one of the coolest characters in cinematic history, but Harrison Ford was not as attached to the role as fans were. He felt the character lacked depth and even begged George Lucas to kill off Han Solo in Return of the Jedi to give him a more meaningful ending. When Ford finally got his wish in The Force Awakens, he seemed relieved to put the character behind him.
Sean Connery – James Bond, 007 Series, 1962-1971, 1983
Sean Connery may have defined the role of James Bond, but he quickly grew tired of it. He disliked the overwhelming fame that came with playing 007 and was frustrated with being typecast, once saying, “I have always hated that damned James Bond.” Despite this, he returned for Diamonds Are Forever, 1971 and later Never Say Never Again, 1983, though mostly for the paycheck.
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Kate Winslet – Rose, Titanic, 1997
Kate Winslet’s performance as Rose in Titanic helped make the film a timeless classic, but she is been highly critical of her own acting in the role. She has admitted to cringing when she watches the film, particularly at her American accent, which she feels was not convincing. While she appreciates the film’s success, she has often said she wishes she had done things differently.
Daniel Craig – James Bond, 007 Series, 2006-2021
Much like Sean Connery, Daniel Craig had a love-hate relationship with playing James Bond. While he delivered one of the most iconic portrayals of the spy, he found the role physically exhausting and after Spectre, famously stated he would rather “slash his wrists” than play Bond again. He later returned for No Time to Die, but only after securing a massive paycheck and the promise that it would be his final film as 007.
Shia LaBeouf – Mutt Williams, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, 2008
Shia LaBeouf was supposed to be the next big star of the Indiana Jones franchise, but even he was not impressed with his character. He later admitted he felt like he “dropped the ball” on the film and openly criticized the script and direction. His comments angered director Steven Spielberg, effectively ending any plans for him to continue in the franchise.
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Christopher Plummer – Captain Von Trapp, The Sound of Music, 1965
Christopher Plummer famously referred to The Sound of Music as “The Sound of Mucus” and admitted he found the role of Captain Von Trapp dull and one dimensional. He also said he had to get drunk just to make it through filming some scenes. Though he later softened his stance on the film, he still considered it one of his least favorite projects.
Bill Murray – Peter Venkman, Ghostbusters, 1984 & 1989
Bill Murray’s performance as Peter Venkman is beloved, but behind the scenes, he was not thrilled about the Ghostbusters films. He clashed with the studio, disliked the direction of Ghostbusters II and spent years resisting a third film. It took decades before he finally agreed to appear in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, 2021 though he still seemed unenthusiastic about the franchise.
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Michelle Pfeiffer – Catwoman, Batman Returns, 1992
Michelle Pfeiffer’s portrayal of Catwoman is widely considered iconic, but the experience of playing the character was a nightmare for her. The costume was so tight she could barely breathe and she had to endure grueling physical training for the role. While she is proud of the performance, she has said she would never go through that experience again.
Marlon Brando – Don Corleone, The Godfather, 1972
Despite delivering one of the greatest performances in film history, Marlon Brando did not care much for playing Don Corleone. He saw acting as just a job and did not take The Godfather as seriously as the rest of Hollywood did, even refusing to accept his Academy Award in protest of Hollywood’s treatment of Native Americans. His later refusal to return for The Godfather Part II only reinforced how little the role meant to him.
Jessica Alba – Sue Storm, Fantastic Four, 2005 & 2007
Jessica Alba’s experience playing Sue Storm in the Fantastic Four films was so bad that she nearly quit acting afterward. She revealed that the director told her to “look prettier” instead of expressing emotion and that she felt completely unappreciated. She later called the franchise a “learning experience” but admitted she would not want to return to the role.
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Andrew Garfield – Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man, 2012 & 2014
Andrew Garfield loved playing Spider-Man, but he was deeply frustrated with how Sony handled The Amazing Spider-Man films. He felt the studio focused too much on setting up sequels and spin offs rather than telling a strong, emotional story. When he was dropped from the role before Spider-Man: No Way Home, 2021, he admitted he felt relieved.
Halle Berry – Catwoman, Catwoman, 2004
Few actors have been as vocal about hating a role as Halle Berry was with Catwoman. The film was a critical and commercial disaster and Berry even accepted her Razzie Award for Worst Actress in person, humorously thanking Warner Bros. for casting her in a “piece of s*** movie.” Despite the film’s failure, she has since embraced the character’s campy legacy.
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While these characters may be beloved by fans, the actors behind them often had a very different experience. Whether it was due to bad scripts, frustrating directors or just personal dislike, these stars have made it clear they would not want to relive these roles again. It just goes to show that sometimes, what looks great on screen is not always so great behind the scenes.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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