These Stars Regretted The Role They're Best Known For
Have you ever done anything you regret? Of course you have, but I bet it wasn't taking the biggest movie role of your career. For these actors and actresses, that's exactly what happened. Let's explore actors who don't look back so fondly on the roles that made them famous.
Kate Winslet Wasn't Pleased With The Titanic Performance
Though beloved by fans, Winslet later revealed she found her Titanic (1997) fame stifling, typecast, overshadowed, and bottled up by blockbuster expectations. The intense media scrutiny of her body and personal life post-Titanic added to her discomfort with the role. Over the years, Winslet has shared that it took deliberate indie roles to distance herself from the blockbuster image. She said she felt unprepared for the level of fame that came with playing Rose, and it disrupted her personal life.
Titanic 25th Anniversary - Official Trailer Starring Leonardo DiCaprio & Kate Winslet, E! News
Timothée Chalamet And A Rainy Day in New York
Chalamet apologized in early 2025 for working with Woody Allen, stating, “I don’t want to profit … I am … profoundly sorry,” and donated his salary. He explained that he couldn’t align with the film’s controversy. Chalamet felt the association contradicted his personal values. The backlash made him reconsider his role-selection process moving forward.
A Rainy Day in New York Trailer #1 (2020), Rotten Tomatoes Trailers
Val Kilmer And Batman Forever
Kilmer declined further Batman movies, feeling sidelined in favor of the villains—something he admitted he regrets now. He said the rubber suit made acting nearly impossible. Kilmer believed the film focused too much on visual flair. Years later, he admitted he missed a chance to grow with the role.
BATMAN FOREVER Clip - Broken Wings (1995) Val Kilmer, JoBlo Superheroes
Jason Isaacs As Malfoy
Isaacs confessed in a 2025 interview that role typecasting from Harry Potter haunted his career—though he didn’t use the word “regret,” he admitted it shaped his choices. He said playing a villain limited the roles he was offered. Audiences had trouble seeing him in anything but dark roles. Isaacs admitted he now prefers more diverse and nuanced characters.
Every Draco Malfoy Scene, Harry Potter
Scarlett Johansson In Ghost in the Shell
After fan backlash over whitewashing, Scarlett Johansson expressed discomfort, saying it simply “doesn’t sit right.” She later acknowledged the importance of representation in media. The controversy taught her to consider context and casting more carefully. Johansson admitted she wouldn’t take a role like that again.
Ghost in the Shell Official Trailer 1 (2017) - Scarlett Johansson Movie, Rotten Tomatoes Trailers
Kumail Nanjiani In Eternals
Describing the film’s reception as “emotionally difficult,” Kumail Nanjiani revealed he sought therapy post-release. He shared that the pressure to look heroic took a mental toll. The lukewarm response to the movie made him question his choices. Nanjiani has since chosen roles with more creative fulfillment over spectacle.
ETERNALS (2021) Kingo Trailer [HD] Marvel Kumail Nanjiani, JoBlo Superheroes
Jessica Alba In Fantastic Four
Jessica Alba shared director notes damaged her confidence—something she still wrestles with today. She recalled being told to cry 'prettier,' which felt demeaning. The experience made her question her future in acting altogether. Alba has spoken about feeling reduced to her looks during the shoot.
FANTASTIC FOUR Hero Clips (2005) Marvel, JoBlo Superheroes
Anthony Hopkins In Thor
Anthony Hopkins described his Thor (2011) turn as lacking depth and disconnected from the story he valued. He said green screen acting left him cold and uninspired. Hopkins felt like a 'decorative extra' rather than a real character. He now prefers roles with more psychological complexity.
Thor (2011) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
Jake Gyllenhaal In Spider‑Man: Far From Home
In a 2024 chat, he said the improvisational style made him “struggle” with the role. Gyllenhaal admitted he felt out of his element on the set. He struggled to find Mysterio’s emotional center amid the effects-heavy scenes. The actor now sticks to scripts that offer more grounding.
SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME - Official Trailer, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Michael B. Jordan As Killmonger
Jordan admitted the emotionally heavy role in Black Panther (2018) left him feeling “isolated and mentally taxed.” He went into therapy after filming wrapped to decompress. Jordan immersed himself so deeply that it affected his mood off-screen. He called it one of the most rewarding, yet draining, roles of his life.
Black Panther Teaser Trailer [HD], Marvel Entertainment
Idris Elba In Thor: The Dark World
Reflecting in 2014, Idris Elba called the experience “torture”—from wigs to green-screen harnesses after filming Mandela. He described the contrast between the two roles as creatively disorienting. Elba felt the blockbuster lacked the emotional stakes he craved. The role led him to be more selective with fantasy scripts.
Dave Bautista As Drax
Ex-WWE wrestler Dave Bautista revealed he left the Guardians franchise partly due to exhaustion from makeup, saying the process was “exhausting.” He often spent 4–6 hours a day just getting into costume. Bautista also wanted to branch into more serious dramatic roles. He said he was proud of Drax, but ready to move on.
Jennifer Lawrence As Mystique
Lawrence pointed to the physical toll and intense prosthetics as a major source of regret. She said the hours-long makeup process left her physically and emotionally drained. Lawrence admitted she lost enthusiasm for the role in later films. She even negotiated shorter appearances in costume to ease the burden.
Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) - All Scenes Powers | X-Men Movies Universe, Explore Wh!te
Sally Field In Amazing Spider‑Man
Sally Field said bringing Aunt May to life felt overly simplistic and disconnected from the character she envisioned. She called the script "not my kind of movie" in a 2016 interview. Field took the role mainly as a favor to her friend, the screenwriter. She confessed the character lacked meaningful substance or development.
The Amazing Spider-Man, Slyfer2812
Zachary Levi In Thor
Zachary Levi shared that his character felt underused and dying freed him up creatively. He expressed frustration over having so few lines and little impact. Levi later embraced his leading role in Shazam! as a better fit. He admitted Marvel didn’t know what to do with his character.
The Warriors Three Hogun Fandral Volstagg Fighting Skills Compilation, Awesome Random Vidz (TORCHD)
Kate Mara In Fantastic Four
Kate Mara hinted at a rough directorial relationship, making her experience on the film disappointing. She described the atmosphere on set as "not a good experience." There were reports of conflicting visions between cast and crew.
Gene Hackman And Theatre
In a 1999 interview, Hackman said his biggest regret was not returning to New York theatre in the 1970s/80s to deepen his craft. He felt Hollywood roles distracted him from his artistic roots. Hackman believed the stage could have offered greater creative satisfaction. He said the decision haunted him more with age.
Sarah Paulson As Linda Tripp
Sarah Paulson shared in 2021 that playing Tripp was emotionally draining, regretting how personally it affected her enthusiasm. She said she struggled with public criticism about the portrayal. Paulson also regretted wearing a fat suit, which sparked backlash. Despite praise, she said the role left her feeling conflicted.
Impeachment: American Crime Story | Inside Look: Sarah Paulson As Linda Tripp | FX, FX Networks
Burt Reynolds And Star Wars
Reynolds admitted in 2016 that he regretted turning down Han Solo: “I just didn’t want to … Now I regret it. I wish I would have done it.” He misunderstood the scope of the role and the sci-fi genre. Reynolds later acknowledged it could have rejuvenated his career. Missing out on the franchise left him feeling "foolish."
THE LAST MOVIE STAR Official Trailer (2018) Burt Reynolds, Ariel Winter Movie HD by ONE Media
Al Pacino And Han Solo
In his memoir Sonny Boy, Pacino confessed that after The Godfather, he passed on Star Wars saying the script was “unfathomable.” He later admitted he didn’t understand the story or its potential. Pacino joked he was ‘the guy who turned down Star Wars.’ He said missing out became one of his most famous missteps.
By Peter Martorano, Wikimedia Commons
Christopher Lee And Halloween
Christopher Lee later noted that missing Dr. Loomis in Halloween was the “biggest regret” of his career. He reportedly turned it down due to scheduling conflicts. Lee felt the part could have diversified his horror legacy. He said he regretted the decision for decades afterward.
Sean Connery And Bond
Connery famously said he was “fed up” with playing Bond and even hated being recognized as the character. He felt typecast and creatively boxed in by the role. Connery also disliked the media frenzy surrounding his Bond fame. He once said, ‘I have always hated that damned James Bond.’
DR. NO | Bond, James Bond – Sean Connery, Eunice Gayson | James Bond, James Bond 007
Rod Steiger And Patton
Having turned down Patton for moral reasons, Steiger later called it his “dumbest career move.” He said he disagreed with the politics of the character. After the film’s success, he admitted his stance cost him dearly. Steiger later acknowledged the role could have defined his career.
Landau Company /Allied Artists-American National Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
George Lazenby And Bond
George Lazenby walked away post-On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), admitting he felt “fun” but also that the fame “burnt bridges.” He turned down a multi-film deal, thinking Bond was outdated. Lazenby later called it a naive decision shaped by bad advice. He struggled for years to land comparable roles.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p], HD Retro Trailers
Marlon Brando In Superman
Brando famously phoned in his performance as Jor-El in Superman (1978) and later admitted he took the role strictly for the paycheck. He reportedly refused to memorize his lines, using cue cards. Brando said the role was hollow and creatively unfulfilling. He later called it a sell-out move in interviews.
Superman (1978) - Escape From Krypton Scene (1/10) | Movieclips, Movieclips
Daniel Craig In Spectre
After filming Spectre (2015), Craig said he'd rather “slash [his] wrists” than play Bond again. He clarified later that it was due to physical exhaustion. The press tour left him mentally and emotionally worn out. Craig eventually returned—but said the regret still lingered.
007 Spectre Official Trailer #2 (2015) Daniel Craig James Bond Movie HD, Zero Media
Megan Fox's Career-Ending Comments On Michael Bay
Michael Bay may be one of Hollywood's most famous directors, but that didn't stop Transformers (2007) star, Megan Fox from comparing to one of history's most evil people in an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live. This comment would see the star fired from the franchise by Michael Bay, replaced by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley for Transformers: Dark Side Of The Moon (2011).
Transformers (1/10) Movie CLIP - Eyes On Mikaela (2007) HD, Movieclips
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