10 Times Actors HATED Their Own Performance
10 Times Actors Hated Their Own Performance
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today, we’re looking at the actors who were openly critical of their own performances.
#10: Anya Taylor-Joy
“The Witch” (2015)
This multi-talented performer announced herself in Robert Eggers’s deeply unsettling folk horror film. Although Taylor-Joy received unanimous acclaim for her role as the troubled and conflicted Thomasin, the actress was far from impressed with her own performance. In an interview with “The Hollywood Reporter,” Taylor-Joy confessed she was “devastated” after watching the film for the first time, saying, “I thought I’d never work again, I still get shivers thinking about it.” Of course, critics and audiences thought otherwise. Instead, Taylor-Joy found herself instantly launched into the A-list, having led several blockbusters and widely acclaimed performances across film and television since then.
#9: Nicole Kidman
“Australia” (2008)
Baz Luhrmann’s adventure epic wasn’t a big hit with critics, most of whom considered “Australia” to be too sentimental. Though the film never became a cult classic, its cast was still largely praised. However, Nicole Kidman turned out to be her own biggest critic. Speaking to Australian radio station “2dayFM,” the actress claimed she hated her performance after watching it with then-husband Keith Urban, saying, “I sat there and I looked at Keith and went ‘Am I any good in this movie?’” While Kidman was quick to praise co-stars Hugh Jackman and Brandon Walters, she didn’t have much to say about her own, reiterating that it was “impossible for [her] to connect to it emotionally.”
#8: Josh Brolin
“Deadpool 2” (2018)
The same year he wowed MCU fans as the Mad Titan Thanos, Josh Brolin appeared as Cable in the “Deadpool” sequel. Audiences loved the odd dynamic between Brolin’s no-nonsense soldier and Ryan Reynolds’s wacky Merc with a Mouth, propelling the film to massive success. But despite “Deadpool 2” becoming the then-highest-grossing R-rated film ever and earning glowing praise for the cast, Josh Brolin didn’t walk away too happy. The actor came down hard on his performance, feeling he could do a lot better if given another chance. Speaking to “USA Today,” Brolin elaborated further, saying, “I literally want to redeem myself to myself. I want to do a better version of what I do.”
#7: Megan Fox
“Transformers” (2007)
Even before Megan Fox’s conflicts with “Transformers” director Michael Bay became well-documented, the actress was vocal about her displeasure as the sultry Mikaela Banes. Although Fox was known for previous works like “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen,” it was “Transformers” that pushed her into the mainstream spotlight. Still, she didn’t have many nice things to say about her performance even as far back as 2009. In an interview with “Entertainment Weekly,” the actress openly admitted she was “terrible” in the film, claiming the audience had only seen “seven percent” of her acting range. We also got an early hint of her tensions with Michael Bay, as Fox added that “unless you’re a seasoned veteran, working with Michael Bay is not about an acting experience.”
#6: Emma Watson
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)
Shifting from the straight-laced Hermione Granger to the more free-spirited Sam was difficult for Watson. Even before the film’s release, the actress told MTV News that her American accent was “terrible,” further stating she was “nervous” about stepping into a completely different role. Time didn’t make things better either. On BBC Radio 1, Watson said she still can’t watch any of her romantic scenes in the movie. The actress had shared her concerns with director Stephen Chbosky, saying, she “just [came] from playing Hermione Granger and [you’re] expecting me to dance and putting me in corsets, and it’s difficult.” Despite Watson’s reservations, many fans do see the role as a positive step for her, moving her away from Hermione’s shadow and into a new image.
#5: Alec Guinness
“Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (1977)
Despite winning everything from Oscars, Golden Globes, and Tony Awards, to starring in classics like “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Doctor Zhivago,” Alec Guinness’s mainstream legacy remains tied to “Star Wars.” Although he appreciated the financial benefits the series afforded him, the actor wasn’t a personal fan. While promoting his autobiography, “A Positively Final Appearance” in 1999, Guinness revealed he vouched for Obi-Wan Kenobi’s death because he “couldn't go on speaking those bloody awful, banal lines.” He further claimed that he would “shrivel up a little every time someone mentions Star Wars” to him. Although he found the role to lack prestige, Guinness ironically remains the only actor to receive an Oscar nomination for starring in the franchise.
#4: Amanda Seyfried
“Les Misérables” (2012)
Most musicals rely on pre-recorded vocals and backtracks, but “Les Misérables” director Tom Hopper had the cast sing their lines live on set instead. This proved difficult for Amanda Seyfried, who found emoting while singing to be a significant challenge. Speaking on “Variety”’s “Actors on Actors” series, Seyfried admitted she “has nightmares” about it, saying “I was very weak…from a very technical standpoint.” Looking back, the actress feels she could do Cosette justice if given a chance to reprise the role. While Seyfried remains harsh on herself, critics never singled the actress out as a weak point – that dubious honor actually belonged to Russell Crowe.
#3: Daniel Radcliffe
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (2009)
The “Harry Potter” series remains treasured by a whole generation of fans, but its lead star wasn’t too thrilled about his work. In a 2014 “Daily Mail” interview, Radcliffe singled himself out as “very one-note” in “Half-Blood Prince,” saying he’s “just not very good in it. I hate it.” His self-critical comments stem from thinking he could “see a progression” in “Order of the Phoenix” that he lacked in the follow-up, and called himself “complacent” for delivering a more basic performance. Radcliffe isn’t the only cast member who feels this way. Gary Oldman has also been vocal about his self-proclaimed “mediocre” portrayal of Sirius Black. Sounds like both actors would cast an “Obliviate” on their performances if they could.
#2: Kate Winslet
“Titanic” (1997)
It may have been a career-defining role for her, but Kate Winslet isn’t singing praises for her performance as Rose. In a 2012 interview with “The Telegraph,” Winslet revealed she hadn’t seen “Titanic” in its entirety since its release, mainly because of embarrassment. The actress called her American accent “awful,” voicing disappointment with her acting in “every single scene.” While the part garnered her an Oscar nomination and turned her into a superstar overnight, Winslet’s criticism comes from an acting perspective. The actress even joked about skipping her love scene with Leonardo DiCaprio, saying she’d already have the movie turned off by then and would “be in the bar by that point.”
#1: Christian Bale
“The Dark Knight Trilogy” (2005-12)
For millions of fans, Christian Bale stands as the definitive live-action Batman. However, the actor doesn’t share the same sentiments. In an interview with “Yahoo! Entertainment,” the Oscar winner claimed he “didn’t quite nail it,” despite complimenting director Christopher Nolan for perfectly capturing the character. Bale also admitted feeling overshadowed by Heath Ledger, saying that Ledger was “so much more interesting than me and what I’m doing.” While some have criticized Bale’s Batman voice, the actor has, by and large, received unanimous praise for his role, making Bale his own biggest critic. George Clooney, on the other hand, has acknowledged his own poor performance in “Batman & Robin,” jokingly claiming he “always apologizes for destroying the franchise.”
Can you think of any other actors who hated their own performances? Let us know in the comments.
