20 Times Difficult Movie Roles Took a Major Toll on Actors

Lady Gaga

“House of Gucci” (2021)

In 2021, Gaga continued her rise in the film industry by starring as the manipulative criminal Patrizia Reggiani in “House of Gucci.” Considering it was a biopic involving Reggiani hiring an assassin to kill her ex-husband, the character was always going to be difficult for Gaga, but it really affected her mental health. During filming, while adopting method acting skills, Gaga employed a psychiatric nurse to help her feel safer. Getting into Reggiani’s character also brought up Gaga’s memories of being assaulted as a teenager. As such, she struggled to let go of the role. Unsurprisingly, Gaga has been vocal in her belief that no actor should push themselves like she did.

Anne Hathaway

“Mother Mary” (2025)

Ever the dedicated performer, Hathaway has had several roles that have stuck with her for far longer than she wanted. The latest addition to this is the upcoming film, “Mother Mary.” Hathaway, who’s playing a musician struggling with a crisis, from day one, had a different mindset as she felt like a “beginner” after shedding elements of herself for the part. Director David Lowery told Vogue that at one point, it was like shooting the infamous “Apocalypse Now.” The intensity of one scene caused Hathaway to break down on set, eventually composing herself to apologize to co-star Michaela Coel for the potential her performance had to cause hurt.

Bill Skarsgård

“It” (2017)

For the audience, watching a horror film can be terrifying, and it can live with you long after the end credits. Sometimes, for the actors involved, it can be a similar story. For 2017’s “It,” Skarsgård’s work performing Pennywise the clown was as horrifying to the audience as it was to his own psyche. After filming had wrapped, he would have recurring nightmares of Pennywise. Sometimes the clown was another entity that he had to argue with to leave him be. Other times, he was trying to separate himself from the character. It took Skarsgård time and effort to let go of the character and move on. However, all of that work was probably undone when he returned as Pennywise for the 2019 sequel, “It Chapter Two.”

Heather Donahue

“The Blair Witch Project” (1999)

In 1999, the world was rocked by “The Blair Witch Project.” Redefining horror with the found footage subgenre, a portion of viewers believed they were watching a documentary rather than a fictional film. As such, they took their anger out on the cast, including Donahue. As well as her mother getting sympathy cards for her character’s death, angry viewers who felt deceived told Donahue they wished she were dead. Even leaving the acting business behind in 2008 didn’t help her move on. When the “Blair Witch” sequel was announced for 2016, Donahue cried in the bathtub as the memories flooded back. After changing her name to Rei Hance and getting paid for her likeness being used, she developed alcohol use disorder. More recently, she has started a new, alcohol-free lifestyle.

Michael B. Jordan

“Black Panther” (2018)

Often, people like to think that playing the villain in a film is all fun and games. But sometimes, it can really wear on your mental health. In 2018, “Black Panther” debuted, changing the landscape of the industry with Jordan as the baddie Killmonger. To get into the character’s head, the actor isolated himself to allow the “nastiness” of rage and sadness to fester as he “shut out love.” However, he didn’t have an escape plan from breaking out of that mindset when production was over. As such, love from others close to him and general positivity were overwhelming. So, Jordan took himself to therapy, which he credits with helping him significantly.

James Cromwell

“Babe” (1995)

After riding his motorbike through Texas in 1974 and seeing many stockyards of farm animals, Cromwell became a vegetarian. When he signed up for 1995’s “Babe,” a film about a livestock pig becoming a sheepdog-pig, he wasn’t expecting it to change his life forever. Yet it did. Interacting with the animals and seeing some of those creatures he shared the screen with being used on the lunch table while filming in Australia, Cromwell became a vegan. Not only that, he developed into a vocal activist in the movement, leading to him working with animal welfare groups and even being arrested for protesting animal abuse.

Dylan O’Brien

“Maze Runner: The Death Cure” (2018)

The final film in the trilogy, 2018’s “Maze Runner: The Death Cure” was meant to be O’Brien’s swansong with the character before he moved on to other projects. Instead, during filming, he suffered severe injuries that left their mark on him ever since. Before performing a stunt that involved him being pulled from a car, he shared safety concerns but was ignored. When the sequence took place, O’Brien was struck by another vehicle. Production was halted as the actor suffered facial fractures, brain trauma, and a concussion, requiring him to undergo reconstructive surgery. O’Brien has spoken about the difficult time he experienced emotionally afterwards, wondering if he’d ever return to acting. Thankfully, he was able to.

Christian Bale

“The Machinist” (2004)

If there was a hall of fame for method acting, Bale would be a shoo-in. Yet that kind of commitment can wear a person down. For 2004’s “The Machinist,” Bale consumed an apple and a can of tuna per day to lose a third of his weight for the role. His new physical state wreaked havoc on the anxiety of his wife, Sibi Blažić, who accidentally woke him up when she was checking if he was breathing at night. Shortly after the film, Bale was cast as the title role in “Batman Begins.” As such, he consumed a lot to bulk up. Bale did something similar for 2018’s “Vice.” The toll has caused him to retire from this weight fluctuating method.

Leonardo DiCaprio

“The Revenant” (2015)

If he didn’t get an Oscar for his acting work in 2015’s “The Revenant”, DiCaprio definitely deserved one for dealing with everything he went through. Not only did he have a tough time, but the crew described it as “a living hell.” DiCaprio stated that this was the toughest film he’d been in. After all, he got inside real animal carcasses and consumed raw bison liver, despite reports of him being a vegetarian. Yet it was the cold temperature when shooting in the isolated wilderness of Alberta, Canada, that really played havoc on him as he picked up the flu several times during production.

Bob Hoskins

“Who Framed Roger Rabbit” (1988)

Merging live-action and cartoons, 1988’s “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” was a trailblazing film that gave Hoskins one of his most famous roles. However, despite the accolades, it wasn’t an easy-breezy time for him. Because most of his co-stars were cartoons, Hoskins had to use his imagination on set. So, to prepare for the role, he had tea parties with his daughter for hours, as she was known to have many imaginary friends. With that practice, he was able to visualize Roger and others on set. However, when production was done, Hoskins couldn’t turn that off. For months afterwards, he would see the cartoon cast in his everyday life, gnawing away at his sanity. Hoskins took a year off to get his mind in shape.

Margot Robbie

“I, Tonya” (2017)

It wasn’t playing the unhinged Harley Quinn in several movies that made Robbie question her sanity. Instead, it was portraying the controversial ice skater Tonya Harding in 2017’s “I, Tonya” that did. Throughout, she had to live in Harding’s skates as she experienced several abusive relationships, which Robbie has described as “traumatic.” Yet it was the relationship between her character and Sebastian Stan’s Jeff Gillooly, Harding’s former husband, that really tipped her over the edge. Robbie has stated she struggled with separating herself and Harding from Stan and his character, causing her to think their arguments were real and forgetting they were on camera. She even admitted to attacking Stan as she stated that she lost her mind.

Adrien Brody

“The Pianist” (2002)

Another performer who utilizes method acting techniques, Brody went all out playing Polish Jewish pianist Władysław Szpilman in the 2002 World War II film, “The Pianist.” As well as learning the piano, Brody went further by removing items from his life, stripping it to the bare necessities, to help understand the mind of someone who lost everything. He also isolated himself from loved ones, including breaking up with his partner, which Brody later admitted was “toxic.” The actor even starved himself to drop weight. This hunger experience left Brody with PTSD, depression, and an eating disorder for a year. While this dedication made Brody the youngest Best Actor Oscar winner in history, the role haunted him for a year and a half.

Uma Thurman

“Kill Bill: Volume 2” (2004)

After the box office and critical success of 2004’s “Kill Bill: Volume 2,” rumors immediately began for a third installment, which director Quentin Tarantino publicly expressed his desire to do several times. However, it never materialized. Well, in 2018, we discovered why. The film’s star, Thurman, went public with the car crash that nearly robbed her of her life on set. For a driving scene, despite the stunt’s safety being questioned, Tarantino persuaded Thurman to drive it instead of a stunt performer. Unfortunately, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the car crashed. Immediately, Thurman thought she wouldn’t walk again. While thankfully she could, her neck and knees endured permanent damage. It took years for Tarantino and Thurman to reconcile after the experience, with the director publicly apologizing.

Jim Carrey

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000)

One of the worst parts of acting is the hours of boredom in makeup. But for Carrey in 2000’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” it was far worse. He described the transformation as “being buried alive.” After the first day of being in the chair for eight-and-a-half hours, a spiraling Carrey kicked a hole in his trailer. To help, a person who trained CIA operatives to endure torture was hired. Considering Carrey wore the makeup 100 times, this would haunt you for a long time. Carrey also lost himself when portraying Andy Kaufman in 1999’s “Man on the Moon.” After living the character on and off set for months, he struggled to let the character go and felt as though he was never the same.

Tom Hanks

“Cast Away” (2000)

In 2000’s “Cast Away,” the filmmakers did the improbable, making the audience care so deeply for an inanimate object, the handprint-smeared volleyball, Wilson. Shown almost like an autonomous character, this depiction even caused star Hanks to hear the ball’s dialogue in his head. He stated to Graham Bensinger that working all the time was the cause. In fact, Hanks doesn’t even remember the director calling “action” or “cut.” Yet away from his mind melting, Hanks also received a cut to his leg that got infected, which nearly took his life. After a few days in the hospital, he recovered, at least physically. However, that close call and hearing voices in his head probably stuck around for a while.

Janet Leigh

“Psycho” (1960)

In cinema’s vast history of iconic scenes, this one is regularly considered one of the best. Of course, we’re talking about Leigh’s shower scene demise in 1960’s “Psycho.” The shot of the plughole following the attack alone has left its influence across the industry ever since. However, while many look back at the scene with admiration, Leigh was not one of them. In fact, that incident plagued her deeply. Leigh stated in interviews that she gave up taking showers, instead opting for baths each time. But before that, she had to make sure the front and back doors were locked. Then, Leigh would leave the bathroom door open, and she’d face the entrance from the tub, always on edge.

Natalie Portman

“Black Swan” (2010)

2010’s “Black Swan” had Natalie Portman’s character, Nina, go through the wringer as her mental health deteriorated, abuse and paranoia taking over her life. Well, the actor also experienced plenty of traumatic experiences, too. In one scene, where Nina is having her ribs examined by a medic, it was actually an injury Portman sustained IRL. The ballet training alone was intense, as the actor worked hours on it for months, eventually reaching 8 hours per day. Portman also had to achieve a dancer’s frame, causing her to develop an eating disorder as she shrank. As such, Portman stated her regrets on immediately working on 2011’s “Thor,” where she felt mentally and physically spent, instead of going to rehab to mend herself.

Shelley Duvall

“The Shining” (1980)

When she spoke about working with Stanley Kubrick in the 2001 documentary “Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures,” Duvall was bewildered by how a nice person could do cruel things when he was directing. Working together in 1980’s “The Shining,” Duvall stated that they would do up to 50 recorded rehearsals before doing it properly. And even then, Kubrick would do many, many takes, pushing his actors to provide more and more. One scene, involving Duvall swinging a baseball bat, was filmed 127 times. Considering filming took a year, with Duvall having to be in a heightened state of fear and hysterics throughout, it was incredibly taxing. While she was happy to have had that experience, she added she wouldn’t do it again.

Daniel Day-Lewis

“Gangs of New York” (2002)

As a leading figure in method acting, when Day-Lewis is working on a project, he lives and breathes the role. As William “Bill the Butcher” Cutting in 2002’s “Gangs of New York,” the actor hired a real-life butcher and circus knife-throwing performers to teach him skills for his character. Even when walking around the streets of Rome, Italy, where the film was shot, Day-Lewis would get into fights with locals as Bill. Yet his dedication to the craft had severe effects on his health. Day-Lewis refused to switch his thin coat for a thicker one, as those thicker ones didn’t exist at the time the movie was set. As such, he contracted pneumonia. Thankfully, Day-Lewis got treatment and recovered.

Heath Ledger

“The Dark Knight” (2008)

As well as becoming the pinnacle of portraying the Joker, Ledger’s work in 2008’s “The Dark Knight” was also one of the best comic character performances. However, that talent sadly came with a cost. When Batman interrogated Joker, Ledger threw himself around the room, breaking tiles. While he spoke positively about his experience afterwards, the stress of the role appeared to contribute to issues for the actor as he struggled with illness and insomnia. Sadly, accidental abuse of prescription medicine led to Ledger’s untimely passing. Another Joker performance that taxed the actor was Joaquin Phoenix. In 2019’s “Joker,” he became obsessed with losing weight for the role. It soon became a disorder for Phoenix, causing him not to want to repeat it in the future.

Have you ever played a role, either professional or amateur, that’s stuck with you for a while, for better or worse? Let us know below!