I will never forgive myself for this: 25 little-known facts about popular films (25 photos)
Many celebrities don't share behind-the-scenes details of a film immediately after filming. Sometimes years or even decades pass before they publicly regret their choice of role, working with a particular director, or an unfortunate mistake on set. Sometimes they regret not playing a role, which could have been a turning point in their career. Here are 25 celebrity revelations that may change your perception of certain films.
1. Kate Winslet - "Titanic" 
"Titanic" brought Kate Winslet worldwide fame. Despite her Oscar nomination for her role as Rose, the actress can't watch the film without self-criticism.
"Every scene I'm like, 'Really? That's how you acted? Oh my God.' Even my American accent—I can't stand it. It's terrible," Kate told CNN in 2012.
After Titanic, she chose more modest projects because fame proved a heavy burden.
2. Robin Williams — Mrs. Doubtfire 
In 1993, Robin Williams played a man posing as an elderly nanny in the comedy Mrs. Doubtfire. The film won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and Williams won Best Actor.
Many viewers are unaware that the actor often improvised on set. Sometimes he made jokes that were not family-friendly.
In 2021, Chris Columbus shared that he gave Robin free rein, allowing him to film 15-22 takes without a script.
"Sometimes Robin would go into territory that wouldn't be appropriate for a PG-13 film, but would be hilariously funny for an R-rated one," the director laughed.
3. Carrie Fisher — Star Wars 
In her autobiography, the late actress admitted that had she known Star Wars would be such a success, she never would have agreed to play Princess Leia. Carrie landed the role at age 19.
"When I was famous, all I did was wait for it to pass," she said.
Fischer said she often felt like Minnie Mouse because her Princess Leia persona overshadowed other aspects of her personality.
4. George Clooney – Batman & Robin 
1997's Batman & Robin received negative reviews from critics and flopped at the box office. It has even been called one of the worst films of all time.
Although George Clooney will reprise his role as Batman in a brief cameo in the 2023 film The Flash, the actor has admitted that his attitude toward the superhero has changed. He even doesn't allow his wife, Amal, and their twins to watch Batman & Robin.
"There aren't enough drugs in the world to make me want to return to this role," Clooney joked.
5. Halle Berry — Catwoman 
Holly said that before filming, she adopted a cat to better understand the animals' habits and prepare for the lead role.
"I observed, studied, and learned how cats think," she shared in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
"I didn't have children and a family to worry about; I was a single woman with a lot of free time to devote to this," Halle added.
Berry completely immersed herself in the character: "I was a real cat the whole time. I'd crawl around the house on all fours, trying to jump on the kitchen counter, thinking, 'If I were a cat, how would I get up there?' I was doing that 24/7."
6. Ben Stiller — Empire of the Sun 
Few things can irritate a director more than having an actor yell "Cut!" at them. Yet that's exactly what Ben Stiller did on the set of Empire of the Sun.
Stiller told USA Today about an awkward moment.
"I heard silence. Spielberg was in another building, looking at the monitors. He yelled, 'What happened?' I said, 'I just said 'cut' because I made a mistake.' He yelled, 'No, that line just can't happen!'"
Ben admitted he turned pale from the director's shouts, but they've both laughed about it ever since.
7. Emma Watson — Harry Potter 
Emma has always adored Harry Potter. During the filming of the first film in the franchise, she knew her co-stars' lines by heart and recited them on set.
The director of the first two films about the boy wizard, Chris Columbus, often yelled "Cut!" and criticized her for repeating Daniel Radcliffe's lines.
Recalling the filming, Emma admitted: "I was such a loser. I really loved the books, I wanted to do a good job, but I overdid it a little."
8. Keanu Reeves - "Speed" 
Keanu and Sandra Bullock actually collided with cars while filming the bus scene in "Speed."
"I remember we weren't very well informed," the actor said. "We were all sitting on a bus, and then we were headed to San Diego or somewhere. We were driving along the coast, and suddenly we started colliding with cars."
Sandra noted that she learned to drive a bus specifically for the filming, but only drove it in a few scenes that required close-ups. A stuntman did all the driving.
9. Anne Hathaway — "Love and Other Drugs" 
Anne admitted that while working on "Love and Other Drugs," she unnecessarily exposed herself.
The actress recalled: "I thought we were filming. But it turned out we were just rehearsing. And I found myself naked in front of a lot of people for no particular reason. But, you know, I was just doing my job."
Ann skillfully concealed her worries. "I didn't show my nerves. I kept it all inside."
10. Leonardo DiCaprio — "Boogie Nights" 
After the premiere of "Fight After Fight," Leonardo DiCaprio gave an interview to director Paul Thomas Anderson for Esquire. During their conversation, Anderson asked the Hollywood star if he had any regrets.
Leo didn't have to think long: he'd passed up the opportunity to star in Boogie Nights.
"That was an important film for my generation. I can't imagine anyone else in it except Mark [Wahlberg]. When I finally saw it, I just thought it was a masterpiece. It's ironic that you're the one asking that question, but it's true," Leo told Paul, the film's director.
11. Chris Hemsworth — Thor 
Chris Hemsworth is disappointed with his performance in Thor 4 and blames himself for the film's failure. He didn't feel connected to his character.
"I got carried away with improvisation and madness and became a parody of myself," the Australian commented. "Sometimes I felt like a security guard. I'd read my colleagues' lines and think, 'Oh, their stuff is so much cooler.'"
In a recent interview with British GQ, the actor admitted that the film confused him and made him laugh at the same time. He said the plot became too ridiculous.
12. Kate Hudson — The Devil Wears Prada 
Kate Hudson regretted turning down The Devil Wears Prada.
"It was a bad decision. It was all about timing, it was one of those situations where I couldn't do it, even though I should have...," the actress lamented.
Ultimately, Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep played the lead roles.
In 2006, the film grossed $326 million worldwide. Meryl Streep also received her 14th Oscar nomination.
13. Zoe Saldana — Pirates of the Caribbean 
In 2003, Zoe starred in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. This film became the first installment in the cult franchise.
Director Gore Verbinski created a film that not only grossed a fortune at the box office but also received positive reviews from critics.
However, the actress called her involvement in the project "a truly unpleasant experience." She said the cast and crew were "great," but the studio and director failed to show her the "kindness and consideration" they deserved.
Years later, producer Jerry Bruckheimer personally apologized to her for his behavior.
The Oscar-nominated actress said that filming Steven Spielberg's 2004 film The Terminal restored her belief that "big things can be great."
14. Ben Affleck — Daredevil 
Ben wasn't a fan of the 2003 film Daredevil. He enjoyed the comics and praised his co-stars Michael Clarke Duncan, Colin Farrell, and Jennifer Garner. However, he noted that the superhero film wasn't what he expected.
"I don't think this adaptation is the best version of what could have been. And that's disappointing."
Ben hadn't seen Charlie Cox's adaptation, which proved more popular among Marvel fans.
15. Drew Barrymore — Poison Ivy 
At 16, Drew landed a role in the erotic thriller Poison Ivy. In the film, she seduced her best friend's father. After the film's release, she was inundated with offers to play similar characters.
"My agent, J.J., started getting calls with offers. For example, they offered me the role of a Lolita-style nymphet," Drew told Interview magazine in 1992. "And on set, people would come up to me and ask, 'What's it like being a sex symbol?' I'd say, 'Me?'" I may be sensual, but I don't look in the mirror and think, "Yeah, baby, you're so hot."
16. Josh Hutcherson — The Polar Express 
During the filming of The Polar Express, young Josh Hutcherson found himself on set with Tom Hanks for the first time.
Josh was only 9 years old at the time, and his excitement was so intense that he couldn't contain himself.
"My first big movie. Tom Hanks. And I just farted in his face!" the Hunger Games star recalled.
Hanks jumped up and started screaming, "What is this? Oh my God, this kid, what the hell!"
17. Julianne Moore — "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" 
Julianne was fired from Nicole Holofcener's "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" just six days before filming began.
The actress told Andy Cohen that she suspects the screenwriter dismissed her from the project because of their conflicting ideas about the lead character.
She also admitted that she had never seen the 2018 film. The incident "still hurts," though she admires Melissa McCarthy in the lead role.
18. Channing Tatum — Beauty and the Beast 
Guillermo del Toro invited the Magic Mike star to play the Beast in his remake of the Disney fairy tale. However, the actor declined.
He called this decision one of the biggest mistakes of his career. Channing explained that he was unable to accept the offer due to the birth of his child and his commitment to another project.
Tatum admitted that he is a big fan of Guillermo's work: "I'll probably never forgive myself for this, but I hope that one day we get to work together."
Guillermo ultimately gave way to Bill Condon as director, and Emma Watson and Dan Stevens took over the lead roles.
19. Katherine Heigl - Knocked Up 
Katherine revealed that her reputation for being "ungrateful" and "difficult" to work with led to her being blacklisted in Hollywood.
The negative image developed after she harshly criticized her role in Knocked Up. The actress claimed the comedy portrayed women in a negative light and men as attractive and stupid. Her rejection of an Emmy nomination for her work on Grey's Anatomy also played a negative role. Katherine attributed this to the fact that the material didn't match the level of recognition it garnered.
"Then they just told me to shut up. The more I feared making a mistake, the more convinced I became that I had actually done something terrible," the actress said.
20. Gwyneth Paltrow — Shakespeare in Love 
Most actors dream of an Oscar, but Gwyneth Paltrow didn't expect to reach the top so early.
In 1999, the 26-year-old actress won the top award for Best Actress in Shakespeare in Love.
"When you win the biggest prize, what are you supposed to do? I was shocked. I didn't know what to do, where to go," she shared on a podcast.
Paltrow's passion for acting has faded in recent years, but she will appear in the sports drama "Marty Supreme" starring Timothée Chalamet.
21. Robert Pattinson — "Twilight" 
Robert wanted to make the first "Twilight" film emotional and intense, but the studio rejected his idea.
"I spent a lot of time on set in a rage... I can't believe how I behaved," the actor admitted.
Managers asked Robert to smile more and not take everything so seriously, warning him that he could be fired.
Furthermore, director Catherine Hardwicke initially considered Pattinson insufficiently attractive for the role of Edward Cullen.
22. Megan Fox — Transformers 
Megan accused Transformers director Michael Bay of being "a nightmare to work with."
"I think I was almost a decade ahead of the #MeToo movement. I've always spoken out against the abusive, misogynistic, patriarchal things that were happening in Hollywood in 2008 and 2009, long before people were willing to accept or tolerate it. And I was actually ridiculed for it back then...," the star said in an interview with Glamour magazine in 2022.
23. Dave Franco - "Neighbors" 
The actor described filming his first intimate scene in "Neighbors" as "awkward" and "nerve-wracking." He noted that he met his co-star just the day before work began.
"You're dating, you start filming, and you don't even know her name yet. There are 20 crew members around you, all watching you."
On the morning of an important scene, Franco discovered a huge pimple on his buttock. He had to go to the makeup artist.
24. Macaulay Culkin — "Rushmore" 
From 1994 to 2003, the star of "Home Alone" took a break from acting. Although Culkin didn't act, he was still being approached for projects, and he regrets not playing Rushmore.
"I passed on that offer. Damn it, I could have done it. I can't imagine anyone else in that role except Jason Schwartzman. Although, of course, it would have been an unforgettable moment," Culkin lamented.
25. Will Smith — The Matrix and Inception 
Will Smith is known for blockbusters such as Men in Black, Independence Day, Ali, and The Pursuit of Happyness. However, there are two iconic films he himself turned down.
Instead of playing Neo in The Matrix, Will took on the project Wild West, which flopped at the box office and received negative reviews from critics.
"I probably would have ruined The Matrix. I would have ruined everything," Will said in 2019. "So I did you a favor!"
He also passed on the lead role in Inception, which was ultimately played by Leonardo DiCaprio.
