Hollywood's Biggest Regrets: When Stars Wish They Could Forget
"What are your biggest regrets?" This question, while seemingly straightforward, often yields surprisingly candid responses from Hollywood actors. Just because a film achieves critical acclaim or commercial success doesn't guarantee the performers involved reflect upon it positively.
The most recent examples include Ryan Reynolds and Dakota Johnson, who have both publicly criticized their own superhero films. While promoting 2024's blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine, Reynolds repeatedly disparaged his 2011 film The Green Lantern, while Johnson shared damning comments about her superhero flop Madame Web.
Still, as Scarlett Johansson discovered in 2013, sometimes regretting a role might be preferable to never having had the opportunity at all. Here are eleven notable actors who have openly expressed regret over specific film roles that didn't meet their expectations.
Timothée Chalamet – A Rainy Day in New York (2019)
Timothée Chalamet is among several actors who have expressed regret about working with Woody Allen, particularly as historic allegations against the director resurfaced during the #MeToo movement. Chalamet publicly apologized for accepting the role and donated his entire salary to three charities: Time's Up, the LGBT Center in New York, and RAINN. He stated, "That is not something that sits easily with me in the current or indeed any moment, and I am profoundly sorry."
Matt Damon – The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Despite the Bourne trilogy's critical acclaim, Matt Damon has spoken unkindly about the third installment. He told GQ that the original script by director Tony Gilroy was "unreadable" and "really embarrassing," describing it as a potential "career-ender." Damon placed blame on the studio rather than Gilroy, noting, "I don't blame Tony for taking a boatload of money and handing in what he handed in."
Zac Efron – High School Musical (2006-2008)
While most audiences know Zac Efron as Troy Bolton from High School Musical, the actor himself wishes he were recognized for different work. He told Men's Fitness, "I step back and look at myself and I still want to kick that guy's ass sometimes. He's still just that f***ing kid from High School Musical."
Sally Field – The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Sally Field, who played Aunt May in The Amazing Spider-Man series, expressed frustration with the character's lack of depth. She told Howard Stern, "It's really hard to find a three-dimensional character in it. You work it as much as you can, but you can't put 10 pounds of s** in a five-pound bag."
Harrison Ford – Blade Runner (1982)
Harrison Ford has never been shy about his dislike for Blade Runner, regardless of which of the seven cuts viewers watch. In 2017, he stated, "I didn't like the movie one way or the other, with or without. I played a detective who did not have any detecting to do. I found it very difficult. There was stuff that was going on that was really nuts."
Christopher Plummer – The Sound of Music (1965)
Despite The Sound of Music being one of cinema's most beloved films, Christopher Plummer hated playing Captain von Trapp. He told The Hollywood Reporter, "I think the part in The Sound of Music was the toughest because it was so awful and sentimental and gooey. You had to work terribly hard to try and infuse some miniscule bit of humour into it."
Daniel Radcliffe – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Daniel Radcliffe, who began playing Harry Potter at age eleven, has developed a critical eye toward his performances in the franchise. He told Playboy in 2012, "I'm just not very good in [The Half-Blood Prince]. I hate it. My acting is very one-note and I can see I got complacent. My best film is the fifth one because I can see a progression."
Eddie Redmayne – The Danish Girl (2015)
Eddie Redmayne, who received an Oscar nomination for playing trans artist Lili Elbe, recently told The Sunday Times he "wouldn't take" the role if offered today. While acknowledging he "made that film with the best intentions," he stated, "I think it was a mistake." He emphasized the importance of diverse casting, noting, "The bigger discussion about the frustrations around casting is because many people don't have a chair at the table."
Kate Winslet – Titanic (1997)
Kate Winslet has expressed particular dissatisfaction with her performance in Titanic, despite the film's monumental success. She told The Telegraph, "Every single scene, I'm like 'really, really? You did it like that? Oh my God.' Even my American accent, I can't listen to it. It's awful. Watching Titanic I was just like, 'Oh God, I want to do that again.'"
Dakota Johnson – Madame Web (2024)
Dakota Johnson wasn't surprised by the critical and commercial failure of Madame Web. She told Bustle, "Unfortunately, I'm not surprised that this has gone down the way it has. I had never done anything like it before. I probably will never do anything like it again because I don't make sense in that world." She described the experience as educational but acknowledged, "It's not nice to be a part of something that's ripped to shreds."
Ryan Reynolds – The Green Lantern (2011)
While promoting Deadpool & Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds made it abundantly clear he despises The Green Lantern, which became one of cinema's biggest box office bombs. The film effectively placed him in "actor's jail" until Deadpool revived his career in 2016. Reynolds has repeatedly acknowledged the film was a disaster, recently revealing that the only way "to process it" was to rewatch it—something he wishes he hadn't done.
These candid admissions reveal that even successful actors experience professional regrets, demonstrating that cinematic achievements don't always align with personal satisfaction. Their willingness to publicly critique their own work offers rare insight into the complex relationship between performers and their most famous roles.
