The glitz and glamour of Hollywood often masks the less fragrant realities of film sets, as several A-list actors have been called out by their co-stars for questionable personal hygiene habits. The topic has resurfaced after British singer Charlotte Church candidly admitted she 'generally stinks' due to her choice to avoid deodorant.
From Baby Wipes to Natural Scents: Hollywood's Hygiene Controversies
In a recent podcast appearance, Charlotte Church surprised host Emily Dean by rejecting a compliment on her pleasant smell. The singer confessed she no longer wears deodorant or shaves, a decision she made roughly 18 months to two years ago. Church explained her reasoning stems from concerns about chemicals entering the bloodstream through the skin, particularly in the sensitive underarm area.
She is far from alone in her au naturel approach. Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt was once advised by his 'Inglourious Basterds' co-star Eli Roth to use baby wipes as a shower substitute. In a 2009 interview, Roth recounted Pitt's tip for busy parents: 'Baby wipes, man, baby wipes... I got six kids. All you've got to do is just take them, a couple quick wipes under the pits.'
Similarly, Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey has a long-documented stance against deodorant. His 'Fool's Gold' co-star Kate Hudson, who also forgoes deodorant, claimed she could 'smell him from a mile' due to their close scenes. Despite the comments, McConaughey has insisted he showers multiple times a day and brushes his teeth frequently, preferring his natural scent, which one co-star described as 'granola and good living'.
On-Set Odours and Awkward Encounters
The list of olfactory offences in Tinseltown is surprisingly long. Robert Pattinson faced claims in 2009 from an unnamed co-worker that he 'never showers', an allegation his 'Twilight' colleague Peter Facinelli later humorously suggested was a clever ploy to confuse paparazzi.
Kissing scenes have proven particularly fraught. Jennifer Lawrence was accused by 'The Hunger Games' co-star Liam Hemsworth of deliberately eating garlic or tuna before their romantic takes. Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller engaged in a mutual critique during 'The Spectacular Now', with Teller complaining about her Chinese dirt supplements and Woodley hitting back about his Gatorade breath.
Elsewhere, Matt Damon lightheartedly called out Scarlett Johansson for having onion breath during a kissing scene in 'We Bought A Zoo', while Ben Affleck was reportedly gifted mints by Sandra Bullock to combat halitosis on the set of 'Forces of Nature'.
Beyond Body Odour: Other On-Set Habits
Some complaints venture beyond simple body smell. Veteran actress Miriam Margolyes has not forgiven Arnold Schwarzenegger for allegedly farting in her face deliberately during a scene for 'End of Days' in 1999, citing it as a sign of him being 'quite rude'.
Meanwhile, Kate Hudson found herself labelled Dane Cook's 'worst onscreen kiss' after he accused her of eating 'a feast of onions' before their scene in 'My Best Friend's Girl'.
These revelations peel back the curtain on the unglamorous, and sometimes pungent, realities of filmmaking, proving that even amidst the bright lights of Hollywood, not everything smells of roses.
