15 Actors Who Didn’t Care for Their Most Famous Role

Landing an iconic role might seem like the ultimate dream for any actor, but not every star looks back fondly on the performance that made them famous. Some grew tired of being permanently associated with a single character, while others openly criticized the movies, the writing, or the behind-the-scenes experience. In a few cases, actors became frustrated that one role overshadowed the rest of their careers, no matter what they did afterward. Even as audiences continued to love those performances for decades, the actors themselves often felt very differently. Here are 15 actors who never seemed particularly enthusiastic about the roles that turned them into household names.

Kate Winslet — Titanic (1997)

Kate Winslet has admitted she struggles watching her own performance and became exhausted by how massive Titanic became.

Marlon Brando — A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Marlon Brando eventually became dismissive of many of his most famous performances despite their legendary reputation.

Megan Fox — Transformers (2007)

Megan Fox later criticized the production experience and became frustrated with how the franchise shaped her public image.

Robert Pattinson — Twilight (2008)

Robert Pattinson frequently mocked Edward Cullen in interviews and admitted he found the character strange and overly dramatic.

Sean Connery — Dr. No (1962)

Sean Connery often grew irritated with the endless attention surrounding James Bond and wanted to escape the role’s shadow.

Shelley Duvall — The Shining (1980)

The difficult filming process left Shelley Duvall emotionally drained during one of horror cinema’s most famous performances.

Shia LaBeouf — Transformers (2007)

Shia LaBeouf later admitted he felt disconnected from the franchise and criticized the films creatively.

Alec Guinness — Star Wars (1977)

Alec Guinness famously disliked the dialogue and never fully understood the obsession surrounding Obi Wan Kenobi.

Bill Murray — Garfield (2004)

Bill Murray openly joked about regretting Garfield after misunderstanding which filmmaker was attached to the project.

Burt Reynolds — Boogie Nights (1997)

Despite earning critical praise, Burt Reynolds reportedly clashed with the director and disliked the finished movie.

Christopher Plummer — The Sound of Music (1965)

Christopher Plummer sarcastically referred to the film as “The Sound of Mucus” because he disliked its sweetness.

Daniel Radcliffe — Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Daniel Radcliffe once called his own performance in the film difficult to watch because he felt unsatisfied with his acting.

George Clooney — Batman & Robin (1997)

George Clooney has repeatedly apologized for playing Batman in what many fans consider one of the weakest superhero movies ever made.

Harrison Ford — Star Wars (1977)

Harrison Ford spent years sounding far more interested in Indiana Jones than Han Solo, despite fans loving the character.