Everyone has a short personal blooper reel of their life – a haircut that was thoughtless, a text that was terribly written and that you cannot delete, or maybe that one Halloween outfit that you thought was funny (it really wasn’t). But for celebrities, the “what was I thinking? ” moments not only stay imprinted forever on their minds but also on film, and hence they go on living indefinitely on streaming sites and in online GIFs. To be sure, these are 10 of the most talked-about instances of actors lamenting their career choices who are now wishing they could change their scripts—starting from the one to the biggest regret.
10. Daniel Radcliffe – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
For a very large number of people, he will always be The Boy Who Lived. However, for Daniel Radcliffe? It’s The Boy Who Cringed that the sixth Harry Potter film is. He has confessed that he was not entirely satisfied with his work on Half-Blood Prince, calling it “one-note” and stating that his real high point was in Order of the Phoenix. Not even magicians are lucky all the time.
9. Kate Winslet – Titanic
Kate Winslet owes much of her popularity to Titanic—but that doesn’t mean she can sit through it without squirming. She’s publicly cringed at her American accent and admits that if she could, she’d remake nearly every scene. And as for the ending? Perhaps in her version, Jack gets a place on that door that floats.
8. Ryan Reynolds – Green Lantern
Before becoming Marvel’s go-to wisecracking mercenary, Reynolds wore a glowing green CGI costume for one of the biggest superhero flops of all time. He’s been ruthless, making fun of it ever since, incorporating jabs in Deadpool and conceding the film was… not that great. At least it provided him with plenty of self-deprecating fodder.
7. Zoe Saldaña – Nina
Performing music icon Nina Simone ought to have been a dream part for Zoe Saldaña, but the casting was criticized when she appeared in makeup to darken her complexion and a prosthetic nose to play the role. She later confessed that she shouldn’t have played the role at all, claiming a Black female actress should have been hired in the first place.
6. Eddie Redmayne – The Danish Girl
Redmayne’s performance as trans pioneer Lili Elbe got him an Oscar nod, but now he refers to the casting as “a mistake.” In hindsight, he says a trans actor would have been appropriate for the role—a forthright confession that’s created meaningful discussions regarding representation in Hollywood.
5. George Clooney – Batman & Robin
Batsuit nipples. Ice-themed puns. A script that almost froze the franchise solid. Clooney has no illusions about his time as Gotham’s caped crusader, openly referring to it as a paycheck job he regrets. He even displays a picture from the film in his office—strictly as a warning to himself.
4. Viola Davis – The Help
Even though she received an Oscar nomination, Viola Davis expressed unease about appearing in The Help, stating the film did not adequately capture the true lives of Black domestic workers. “I betrayed myself,” she’s remarked about accepting the role. Even master performances may leave one with a bitter taste in the mouth.
3. Dakota Johnson – Madame Web
Johnson waded into superhero territory with Madame Web, but critics (and viewers) weren’t generous. She wasn’t totally surprised by the negative reception, describing it as a worthwhile—if humbling—exercise. Let’s just say she won’t be donning a costume again anytime soon.
2. Shailene Woodley – The Secret Life of the American Teenager
What seemed like a career launchpad became a creative prison for Woodley. She’s reported she was contractually bound to a show that shoved values far from her own, making it one of the most difficult jobs she’s ever had. It turns out teen drama off-screen can be even more burdensome than what’s on-screen.
1. Mahershala Ali – Green Book
Winning an Oscar is typically no regrets—but not for Mahershala Ali. When the family of pianist Don Shirley spoke out against Green Book as inaccurate and unconsulted, Ali himself called them to say sorry. Awards are great, but integrity is heavier.
Hollywood glitters, but even the stars at their brightest have scenes they wish they could delete from their résumés. Unfortunately, there’s no “delete scene” button for life.