8 Occasions When Female Actors Called Out Bullheaded Directors

Unfortunately, these actors aren’t the only ones who got a taste of Hollywood’s crappy way of treating women.

Damjan

• Published in Film & TV
• February 16, 2023

Movie-making is a highly stressful process for any director. It requires intense organization, creativity, and focus. Oftentimes, tight deadlines and long hours can take a toll on a director's well-being.

Additionally, the pressure to get the movie completed on time and to the producer’s satisfaction can bring out a director's worst side. It can be very easy for a director to become frustrated and burnt out from the stressful atmosphere of movie-making.

This can lead to the director making decisions out of anger or becoming overly critical of their own work and the work of their crew. This can impede the success of the project, as it can lead to tension and conflict on set.

If you think Hollywood directors have been getting away with too much, it's time to call 'action' on their inappropriate behavior! Female actors have been done wrong by directors for far too long, with some even being bullied into submission.

But thankfully, some brave actresses have started to stand up for themselves and call out these directors for their crap. #GirlPower!

Let's shed some light on the less glamorous side of the film industry and the actresses who aren't afraid to call out problematic directors. It's time to recognize these brave women who are standing up and speaking out!

7. Olivia Munn called out Bryan Singer for his irresponsible disappearance on the X-Men set

Munn shared that Singer had gone missing during the shooting of X-Men: Apocalypse in Montréal. He had apparently taken a plane to Los Angeles to attend to a "thyroid issue" and was away for 10 days, with him telling the cast and crew just to keep going with the filming.

6. Megan Fox thought Michael Bay was like Hitler

The animosity between Megan Fox and Michael Bay was well-known in Hollywood circles. Fox was openly disdainful of Bay, going so far as to describe him as "Hitler". She also accused him of having a misogynistic attitude and only wanting her to "be sexy" and "hot", even making her dance in a bikini when she was only 15.

5. Diane Kruger also didn’t have a great impression of Quentin Tarantino

When it came time to cast Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino had no intention of giving Diane Kruger an audition due to his lack of admiration for her previous work. However, when they had exhausted all other options, he reluctantly agreed to let her audition - something Kruger revealed in an interview that Tarantino was not pleased with for some time.

8. Gabrielle Union exposed NBC’s America Got Talent for its toxic working environment

Gabrielle Union revealed NBC's America's Got Talent had a hostile work environment. She felt "frustrated" with the amount of racism she experienced while working there. Even though she didn't name any of the directors, many people assumed Simon Cowell and his company, Syco Entertainment, were involved.

1. Amy Adams burst into tears because of David O. Russell

Amy Adams revealed to GQ Magazine UK that David O. Russell was hard on her while shooting American Hustle, to the point that it made her cry almost every day on set. She admitted it was a difficult experience to work with him.

3. Charisma Carpenter was also mistreated by Joss Whedon when she was pregnant

Charisma Carpenter alleged that Joss Whedon mistreated her on the set of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel after he found out she was pregnant. She even went so far as to call him a "former tyrannical narcissistic boss who is still unable to be accountable and just apologize" in a tweet.

2. Gal Gadot was threatened by Joss Whedon on the Justice League set

Gal Gadot was taken aback by the way Joss Whedon spoke to her on the Justice League set. His intimidating words left her feeling dizzy, and Ray Fisher, her costar in the film, also expressed his concerns about the director's toxic behavior.

4. Uma Thurman was bullied by Quentin Tarantino on the set of Kill Bill

After starring in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill movie series, Uma Thurman became an A-list Hollywood celebrity. However, the actress had a tense relationship with the director, and citing an instance of Tarantino's bullying,

Thurman revealed that he forced her to drive a dangerous car that led to a life-threatening accident. In an interview with The New York Times, Thurman shared that Tarantino refused to take her refusal to drive the vehicle and became angry, claiming that it would waste time.

Despite being reassured by Tarantino that "the car is fine," the car veered off the road and crashed into a tree, leaving Thurman with serious injuries. The director has since apologized to her and expressed his regret for his decision.

Many directors have been accused of taking out their frustrations on actors, especially female actors. This practice is wrong and should not be tolerated. Not only does it create a hostile work environment, but it can also have a detrimental effect on the mental health of the actor.

No one should ever have to experience this kind of treatment on the job. Directors should be held accountable for their actions and be required to maintain a safe and respectful work environment.

It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that all actors, regardless of gender, are treated with respect and dignity.

Damjan