16 Movie Roles That Resulted in Unfortunate Consequences For The Actors

Sometimes things don't go as planned.

Damjan

• Published in Film & TV
• February 17, 2023

Acting is a career that has been considered by many as one of the most exciting and easy to pursue. Those who are passionate and driven may look to become famous actors and reap the rewards of such a job.

However, the truth is that it is not easy to become a renowned actor, and those dreams can be quickly deflated when the road toward becoming a successful actor is explored. In the world of acting, many roles are presented to actors, and some of these roles bring worldwide recognition, while others bring criticism and stigmas.

It is common for some actors to be typecast as certain characters, and if they cannot break away from specific characters, it can quickly lead to an unfulfilling career. Actors need to understand the varying degrees of available roles and the potential implications of a part.

In addition, actors need to be aware of the potential benefits and consequences of taking on a specific position. One of the most critical aspects of an actor's career is demonstrating the range and versatility of their actions, as this is one of the key factors determining their success.

In addition, actors need to be aware of the potential for a short career, as there is always the chance that their roles may be limited, or they may be unable to break away from the characters they have been cast in.

This may result in them leaving the world of acting and returning to their previous professions.

1. David Schwimmer, Friends

David Schwimmer achieved great fame due to his role in "Friends"; however, this meant people had a hard time seeing him as anything else. As a result, he had difficulty coping with the attention and often felt like he wanted to hide away. However, Schwimmer still chose to take on diverse roles, trying to break free of the Ross stereotype.

2. Jared Leto, Morbius

In 2022, the much-anticipated movie "Morbius" turned out to be one of the biggest flops. The movie reviews were overwhelmingly negative, with Jared Leto's acting receiving particular criticism. Yet, despite its failure, many scenes from the movie still went viral, spawning an abundance of memes.

3. Camila Cabello, Cinderella

Camila Cabello achieved fame at a young age due to her success in Fifth Harmony, a renowned pop group. In 2021, she attempted to branch out into acting, but unfortunately, her first role as Cinderella was met with unfavorable reviews, despite her impressive singing abilities.

4. Michael Bakari Jordan, Black Panther

Michael Bakari Jordan had to go through a lot to accurately portray the character Erik Killmonger which caused many viewers to sympathize with him. After the role, he had to take therapy to deal with some psychological issues.

5. Angelina Jolie, Eternals

When Angelina Jolie joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021 with the movie "Eternals,” many were excited. However, this movie turned out to be a huge mistake, with critics calling it the worst Marvel movie ever.

The story was criticized for lacking development, and Jolie's performance was harshly received. In recent years Jolie has been focusing more on directing than acting, which could explain why "Eternals" was so underwhelming.

6. Pamela Anderson, Barb Wire

After reading the script for "Barb Wire,” Pamela Anderson had high hopes that her performance would be worthy of an Oscar. Unfortunately, the movie ended up an enormous failure, and Anderson received the much-dreaded Golden Raspberry Award instead.

7. Madonna, Die Another Day

Despite her success in music, Madonna attempted to act and had some significant roles in films such as Evita and Desperately Seeking Susan. Unfortunately, two terrible parts in Swept Away and Die Another Day caused her to receive two Golden Raspberry awards, earning her a reputation as a poor actress. After that, Madonna returned to her musical career.

8. Dev Patel, The Last Airbender

After becoming famous for his role in “Slumdog Millionaire,” Dev Patel accepted an offer to play a villain in “The Last Airbender.” Unfortunately, the film was a box office bomb, and he decided never to do superhero movies again.

9. Emile Hirsch, Speed Racer

Despite the box office failure of "Speed Racer," Emile Hirsch's involvement in the movie opened the doors to more significant roles in the future. After a few years, he was cast alongside Matthew McConaughey in "Killer Joe" and Paul Rudd in "Prince Avalanche."

10. January Jones, X-Men: First Class

January Jones' performance as Emma Frost in "X-Men: First Class" was met with heavy criticism, making the situation even more intriguing due to the rumor of a romance between Jones and the director of the film, Matthew Vaughn.

Following this, Jones only appeared in a few more movies before taking a long break and returning to the movie industry.

11. Meg Ryan, Proof of Life

After her captivating performances in "Sleepless in Seattle" and "You've Got Mail," Meg Ryan was dubbed the queen of romantic comedies. Even though the films were not well-received, Ryan and Russell Crowe's onscreen chemistry suggested a budding romance.

However, the actress was still married to actor Dennis Quaid, which diminished her public image. Subsequently, Ryan primarily took on roles in independent films.

12. Faye Dunaway — Mommie Dearest

Faye Dunaway admitted to accepting the role of Joan Crawford, which caused her career to take a turn for the worse. Every night after filming, she felt as if Crawford had followed her home, and there were rumors that she was incredibly unkind to her co-workers and humiliated them on set. This unpleasant behavior was known throughout Hollywood.

13. Mischa Barton, The O.C.

After her breakthrough role in "The O.C.,” Mischa Barton gained worldwide fame and struggled to cope. As a result, she chose to take a break from Hollywood for a few years. Her next on-screen appearance was not until three years later.

14. Jessica Alba, An Invisible Sign

At the start of the 2000s, Jessica Alba was hugely famous; however, by the close of the decade, she had made a series of poorly received films, one of them being “An Invisible Sign,” which received an abysmal 0% of Rotten Tomatoes.

The failure was attributed mainly to Alba. Following that, she began taking on a lot fewer projects.

15. Hugh Grant, Did You Hear About the Morgans?

Hugh Grant's disastrous performance in Did You Hear About the Morgans? This caused him to take a 3-year break from acting for audiences to forget it. Critics remarked that Grant and Jessica Parker had no chemistry, and Grant himself admitted the film cost him his status as a highly sought-after and well-compensated actor.

In 2012's Cloud Atlas, in which he took on the challenge of playing six characters, he could restore his reputation fully.

16. Jessica Chastain, The 355

After participating in "The 355," Jessica Chastain quickly realized it wasn't the best decision, as the film was anything but extraordinary or noteworthy. She immediately began new projects to move on, like James Gray's Armageddon Time and Michel Franco's Memory.

No one is immune to life's disappointments. Even the most successful actors experience moments when things don't work out as they had hoped. They may have put in months of hard work preparing for a role only to miss out on the part.

They may have landed their dream job only to find out that the director had a different vision than they did. They may have put their heart and soul into a project only to find out it was a flop.

But the important thing is to get up after falling.

Damjan