19 Iconic On-Screen Outfits That Actors Hated Wearing On Set

Batman, Catwoman, Grinch, and more.

Jesse

• Published in News
• September 15, 2024

We’ve all had those moments, right? You put on an outfit that looked incredible in the mirror, only to realize it’s a fashion disaster halfway through the day. Now imagine wearing something uncomfortable, embarrassing, or downright horrid for weeks or even months—under the watchful eyes of millions. Yeah, not so glamorous, is it?

When it comes to movie magic, costumes are a critical piece of the puzzle. They help create iconic characters, immortalize scenes, and even set trends that spread far beyond the big screen. 

But while we might love seeing our favorite stars don those legendary looks, the actors themselves often have a much different experience. 

Many of your favorite actors have come clean about their costume nightmares. The reality behind some of the most iconic on-screen looks is that they were pure agony to wear. 

From restrictive corsets to heavy, suffocating prosthetics, these outfits made shooting a living hell for many of our favorite stars. What we see as glamorous or cool can, in truth, be incredibly uncomfortable or downright painful, leaving the actors counting down the minutes until they could rip the costume off at the end of the day.

Here’s a list of 19 actors who absolutely hated or deeply regretted their famous onscreen looks—and the sometimes hilarious, sometimes horrifying stories behind them. 

Fair warning: you might never look at these iconic moments the same way again!

1. Jennifer Aniston’s haircut from Friends may have been one of the most iconic looks of the ’90s, but the actress herself wasn’t a fan.

Apparently, it was a nightmare to style without the magic touch of her hairstylist, Chris McMillan. She even joked that it was a form of job security for him because no one else could figure it out!

2. Remember Princess Leia’s gold bikini in Return of the Jedi? Carrie Fisher certainly does — with absolute loathing. She once joked that it was what supermodels would wear in the seventh ring of hell.

3. Simone Ashley, who played Kate Sharma on Bridgerton, learned quickly that corsets are not your friend. The corset restricted her movements and caused so much discomfort that she even tore her shoulder. Talk about suffering for your art.

4. Playing the Grinch might seem fun, but for Jim Carrey, it felt like torture.

The makeup process took 8.5 hours on the first day, and by the end of it, he was ready to quit. It was so bad that they had to bring in a CIA operative to teach him how to endure extreme discomfort. Now, that’s commitment to a role.

5. While every boy dreams of being Batman, Val Kilmer quickly realized the reality was far less glamorous. The Batsuit was so restrictive that he needed assistance just to move. Turns out, being Batman is not as cool as it looks

6. Uma Thurman wasn’t thrilled about her yellow tracksuit in Kill Bill. She thought she looked like a banana Popsicle and even believed Quentin Tarantino was trying to make her look ridiculous.

7. Kaley Cuoco thought chopping her hair into a pixie cut during The Big Bang Theory would save time in the makeup chair. She was wrong.

8. Playing Hannah Montana at age 11 had Miley Cyrus feeling like she was in a “Toddlers & Tiaras” episode. She confessed that the show’s strict beauty standards warped her self-image, leading to a confusing identity crisis once the show wrapped.

9. While Harley Quinn's hot pants might scream "fun and quirky," Margot Robbie absolutely hated wearing them.

10. Laura Vandervoort, who played Supergirl on Smallville, requested that her wardrobe be burned once she was done with the show. That’s one way to make sure you never have to see it again!

11. Patrick Stewart’s iconic Captain Picard uniform in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” may have looked sleek, but it caused serious back issues. His chiropractor threatened a lawsuit unless the costume was changed, and thankfully, it was.

12. Oscar Isaac spent X-Men: Apocalypse encased in latex, glue, and a 40-pound suit. He couldn’t move his head, was constantly sweating, and had to wear a cooling system to survive. Safe to say, the experience wasn’t very heroic for him.

13. Carrie Bradshaw’s short hair in Sex and the City Season 5 was a look Sarah Jessica Parker wasn’t too fond of. She later remarked that it’s a phase that’s best left forgotten.

14. Malin Akerman’s latex suit as Silk Spectre in Watchmen was so uncomfortable that by the end of filming, she would have rather walked around naked. Given how tight and sweaty the suit was, can you blame her?

15. To play Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter, Tom Felton had to bleach his hair regularly. The process was painful, and at times, it felt like fire ants were attacking his scalp—the things actors do for their roles.

16. Scarlett Johansson wasn’t thrilled about her skin-tight Black Widow costume. While it looked great on screen, it was so hot and restrictive that she started hallucinating during one of the rooftop scenes.

17. Michelle Pfeiffer’s latex Catwoman suit in Batman Returns was so uncomfortable that she’s called it the worst costume she’s ever worn. And that’s saying something for someone with such an extensive career.

18. Paul Bettany’s Vision costume in the MCU wasn’t just uncomfortable — it was painful. It took over three hours to apply the makeup and suit, and within seconds of wrapping up filming, he’d rip it all off.

19. Playing The Tick may sound fun, but Peter Serafinowicz struggled with his non-breathable spandex suit. Whether it was freezing cold or blistering hot, the suit mimicked the weather, making it an all-around miserable experience.

In conclusion, the glamorous costumes we adore on screen aren’t always as fun to wear. Sometimes, the actors who bring our favorite characters to life have to endure discomfort, frustration, and even physical pain.

So, next time you see that iconic outfit, spare a thought for the poor soul who had to suffer through it.

Jesse