10 TV Actors Who Disliked Their Most Famous Roles
The best TV Shows are defined by their amazing characters. Audiences have fallen in love with some of TV's greatest heroes and villains, and become captivated by their stories. A good television personality would be nothing without an exceptional actor, who imbues heart and soul into the character. Following claims to Yahoo News by Kate Jackson that she quit Charlie's Angels because her part of Sabrina Duncan was "killing" her personal life, audiences are sharing other actors who disliked their famous TV roles.
While fans may enjoy watching these incredible individuals, sometimes portraying such a popular person can take its toll on an actor's personal and professional life. The biggest stars of the small screen have become frustrated by the jobs they have undertaken, through either becoming frustrated with their characters' behavior or encountering a few problematic behind-the-scenes issues. Occasionally, assuming these major TV figures can be a chore for the talent involved.
The series follows the lives of two brothers, Del Boy and Rodney Trotter, as they navigate various schemes and business ventures in Peckham, London. They live with their Grandad and later their Uncle Albert. The series portrays their attempts to become millionaires despite frequent setbacks.
Release Date |
September 8, 1981-December 25, 2003 |
Starring |
David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Roger Lloyd Pack, Buster Merryfield, John Challis |
Stream On |
Britbox |
One of the most iconic British sitcoms is Only Fools And Horses. The late Roger Lloyd Pack's turn as Del Boy's friend, Trigger, is fondly remembered by Only Fools And Horses fans. However, it was frustrating for Roger Lloyd Pack, who grew fed up with people comparing his real-life persona to Trigger.
According to The Mirror, Roger Lloyd Pack became annoyed when viewers would talk to him as though he was Trigger at conventions. His co-star John Challis has described how Roger Lloyd Pack would try to "live down the Trigger thing," because of how his Only Fools And Horses character was seen as fairly dim-witted. Roger Lloyd Pack was markedly different, in comparison, being immensely knowledgeable.
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The murder of a young boy in a small coastal town brings a media frenzy, which threatens to tear the community apart.
From friendships to romantic relationships, some actors share undeniable chemistry that fans can't get enough of.
Release Date |
March 4, 2013-April 17, 2017 |
Starring |
David Tennant, Jodie Whittaker, Olivia Colman, David Bradley, Jonathan Bailey |
Stream On |
Roku |
Broadchurch features the best performances in a British crime show. One example is Jonathan Bailey, who played Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller's nephew, Olly Stevens. Jonathan Bailey adds a chaotic energy to Broadchurch, but he is not a fan of his character, disagreeing with his methods of obtaining information for the Broadchurch Echo newspaper.
Digital Spy reports how Jonathan Bailey considers Olly to be deeply unlikable. He has commented on how he believes Olly "represents a generation where everything is immediate," slamming his impatient attitude towards gathering intel for his newspaper. Instead of waiting for the police to make a statement regarding Broadchurch's murder victim, he tricks Ellie into revealing the identity of the murdered child, which displeases Jonathan Bailey.
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Follows Wednesday Addams' years as a student, when she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a killing spree, and solve the mystery that embroiled her parents.
Release Date |
November 23, 2022-Present |
Starring |
Jenny Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzman, Emma Myers, Hunter Doohan |
Stream On |
Netflix |
Wednesday is magnificent, detailing the titular character's school years at Nevermore Academy. The show would be nowhere near as successful without Jenny Ortega as Wednesday, however, who adds a certain charm to the antisocial teen. Unfortunately, the show's lead star is reportedly less enamored with the role, following several behind-the-scenes issues.
Elle has painted a somewhat unfavorable picture of Jenny Ortega's struggles with Wednesday's onscreen characterization. She refused to perform lines in Wednesday's scripts, coming to blows with the writers over how they wrote the teen. In addition, Jenny Ortega has recalled how she believed placing Wednesday in a love triangle with barista Tyler and her schoolmate Xavier "made no sense," suggesting Wednesday to have been a somewhat frustrating experience.
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The story behind Detective James Gordon's rise to prominence in Gotham City in the years before Batman's arrival.
Release Date |
September 22, 2014-April 25, 2019 |
Starring |
David Mazvouz, Ben McKenzie, Sean Pertwee, Donal Logue, Alexander Siddig |
Stream On |
Max |
From ensemble dramas like Euphoria to Netflix hits like You, audiences have been captivated by some incredible new talent on the small screen.
Alexander Siddig proved inspired casting in Gotham, bringing an enormous presence as the immortal villain, Ra's Al Ghul. Ra's Al Ghul is an intimidating figure in Gotham, manipulating Bruce Wayne into stabbing Bruce's butler, Alfred. While audiences were impressed by Alexander Siddig's take on the Batman antagonist, the star was critical of the way the part was written.
Speaking to Reel Talker, Alexander Siddig has vocalized his disappointment at Ra's Al Ghul's depiction in Gotham. Whilst he holds plenty of praise for his co-stars, including Bruce Wayne actor David Mazouz, he has expressed how playing the immortal wasn't "how he envisioned." Viewers disagree, considering Ra's Al Ghul to be one of many reasons why Gotham is an underrated action series.
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Under the guidance of his adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, Clark learns to control his powers and use them for good.
Release Date |
October 16, 2001-May 13, 2011 |
Starring |
Tom Welling, Kristen Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Allison Mack, Erica Durance |
Stream On |
Hulu |
Clark Kent has many female admirers in Smallville. Among his most iconic love interests is Lana Lang. Portrayed by Kristen Kreuk, Lana's "girl next door" energy makes her incredibly charming. Sadly, her actor Kristen Kreuk wasn't so fond of her time on Smallville, having previously discussed how she got into "many fights" with the show's creative team.
Speaking to Yahoo Movies, Kristen Kreuk has cited one episode in particular that made her hate playing Lana. She has labeled the Smallville story "Thirst" as "stupid," revealing how she confronted Smallville's executive producer Greg Beeman about Lana's part in it. She has also been critical of Lana's relationships, describing to the TalkVille Podcast how she "hated" the character's romance narratives "so much."
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At the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, waits a world in which every human appetite can be indulged without consequence.
Release Date |
October 2, 2016-August 14, 2022 |
Starring |
Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Wright, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, Tandiwe Newton |
Stream On |
NOW TV (UK), Currently Unavailable Overseas |
Westworld has greatly impressed sci-fi fans, who consider it one of the best shows about artificial intelligence. One of Westworld's standout stars is Ed Harris, known for playing the Man In Black, William. Unfortunately, he isn't entirely satisfied with how his character's journey developed.
WhatCulture has expressed how Ed Harris became disenchanted with William. A major subplot of Westworld's third season is William being committed to a mental institution, which infuriated Ed Harris, who declared that he "didn't sign on to play the Man In White." His lack of enthusiasm towards William in the show's later years is further evident in his claims that he's "just doing what the script tells me to do," distancing himself creatively from the show.
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Two FBI agents uncover a government conspiracy hiding the existence of aliens and a global pandemic threat. As they delve deeper, they confront shadowy forces and unearth a plot involving alien colonization of Earth. Their investigation challenges their beliefs and puts their lives at risk in their quest for the truth.
Release Date |
September 10, 1993-March 21, 2018 |
Starring |
David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, William Bruce Davis, Tom Braidwood |
Stream On |
Disney Plus |
A major factor in The X Files' success is Gillian Anderson's strong-minded skeptic Scully. She works extremely well as a counterpoint to Mulder's obsession with the supernatural. Despite fans hailing Scully as one of the best sci-fi heroes, Gillian Anderson is less keen on her character, believing her to lack agency.
IndieWire has noted how Gillian Anderson has accused her X Files protagonist of using sexist gender tropes. She has commented on how Scully was often expected to "walk behind [Mulder] when our characters walked up" to people they were investigating. She has also been critical of The X Files' Season 11 conclusion, which involved Scully revealing she is pregnant with Mulder's son, describing it as "such an old idea."
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After her cousin's disappearance leaves the city vulnerable, a young woman steps up to protect her home as a masked vigilante. Armed with martial arts skills and high-tech gadgets, she battles against a rising tide of crime and corruption, all while grappling with her own personal challenges and identity.
Release Date |
October 6, 2019-March 2, 2022 |
Starring |
Ruby Rose, Javicia Leslie, Dougray Scott, Rachel Skarsten, Meagan Tandy |
Stream On |
Max |
The Arrowverse has created some of the most iconic superhero castings, including Ruby Rose as Kate Kane, who assumes the mantle of Batwoman. Sadly, her time in Batwoman was short-lived, and her departure is one of the most controversial TV Show exits, leaving Batwoman after becoming unhappy with various backstage mishaps.
According to Business Insider, Ruby Rose tore into her unpleasant experience portraying Kate Kane on Instagram. She lamented about how she was expected to return to work 10 days after having gone through surgery for an injury. Ruby Rose's Instagram statement goes on to further declare that the studio "ruined Kate Kane," before confirming that she "wouldn't return" for a Batwoman revival.
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The series features the antics of the titular character, Mr. Bean, as he navigates everyday situations in humorous and often absurd ways. With minimal dialogue, the show focuses on physical comedy and visual gags, following Mr. Bean through various misadventures and mishaps in his daily life.
Release Date |
January 1, 1990-December 15, 1995 |
Starring |
Rowan Atkinson, Matilda Ziegler, Robin Driscoll, Michael Ashforde, Roger Sloman |
Stream On |
Prime Video |
2:04
TV dramas have been an entertainment mainstay for decades, with series like Game of Thrones and The Sopranos setting a universal standard.
Rowan Atkinson's comedy career has never truly died down, seeing him deliver his amusingly exaggerated characters in movies including Wonka and Scooby-Doo. His most famous role is easily Mr. Bean, which he played in both TV and film. Although audiences adore this bumbling fool, Rowan Atkinson is less enamored with his creation, stating how he "doesn't much enjoy playing him."
The Daily Mail has reported how Rowan Atkinson has detailed performing as Mr. Bean to be "stressful and exhausting," due to "the weight of responsibility" of playing such an iconic character. Rowan Atkinson goes on to express how he "looks forward to the end of it," representing a disappointing, pessimistic attitude towards Mr. Bean's hilarious antics.
The further adventures in time and space of the alien adventurer known as the Doctor and his companions from planet Earth.
Release Date |
November 23, 1963-Present |
Starring |
William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, John Hurt, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker, Jo Martin, Ncuti Gatwa |
Stream On |
Britbox (Classic series), Max (Series 1-13), Disney Plus (Season One) |
Reviving Doctor Who was tough for Russell T Davies in 2005, having been viewed as a joke by the public before it returned. Russell T Davies cast Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor in an attempt to change common opinion on Doctor Who, and succeeded. His lead, however, was unhappy with his part in the sci-fi, leaving after one series.
Speaking at New York Comic Con, Christopher Eccleston cited his reasons for leaving Doctor Who as because his "relationship with the showrunner and the producer broke down." He has also said that he was "never sure what Russell [T Davies] wanted" from his Doctor. He has since mellowed considerably on the Ninth Doctor, reprising the part for audio dramas.