Will Smith and Anthony Michael Hall – Six Degrees of Separation
Not all cases of actors refusing to shoot simultaneously are motivated by on-set animosity, however. Will Smith, for example, got so squeamish about smooching with Anthony Michael Hall, his male co-star in 1993’s Six Degrees of Separation, that instead of puckering up he backed out of the scene.
Although a Smith stand-in was eventually used to pay lip service, nonetheless, the former-Fresh Prince still went on to quickly regret his decision. “It was very immature on my part,” he told Entertainment Weekly that same year. “I was thinking, ‘How are my friends in Philly going to think about this?’”
Lena Headey and Jerome Flynn – Game of Thrones
By all accounts, Lena Headey and Jerome Flynn used to get on well together – like really well. So much so that the English actors were even an item around the start of the century. However, the pair went through a bitter break-up in about 2003 which neither has quite forgotten, for it seems that ex marks the spot for the couple these days.
Currently, both Headey and Flynn are prime players in HBO’s epic TV extravaganza Game of Thrones. But the stars’ lasting dislike for each other – spoiler alert – means that their characters, Cersei and Bronn, will not be sharing a scene together anytime soon.
Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey - Batman Forever
Reports suggest that Jones, who played Two-Face, was not particularly fond of Carrey’s comedic style and personality, which might have influenced their on-set interactions.
Carrey, known for his energetic and over-the-top humor, played the Riddler, and his approach was quite different from Jones’s more serious and grounded portrayal of Two-Face.
There were rumors that Jones felt Carrey's style clashed with the tone he was aiming for in his own performance.
However, it’s worth noting that there isn't a lot of detailed public information about their personal conflicts, so some of this remains speculative. Despite this, both actors managed to complete their scenes for the film.
Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte - I Love Trouble
In the 1994 film I Love Trouble, Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte reportedly had a difficult working relationship, which influenced their on-screen chemistry. The tension between them was said to be so strong that they requested to shoot their scenes separately when possible.
Several reasons have been cited for their strained relationship. One factor was their differing acting styles: Roberts was known for her more emotive and spontaneous approach, while Nolte's style was more methodical and intense. Their conflicting work habits and personalities may have exacerbated the situation.
Additionally, there were reports of personal disagreements and clashes of ego, which are not uncommon in the film industry but can create significant challenges during production.
Despite these difficulties, both actors completed their roles, but the reported tension certainly impacted the film's behind-the-scenes dynamics.
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams – The Notebook
Anyone who has ever seen The Notebook – and don’t lie, you know you have – will attest to co-stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams’ sizzling on-screen chemistry. Nonetheless, the end result was testament to the pair’s acting abilities because in reality they were said to be somewhat cold to each other when filming the 2004 romance.
Speaking to VH-1 a decade later, director Nick Cassavetes revealed that Gosling had even asked to shoot his intimate scenes with a different actress. Happily, however, it seemed that the troubled twosome were able to overcome their initial differences – after filming wrapped, the actors playing Noah and Allie briefly became a couple in real life.
Richard Gere and Sylvester Stallone
Richard Gere and Sylvester Stallone reportedly had a strained relationship that led to their refusal to film together on some occasions. This tension is said to have stemmed from a combination of professional and personal differences.
One of the notable instances involved the film The Lords of Flatbush (1974), where Gere and Stallone had disagreements.
Gere's personality and acting style clashed with Stallone's, contributing to a difficult working environment. The friction between them was significant enough that it affected their collaboration on set.
Over time, their relationship reportedly did not improve, and they avoided working together again. This kind of on-set tension isn't uncommon, but it does sometimes lead to actors choosing to avoid projects where they might have to interact closely with individuals they don't get along with.
Lucy Liu and Bill Murray - Charlie’s Angels
In the 2000 film Charlie's Angels, there were reports of tension between Lucy Liu and Bill Murray. According to various accounts, the friction between them stemmed from a disagreement that occurred on set.
The conflict reportedly began during a scene where Murray was supposed to deliver a line that Liu felt was offensive or inappropriate.
This disagreement escalated, leading to a more strained working relationship. As a result, Liu and Murray did not interact much on set, and their scenes were often shot separately.
This kind of behind-the-scenes drama isn't unusual in the film industry, and while it can create tension, it doesn’t always impact the final product. Despite the reported difficulties, Charlie's Angels was completed and became a commercial success.
Shia LaBeouf and Alec Baldwin
Shia LaBeouf and Alec Baldwin had a well-publicized clash during the filming of the 2013 Broadway production of Orphans. Their conflict became a major topic of discussion in the media.
The tension between them was reportedly due to a combination of professional and personal issues. Baldwin, known for his strong personality and direct approach, and LaBeouf, known for his unpredictable behavior and intense style, had different work habits and creative visions. This clash of styles led to a highly charged environment on set.
The situation reached a point where LaBeouf left the production early, citing dissatisfaction with the direction and his interactions with Baldwin. LaBeouf's departure was followed by a public feud, with both actors making statements about the difficulties they faced while working together.
Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton - Twister
There were some reports of tension and a difficult working relationship between them during filming. This was partly attributed to the high-stress environment of the shoot and the demanding nature of the roles they were playing.
The film's production was challenging, with extensive use of special effects, demanding stunts, and long hours. Such conditions can sometimes strain relationships between actors. Additionally, Hunt and Paxton had different working styles and personalities, which might have contributed to the friction reported in the media.
Wesley Snipes and the rest of the cast – Blade: Trinity
We all expect a little diva behavior from our top stars, but it seems Wesley Snipes cut out a whole new reputation for himself while filming 2004’s Blade: Trinity. In a blunt 2012 interview with online magazine The A.V. Club, supporting player Patton Oswalt alleged that an unprofessional Snipes wasted hours of production time huffing marijuana in his trailer.
Moreover, Oswalt said that the blazed Blade only agreed to emerge from his private smoking den for close-ups, meaning that scenes involving other actors had to be completed using stand-in actors. If that was not enough, Snipes was even said to have attempted to throttle director David Goyer. Yeesh – no wonder they did not have it in them to make a sequel.
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford – What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Perhaps the grandmother of all celebrity feuds, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford’s abiding animosity for each other has become legendary. Spurred on by instances of outrageous attempts at upstaging and various stolen lovers, the pair’s vendetta ultimately resulted in them starring as dysfunctional sisters at war with each other in the 1962 classic What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
However, neither star deigned to make shooting a pleasant experience for the other on the fraught film set. Indeed, Davis reportedly kicked her co-star for real during a fight sequence, while Crawford turned heavy when she secretly wore weights for a scene in which Davis was required to drag her physically across a room.
Val Kilmer and Tom Sizemore – Red Planet
Known for being quite a tricky customer to work with, Val Kilmer has made just as many enemies as friends in Tinseltown. And fellow actor Tom Sizemore – who starred with him in 2000’s Red Planet – was at one point firmly in the former camp.
Despite apparently enjoying warm relations on the set of their previous film, Heat, the two friends allegedly fell out on Red Planet after a quarrel about gym equipment turned violent. In the aftermath, alternate lookalikes were used to keep both stars apart while the cameras rolled. However, both Kilmer and Sizemore have reportedly got the weights off their chests since then, and the pair are back to being buddies.
Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson – Vacancy
It is fair to say that a bad attitude to the job can sour any working relationship. And Luke Wilson’s reportedly poor performance on the set of 2007 horror flick Vacancy apparently left Kate Beckinsale feeling empty, having offended her sense of professionalism.
According to the New York Post’s Page Six gossip column, Wilson would often rock up for filming with a serious hangover and even declined to read lines to his co-star in certain scenes where he was not in shot. Naturally, Beckinsale resented rolling like this, and the English actress returned the favor, leading to a scary film which eerily featured more stand-in appearances than actual stars.
Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel – The Fate of the Furious
On-screen, The Fast and the Furious movie franchise is overflowing with excess testosterone. And, unfortunately, it seems that sometimes the same can be said of the behind-the-scenes action, which has seen two of the macho stars of the series come to a fork in the road.
After complaining on Instagram about his fellow actors behaving like “candyasses” around the set of The Fate of the Furious while filming in 2016, Dwayne Johnson confirmed that he did not shoot any scenes with fellow player Vin Diesel. “Vin and I had a few discussions,” The Rock admitted to Rolling Stone magazine in April 2018. “And what I came to realize is that we have a fundamental difference in philosophies.”
Kirk Cameron and Julie McCullough – Growing Pains
When Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron got born again in the late-1980s, his awakening would have a profound effect on the young TV actor’s life and later career. But his religious convictions would also have a massive effect on female star Julie McCullough, who met with her pious leading man’s disapproval.
After discovering the actress had once posed nude for Playboy, Cameron supposedly demanded McCullough’s dismissal in 1990. And, although the evangelical actor has since denied the accusation, McCullough reportedly refuses to turn the other cheek and still holds a grudge against the former sitcom star.
William Shatner and George Takei – Star Trek
Despite working together for some 50 years, for a long time now, Star Trek actors William Shatner and George Takei have fazed and stunned fans by putting the conversational shields up. “We do conventions and we’ll cross paths,” Takei told the Edmonton Journal newspaper in 2017 about their ongoing stand off.
“I’ll say, ‘Morning, Bill.’ And he’ll say, ‘Morning, George.’ And that’s it.” But, nine years before, Takei had offered Shatner an olive branch via an invitation for the Sulu actor’s wedding to Brad Altman. Nevertheless, Shatner failed to beam himself down for the happy occasion – perhaps he forgot to write it in his Captain’s Log.