We all know celebrities can be larger than life on screen—but what happens when the cameras stop rolling? Some of Hollywood’s brightest names have earned a reputation for being, shall we say, “challenging” behind the scenes. Below, we delve into stories from fellow actors, directors, and producers to see what really went down on set.
1. Lea Michele’s Glee-Off
When Lea Michele shot to fame as Rachel Berry on Glee, she seemed unstoppable—until her castmates started whispering. In Naya Rivera’s memoir, Sorry Not Sorry, Rivera recalls the moment Michele bristled at Santana’s surge in storyline: “Lea didn’t like sharing the spotlight,” Rivera wrote, and soon, Michele froze her out entirely during season six. Fast-forward to 2020, and former co-star Samantha Marie Ware publicly accused Michele of making her first TV gig “a living hell,” even alleging threats and vile comments about her wig. Heather Morris chimed in too, calling Michele “very unpleasant.” Michele later apologized on Instagram, acknowledging her faults and promising to learn and grow.
2. Edward Norton’s Hulk-Sized Vision
Edward Norton is the kind of actor who dives deep into his characters—too deep, according to Marvel. After starring as Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk (2008), Norton spent months rewriting the script to chart a new creative course for the franchise. Marvel initially greenlit his revisions, only to reverse course and ditch his material at the eleventh hour. Director Louis Leterrier likened the shelved version to a “suicide run,” while Norton himself quipped at a 2018 roast that his only mistake was “wanting a better script.” Eventually, Marvel swapped him out in favor of Mark Ruffalo.
3. Mike Myers: Comedy’s Perfectionist?
From Saturday Night Live to Austin Powers, Mike Myers has given us iconic laughs—but his on-set reputation tells another story. Director Thomas Schlamme of So I Married an Axe Murderer fame claims Myers sometimes refused to leave his trailer. Wayne’s World director Penelope Spheeris described him as “emotionally needy,” and producer Rob Fried complained that Myers “threaten[ed] and emote[d]” to get his way. Amy Hill, who co-starred in The Cat in the Hat, called the experience “nightmarish,” noting the barricades and tenting around his trailer. Myers defends himself as “passionate,” insisting that others misconstrued it for “insanity.”
4. Sharon Stone’s Italian Demands
By the time Sharon Stone touched down in Italy for The Golden Boy, she’d cemented her star status with hits like Basic Instinct. But director Pupi Avati told The Hollywood Reporter that her pre-contract requests “bordered on ridiculousness” and implied Italy was “third-world.” Producer Antonio Avati accused her of growing “more and more like Sharon Stone” in the worst way. On the final day of shooting, she vanished, only to negotiate new terms from L.A. via her manager. Stone’s camp shot back, calling her “the consummate professional.” Elsewhere, Page Six alleges she once demanded $300,000, eight hotel suites, and a private jet just to attend a jeweler’s gala—where Kim Kardashian reportedly agreed to appear for a pair of earrings.
5. Casey Affleck’s Hush-Hush Settlements
When Casey Affleck won Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea in 2016, the buzz wasn’t all positive. In 2008, two women—cinematographer Magdalena Gorka and producer Amanda White—filed suits accusing him of sexual harassment on the set of I’m Still Here. Gorka described it as “the most traumatizing experience of her career,” claiming she awoke to find Affleck in her bed; White alleged demeaning name-calling and unwanted advances. The cases settled out of court, but the controversy lingered. Brie Larson visibly abstained from congratulating him at the Oscars, and critics argued that honoring Affleck “perpetuates a cycle of sexism.” Affleck issued a public apology, admitting his behavior was “unprofessional.”
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