Top 10 Actors Who Were Traumatized by Movie Roles

“Les Misérables” (2012)
Portraying the mistreated worker Fantine, Anne Hathaway had her work cut out for her in the 2012 adaptation of “Les Misérables.” She ultimately felt that it was hard to separate herself from the role. Playing a character that goes through a hellish journey, Hathaway cut her hair and lost more than a few pounds to look deathly ill. The actress also delivered one of the most compelling scenes in the film for the “I Dreamed a Dream” sequence. An all-encompassing experience, the project left her in an emotionally vulnerable state that took time to shake off.

“Who Framed Roger Rabbit” (1988)
Bob Hoskins joined “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” as its main actor, portraying Eddie Valiant in a groundbreaking production. Robert Zemeckis’ project involved a seamless blend of live-action and animated elements. Therefore, Hoskins was essentially forced to act to several invisible counterparts, requiring him to imagine that the title character and others were really next to him. This inspired him to create his own “hallucinations” of the cartoons to deliver a more convincing performance. Seeing the toons when they weren’t there, the star had a hard time turning off his newfound ability after filming concluded. He was advised by medical professionals to take a break in order to recalibrate his mind.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000)
It wasn't all fun and fairy tales for actor Jim Carrey on the set of Ron Howard's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." The process required for him to get into his makeup took several hours a day. As a result, Carrey, who was frustrated with the demands, even wanted to leave the project. So the team decided to recruit a (likely former) advisor to the CIA to help the performer endure the torturous event. This, and the Bee Gees’ music, allowed him to better deal with the psychological effects of the production. However, those working with the star throughout all this didn’t always have it easy.

“Kill Bill: Volume 2” (2004)
While filming the martial arts movie “Kill Bill,” Uma Thurman had to drive a car down a sand road. The actress had reservations about the vehicle and the route, initially refusing to do the stunt. After some coaxing from Tarantino, Thurman complied, but ended up losing control and crashing. The subsequent issues included a concussion and knee injuries. Not only was there physical pain, the performer felt betrayed by the executives who allegedly lied about the accident to avoid culpability. Tarantino, for his part, has expressed his regret over the incident. Thurman’s injuries also led to permanent damage. She was ultimately able to keep acting, even though her overall trust in Hollywood seemingly dwindled as a result.

“Joker” (2019)
Unsurprisingly, becoming a killer clown isn’t an easy task for a performer. Joaquin Phoenix brought his own take on the comic book villain in the Todd Phillips’ film “Joker.” He dropped 52 pounds in order to embody the complicated physicality of Arthur Fleck, contorting his body in an extraordinary change. His specificity even made him obsess over his weight down to the decimal. The actor self-described this as a disorder of sorts and an encapsulation of his character’s mental state. Phoenix ended up receiving many accolades for his performance, showing that his efforts weren’t for nothing.

“The Pianist” (2002)
For the acclaimed drama “The Pianist,” Adrien Brody chose to portray Władysław Szpilman with the utmost accuracy. He learned to play classical pieces on the piano and lost large amounts of weight in order to transform into a real-life Holocaust survivor. Not just that, he changed his personal life to immerse himself in the character. This took a considerable toll on Brody’s mental health, leading to a depression he even characterized as a “mourning” following the production. Indeed, the material depicted in the plot put him into a state of sadness that compelled him to sleep at friends’ places for a period of time. Brody went on to earn the Academy Award for Best Actor.

“Hereditary” (2018)
In Ari Aster’s horror drama “Hereditary,” Alex Wolff plays the teenage son in a family dealing with tragedy. His character, Peter, had to do things like be behind the wheel of a terrifying accident and argue with his grieving mother in intense moments. As strange happenings seem to follow the characters, it seems the production got all too real for Wolff at times. The frightening sequence of him in a classroom required him to smash into a desk. Dedicated to his role, he accidentally hit his knee and injured his ankle. He also found himself reeling from the overall emotional toll the part took on him, experiencing psychological distress and sleep problems as a result.

“The Birds” (1963)
Tippi Hedren had her breakthrough bringing Melanie Daniels to life in “The Birds,” but unfortunately it wasn’t always a pleasant experience for the actress. She was forced to endure real birds being used to attack her while filming, which eventually led to her receiving medical care. This was after she was initially told there would be fake versions of the animals instead. Unfortunately, Hedren also had to avoid harassment from the movie’s director, Alfred Hitchcock. She would collaborate one more time with the filmmaker in the movie “Marnie,” continuing a difficult working relationship that could’ve pushed her out of the business altogether.

“Psycho” (1960)
Janet Leigh is best remembered for her starring role in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho.” Her masterful performance as Marion Crane takes her to the Bates Motel, where she takes a fateful shower that’s interrupted by Norman Bates. The production involved an intensive shoot to cover every angle of the attack. It wasn’t until afterwards that Leigh really found the moment chilling, developing something of a phobia with regards to showers. Disturbed people even wrote her letters saying they would try to recreate the scene. This prompted the performer to become especially cautious and to switch to baths whenever possible instead.

“The Shining” (1980)
“The Shining” is a terrifying film. But for Shelley Duvall, shooting it was also horrifying off screen. She starred as writer Jack Torrance’s wife Wendy, who gets terrorized by her deranged husband. To maintain her frightened screen presence, director Stanley Kubrick repeatedly subjected her and co-stars to endless takes. This involved her having to scream and cry for extended periods of time, which was rather taxing. In other words, Kubrick pushed the limits of her psyche beyond reason. We all know how emotional the performance Duvall ended up giving was. But given the working conditions, it seems she didn’t always entirely have control over the authenticity she brought to the part.