Not Only Joffrey: 5 Actors Who Were Hated in Real Life Because of Their Roles
They played dubious characters on the screen, but the audience's hatred was aimed at the actors themselves.
Because of their roles, actors often became targets for viewers – they are forced to face not only hate, but threats and bullying. We remembered the five brightest examples.
1. Breaking Bad (2008-2013) – Anna Gunn
The actress became famous for her role as Skyler White in Breaking Bad. As Anna said, she received numerous death threats. Hate communities appeared on social networks, where fans of the franchise bullied both the character and the actress.
The fact is that in last seasons Skyler became an antagonist to the main character Walter. The author of the series, Vince Gilligan, stated that neither the character nor Gunn himself deserved such bullying.
2. Game of Thrones (2011-2019) – Lena Headey
The actress played Cersei Lannister, Joffrey Baratheon's mother, on Game of Thrones and faced a wave of hatred. This family tandem was not viewers' favorite, but there is no denying that Headey did a great job with the role.
Many viewers accused her character of being cunning and cruel, and it left its mark on the actress' daily life. Headey said that people on the street refused to greet her, and some would run up to her and say unpleasant comments to her face.
3. The Star Wars Saga (1977-...) – Ian McDiarmid
The Scottish actor became famous for his role as Emperor Palpatine in the epic Star Wars film saga. Darth Sidious destroyed the Jedi Order, trained Darth Vader, and secretly brought the inhabitants of the galaxy to war.
Ian McDiarmid became responsible for all of Palpatine's atrocities. The actor recalled that children would cry when they saw him on the street, and parents would beg him to be nicer in their presence.
4. Gone Girl (2014) – Rosamund Pike
Many people know British actress Rosamund Pike, winner of Golden Globe and Emmy Awards, Oscar nominee for her role as Amy Dunne in David Fincher's Gone Girl.
After playing a cunning and cruel woman, Pike faced an unexpected reaction from the public: many viewers began to be afraid of her in real life, and some men even refused to sit next to her. There were also instances of passersby avoiding eye contact for fear of being manipulated.
5. Gladiator (2000) – Joaquin Phoenix
The actor, who played Emperor Commodus in Gladiator, recalled that viewers hated him after the movie came out. Phoenix was only 25 at the time.
During filming, in order to get into the role of the villainous ruler, he asked people to argue and fight with him on the set. This was Phoenix's way of provoking real aggression in himself. He even suggested that his colleague Russell Crowe, who played Maximus, hit him before a take.