Shocking story behind actors and their most controversial films

Some of Hollywood's notable actors have taken on roles that either made them or break them.

Who knew one of your favourite actors and movies they do might entertaining for you but were quite opposite for them.

Let’s talk about the most jaw-dropping controversies surrounding some of Hollywood's notable actors and their most controversial films:.

Kevin Costner in 'JFK'

Kevin Costner starred in the JFK is based on a dramatisation of the investigation into President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

Costner, who played New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison in the 1991 film, saw the movie's lasting legacy as a reminder to question authority.

“What you have to keep in mind when you’re making a movie is you’re not making it for opening weekend, although that’s the god that everybody’s praying to out there,” the Let Him Go said, adding, “The reality is there are going to be people that it has a chance to mark, and a movie like JFK, it has a chance for generations to visit it when they come of an age where that interests them, and the questions posed are really important.”

The 70-year-old actor added, “There was a shift in the country. We used to think — my parents thought, certainly — that people in power told you the truth, and it’s really not always the case. We’ve seen that for the last 60 years.”

Zoe Saldana in 'Nina'

Zoe Saldana played the role of Nina Simone in the biopic titled Nina, which featured the singer's life, struggles, and music, but it received mixed reviews and sparked controversy.

Saldana's experience working in the 2016 movie was marked by controversy, with many critics questioning her casting and the film's overall approach to Simone's life and legacy.

This change of heart came after facing criticism for her portrayal, particularly regarding her light skin tone compared to Simone's darker complexion.

While talking about her role in the movie, the 47-year-old actress an August 2020 interview said, “I should have never played Nina. I should have done everything in my power to cast a Black woman to play an exceptionally perfect Black woman."

Jodie Foster in 'Taxi Driver'

Jodie Foster played the role of Iris, a young prostitute, in Taxi Driver which explored themes of isolation, madness, and the darker side of urban life.

Foster's experience working on the 1976 film, as per the actress, was never that big of deal.

“I don’t think it was uncomfortable for me; I think it was uncomfortable for other people, but it wasn’t really for me… I had been an actress for a long time, I had done a lot of movies before I did Taxi Driver,” the 62-year-old actress said, adding, “To me it was another role, and I understood the difference between making movies and actually being a person. So it wasn’t really impactful for me. I don’t think I was confused by the sexuality in the film.”

Linda Blair in 'The Exorcist'

Linda Blair played the role as Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist, where the actress’ portrayal of a young girl possessed by a demon earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Unfortunately, despite its success, the 1973 horror classic caused the young actress a great deal of stress, who said, “Nothing like it was being made at that time so I just really had no idea of what this story would become… And when the movie came out, the amount of pressure that came down on me wasn’t anything I was prepared for.”

She explained, “Especially all the pressure the press put on me - they thought I had all the answers about faith and Catholicism.

“I was not raised Catholic so I didn’t have any answers, and I certainly didn’t understand a lot of what was happening in the story either.

We didn’t talk about any of these things – God, the devil, evil – before we started shooting… to me it was just a character that was made up from special effects and not a symbol of something more like Regan has become over the years.”

Sharon Stone in 'Basic Instinct'

Sharon Stone played the role as Catherine Tramell in film titled Basic Instinct, explores themes of desire, obsession, and manipulation.

In the 1992 neo-noir thriller, Stone's character crossing her legs and revealing she wears no inner garments became a memorable moment in cinematic history.

In an excerpt from her memoir, The Beauty of Living Twice, the 67-year-old actress explained, “After we shot Basic Instinct, I got called in to see it. Not on my own with the director… but with a room full of agents and lawyers, most of whom had nothing to do with the project.”

The actress explained, “That was how I saw… [the scene] for the first time, long after I’d been told, ‘We can’t see anything—I just need you to remove your panties, as the white is reflecting the light, so we know you have panties on.’ Yes, there have been many points of view on this topic, but since I’m the one with the vagina in question, let me say: The other points of view are bullsh*t.”

The Nobody 2 actress added, “It was me and my parts up there. I had decisions to make. I went to the projection booth, slapped [director] Paul [Verhoeven] across the face, left, went to my car, and called my lawyer, Marty Singer. Marty told me that they could not release this film as it was… it wasn’t legal to shoot up my dress in this fashion. Whew, I thought…

“After the screening, I let Paul know of the options Marty had laid out for me. Of course, he vehemently denied that I had any choices at all. I was just an actress, just a woman; what choices could I have? But I did have choices. So I thought and thought and I chose to allow this scene in the film. Why? Because it was correct for the film and for the character; and because, after all, I did it.”

Brooke Shields in 'Pretty Baby'

Brooke Shields’ nude scenes in Pretty Baby did causes controversy as she was only 12 years old.

Shields was exposed to some of the backlash, remembering a daytime talk show where the audience berated her mother.

While talking about starring in the 1978 historical drama, Shields said, “This is terrible you let your daughter do this.” And my mom says, ‘Have you seen the film?’ And they would say, ‘No, I would never go see a movie like that.’”

Now a grown-up woman herself, the 60-year-old actress, who is a mother herself, said that she would have some reservations about such a film starring her own daughter, saying, “In this environment and with social media and with the dangers on that level and just being a mom now, looking at my 11-year-old, I would not facilitate it.”