These characters were career-defining, but not in a good way.
Welcome to WatchMojo UK and we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 roles British
actors want you to forget.
For this list, we’re ruling out embarrassing early or break-out performances - those are
for another video – but focusing instead on standout blips on the CVs of already established
actors.
Taking the lead in a bad sequel can be hard, and no-one takes it harder than this famously
intense actor.
Having initially turned the movie down, Christian Bale eventually signed up for “Terminator
Salvation” with reported determination to bring a fresh dynamic to the role of John
Connor.
But his efforts to bring life to the franchise weren’t successful, and his frustrations
erupted in an on-set meltdown - a leaked recording of which proved far more memorable than the
movie itself.
It’s not surprising that Bale swore never to work with director McG again.
The screen adaptations of E.L.
James’ steamy novels brought instant fame to both the lead actors – together with
intense interest in their personal lives.
And while Dornan took the role of Christian Grey to raise his profile, he is said to have
found the media scrutiny intrusive, and was embarrassed by the consistently negative reviews.
Having proven his considerable acting credentials in historical thriller “Anthropoid” and
TV drama “The Fall”, Dornan has seemed keen to uncuff himself from the “Fifty Shades”
franchise, ruling out any further appearances as Christian.
Patrick Stewart is well known for never taking himself too seriously - despite his many pristine
performances.
And while his voice work on shows like “American Dad!” has proven a big hit with fans, not
every animated venture hits the sweet spot.
And “The Emoji Movie” was an all out disaster.
Yes, watching a smiling, strolling poop symbol say stuff in Stewart’s well-rounded accent
does carry a certain charm - but only for a few seconds.
After that, it’s fit for flushing.
This Oscar-winning actress signed up for Peter Farrelly’s ensemble comedy, with a host
of top Hollywood talent, supposedly expecting something successful.
But the A-list cast couldn’t turn a Z-list script into something worth watching.
Made up of multiple interlinked sketches, for Winslet’s segment she goes on a date
with Hugh Jackman (as you’ve never seen him before).
Even kinder critics described the comedy as the worst film they’d ever seen, and most
of the cast agreed, and even refused to promote the movie.
Sometimes good actors get involved with bad movies.
And that’s what happened to Gary Oldman in this straight-to-DVD misfire.
Oldman received some praise for a well-judged performance as Rolfe, the dwarf brother to
Matthew McConaughey’s lead character.
But, as Rolfe help his brother’s partner understand dwarfism, the film can’t fully
decide if it’s a thoughtful drama or a dwarf-themed rom-com.
Ultimately, it comes up short on both counts, with critics finding it awkward and insensitive.
By the end of the “Twilight” series, the supernatural excitement had long been sucked
out of Robert Pattinson, who became famously frank about his frustrations with the movies.
While filming, Pattinson had clashed with producers who had wanted Edward Cullen to
be a happier character.
But the actor was also annoyed by increased media attention on his private life - particularly
his relationship with co-star Kristen Stewart.
Eventually, the biting reviews, teen-lit storylines and unbridled fan hysteria took its toll,
with R-Patz taking every opportunity to turn his back on the saga.
“United Passions” is a definite case of ‘wrong film, wrong time’.
A movie which portrays football’s governing body as a force for global good, and Sepp
Blatter as a man of principal, it was unfortunately released just as the 2015 FIFA corruption
scandal was unfolding.
Tim Roth might’ve expected Blatter to be a complex but worthwhile character to play,
but with the film also facing accusations of whitewashing central figures, the entire
project turned into a monumental own goal.
Keen to break his buttoned-up Englishman stereotype, Eddie Redmayne mixed it up by appearing in
this big-budget space-opera.
In “Jupiter Ascending”, a lavish and ambitious attempt at a sci-fi epic, he plays Balem Abrasax,
the evil heir to an intergalactic dynasty - giving the character a silly voice, amazing
abs and an obscure habit for screaming suddenly.
For a destroyer-of-worlds space-villain, Abrasax was woefully unimposing.
But Redmayne’s weird performance didn’t hurt his career – he won an Oscar for “The
Theory of Everything” in the same year.
Now, what do you do if you’ve just bought yourself an Irish castle, and you need money
to pay for it?
If you’re Jeremy Irons, you do “Dungeons and Dragons”.
The classically trained actor actually admitted to taking this role only to balance his finances,
having just purchased a sizeable property.
And he gives an outrageously OTT performance for the cheap-looking fantasy flop.
Based on the popular board game, the film features several poor showings from good actors,
but Jeremy’s performance as the evil Profion is a masterclass in what-the-hell craziness.
Our winner’s an off-the-wall performance from an actor best known for historical dramas.
So, playing Michael Jackson in the Sky Arts series “Urban Myths” was definitely a
departure from the norm – but not the good kind.
The controversial episode imagines Jackson, Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor taking
a road trip shortly after 9/11 - and while the concept was intriguing, audiences were
incensed that a white actor should play Michael.
The episode was eventually pulled after the trailer triggered a huge backlash, and was
even denounced by Jackson’s daughter, Paris.