15 movie couples that hated each other in real life

Theirs is one of contemporary cinema’s most celebrated romances, complete with that iconic scene of them smooching in the rain. Sadly for fans of ‘The Notebook’, the relationship between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams was stormy off screen too. Gosling allegedly asked director Nick Cassavetes to replace McAdams with another actress after shooting had begun, and Cassavetes recalls walking into a room to find the pair screaming at each other at the top of their voices. Of course, Ryan and Rachel went on to be one of the cutest couples in Hollywood, which just goes to show how accurate that terrible ‘opposites attract’ rom-com cliché can be.

In his book ‘An Actor And A Gentleman’, Louis Gossett Jr lifted the lid on one of the most popular (and most parodied) movie relationships of the 1980s – apparently all the sailor suits in the world couldn’t make Richard Gere and Debra Winger abide one another. Winger despised making the film and likened co-star Gere to “a brick wall”. It’s been over 30 years since he carried her off into the sunset, so Gere and Winger’s difficult relationship has thawed in the interim. Says Winger now, “I run in to Richard Gere quite a lot and he half jokes, ‘Are you still saying terrible things about me?’”

On the set it was more like Streep vs Hoffman as he went to brutal lengths in order to get the performance he wanted out of her. He not only slapped her across the face but also taunted Meryl about the death of her lover John Cazale who had passed away months earlier. Hoffman’s emotional assaults continued throughout production and needless to say there was no love lost between them.

Anyone who has seen the movie My Week With Marilyn knows that the bombshell and British thespian weren’t exactly pals while shooting this film. An insecure actress, Monroe couldn’t deliver lines without her acting coach nearby, that’s when she could remember them, and often arrived late on set. She did have fun with a production assistant called Colin though, if the movie is to be believed.

“It was like kissing Hitler,” said Tony Curtis of his co-star – and an entire generation of men suddenly wondered if screen goddess Marilyn was rocking some lip fuzz. Curtis and Monroe had actually been lovers before shooting ‘Some Like It Hot’, but by the time they were cast together in Billy Wilder’s screwball comedy, Curtis said his former paramour had changed: “She’d gone funny, her mind was all over the place.” Discussing the couple’s make-out scene on a yacht, Curtis said of Marilyn, “It was awful. She nearly choked me to death by deliberately sticking her tongue down my throat into my windpipe.” What a way to go.

It’s not like Bond to forge lasting relationships with his female partners, so 007 actor Pierce Brosnan took that to heart when it came to working with ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ Bond girl Teri Hatcher. The soon-to-be Desperate Housewife was apparently not the best timekeeper, although it later turned out that she was pregnant and was suffering from morning sickness. “I got very upset with her,” said Brosnan in 2005. “She was always keeping me waiting for hours. I must admit I let slip a few words which weren’t very nice.” It’s not like James Bond ever mistreated a woman, is it?

At the time there were no hotter stars than Jolie and Depp, so when the came together for THe Tourist there was obviously a lot of hype. However, the movie turned out to be a commercial and critical flop, which some say was down to the director, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, not being able to handle his stars. These stars were also said to have grated each other on set. “
Their chemistry was supposed to fly off the charts, but in private, they’re not getting along,” a source told InTouch. “She was disappointed that he didn’t get in better shape for the role and that he didn’t want to cut his hair. Johnny retreats to his own trailer until he’s called out again. He think she’s really full of herself.”

Doherty had a bit of a reputation for being “difficult” to work with, both on Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed. Jason Lee also experienced the same when he starred opposite her in Kevin Smith’s 1994 film. Apparently, Shannen was rather unpleasant to be around. We’ll never know if bygones could be bygones as the planned TV series is still dead in the water.

This horror movie proved to be horrible for Kate Beckinsale as it was reported that her co-star Luke Wilson often came to the set late and/or hungover and was rude to to her throughout the shoot. He also, allegedly, acted like a diva by sending stand-ins to act opposite her during scenes where he was not on camera.

Jay Mohr had landed his first leading role with Picture Perfect but his co-star was not happy about it. Jay explained as much during an interview with Elle where he said what his worst experience was with another celebrity. “Being on the set of a movie where the leading woman was unhappy with my presence and made it clear from day one,” he explained. “I hadn’t done many movies, and even though they screen-tested some pretty famous guys, I somehow snaked into the leading role. The actress said, ‘No way! You’ve got to be kidding me!’ Loudly. Between takes. To other actors on set. I would literally go to my mom’s house and cry.” Bit harsh, Jen.

This shameless attempt to rekindle the erotic thrills of smash hit ‘Basic Instinct’ fell limp, thanks mainly to non-existent chemistry between stars Stone and Baldwin. Perhaps aware she was starring in a dud, the actress liked to emasculate Baldwin between takes to amuse herself; in one kissing scene, she bit his tongue so hard that his brother Alec probably felt it. Billy allegedly wasn’t able to talk for a week afterwards, though unfortunately the film was able to be finished.

It’s hard to imagine Nick Nolte in any kind of romantic leading man capacity these days, but his unique look was considered hot stuff back in the ’90s when he was paired with Julia Roberts in rom-com about rival reporters. Roberts did not get on with Nolte one bit and neither party were afraid to admit it. Even years later, they are unable to hide their animosity. Roberts recently called Nolte “a disgusting human being” while Nolte fired back, saying of Roberts, “She is not a nice person.” Mee-ow!

Literature’s most tortured lovers shared an equally torturous relationship on set. Though both were youngsters at the time of shooting Baz Luhrmann’s hip Shakespeare adaptation, Danes considered 22-year-old DiCaprio “immature” and avoided him when possible. Rumour has it she turned down a role in Leo’s Hoover biopic ‘J Edgar’ because she’d still not forgiven him for goofing around. Years later while speaking to ASOS, Danes managed to fit in a jibe about DiCaprio’s ballooning weight, calling him a “big, fat grown-up”.

Legend has it that Patrick Swayze had to get down on his hands and knees to convince Jennifer Grey to star in ‘Dirty Dancing’, because when the pair shot ‘Red Dawn’ together she was not a fan of his. That backfired somewhat when Grey’s immaturity caused Swayze no small amount of irritation – neither of them had the time of their life. “She’d slip into silly moods, forcing us to do scenes over and over,” said Swayze in his memoirs. “We did have a few moments of friction… she seemed particularly emotional, sometimes bursting into tears if someone criticised her.” Sure, Patrick. ‘Someone’.

“She was the most obnoxious actress I have ever worked with.” That’s Anthony Hopkins there, resolutely refusing to mince his words about Shirley MacLaine, with whom he starred in 1980’s Golden Raspberry-nominated romantic drama. The precise reason for Hopkins’ dislike of the actress is unclear, although he’s not the only person to criticise MacLaine. Director Don Siegel once said, “It’s hard to feel much warmth for [Shirley]. She’s too unfeminine and has too much balls.”