15 Actors Who Are A Delight To Work With And 15 Actors Who’ve Been Called A Nightmare On Set

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Acting is serious business, but it can also be pretty fun.

Madelaine Petsch / Via giphy.com

The consensus from those in the business is that a set is about as much fun as the actors working there. Those rising through the ranks (or even casually stopping by as extras) get to come in contact with some big names. Some of them make for a really pleasant experience.

Actors can come with egos though.

NBC / Via giphy.com

Over the years, actors have been encouraged to lose the diva-like behavior. Peers in front of and behind the camera don't want to work with someone difficult, and when they do, they talk about it. Queue the internet, making it easy for frustrated PAs and minor characters in films to air their frustrations.

Tom Hanks is perfect, but you probably already knew that.

Tom Hanks pointing and laughing

Tom Hanks has been a mainstay in the entertainment industry for so long that countless different amateurs and pros have gotten to work with him. Some even consider themselves fans, like Emma Watson, who gushed about working with Hanks on The Circle.

Randy Holmes / ABC via Getty Images

Emma was worried Tom wouldn't be all she'd built him up to be.

tom hanks smiling during a portrait while on the red carpet

But for every Tom Hanks, you've got an Edward Norton.

Edward Norton appearing to look pensive while sitting down

Edward Norton has been known to take his craft very seriously, to the point that it makes him difficult for everyone around him to deal with. His need to assert creative control has put him at odds with more than one filmmaker. It even cost him his role as the Incredible Hulk.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Marvel wasn't feeling Edward's attitude.

Edward Norton speaking into a microphone

Clint Eastwood is an industry vet who is still down to Earth.

Clint Eastwood smiling in a suit

You don't get the years and respect that Clint Eastwood has under your belt without knowing how to work with others. A redditor who was friends with a video editor who worked with Eastwood opened up about the experience.

Amy Sussman / Getty Images for AFI

"He said most people come in with assistants and have general demands like food, coffee, room temperature, and with attitudes that others have to work around," the redditor explained. "Not Clint Eastwood."

Clint Eastwood in a film scene from his early career

"He drove himself in his own pickup and sat down with you to get the work done and was always nice."

Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images

No amount of time in the spotlight is enough to make some actors behave, like Charlie Sheen.

Charlie Sheen smiling

It got him fired and, he would later argue, blacklisted from working in Hollywood.

Charlie Sheen holding up a California Strong shirt and smiling

Ed Helms is a sweetheart who treats everyone as equals.

Ed Helms smiling

Bill Murray is not a great time on set.

Bill Murray looking concernedly across a room

Keanu Reeves will make personal sacrifices to make great movies.

Keanu Reeves posing

Sharon Stone got really diva-ish about...filming in Italy?

Sharon Stone giving side eye

Golden Boy director Pupi Avati made a point of publicly slamming Sharon Stone for what he said was unprofessional behavior. Stone allegedly wasn't thrilled about having to film in Italy and made as much known.

Romain Maurice / Via Getty Images

"A correspondence started, enough to write a book, between her agents and our lawyers," the director told the Hollywood Reporter.

Sharon Stone going through a script on a film set

"It was a negotiation that bordered on ridiculousness, concerning embarrassing details, as if Italy was a third-world country. By the way, we do have electricity in Italy."

Presley Ann / Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

The world lost a truly kind soul when Robin Williams passed.

Robin Williams laughing with his hands clasped

"From his stories, I can safely say that the world is a worse place without Robin Williams in it."

Robin Williams standing with his hands folded talking

"Kind, gentle, and always willing to help others through his humor."

Chris Farina / Corbis via Getty Images

Chevy Chase is a legend and a nightmare.

Chevy Chase waving

There's no such thing as a short list of his offenses...

Chevy Chase posing

Pamela Anderson is really kindhearted.

Pamela Anderson smiling at an event with her hand in her pocket

Claudia Schiffer doesn't like being spoken to directly.

Claudia Schiffer smiling at premiere

Paul Rudd's brand of magic is 100% authentic.

Paul Rudd smiling

"I was chatting with him at the after-party last night, and he's just very kind," she shared.

Paul Rudd smiling

"He does give me advice and talk to me about the film, and it's really kind."

Roy Rochlin / WireImage

One director has tried to redeem Russell Crowe's "difficult" reputation.

Russell Crowe speaking during an interview

"Russell has a reputation of being difficult, and what I speculate is that he’s difficult when he’s not trusting."

Russell Crowe attends Showtime network premiere of The Loudest Voice at Paris Theatre
Pacific Press / LightRocket via Getty Images

George Clooney is really as charismatic as he's been built up to be.

George Clooney smiling

"[Clooney] does a really good job of making people feel comfortable. He gets it," Sheridan told Looper.

George Clooney laughing at an event

"It's almost like he's right there acting with you and it becomes really fun. So it had a different dynamic. I think our relationship had a different dynamic than I'd ever had with any other filmmaker before, so I really enjoyed it."

Dave J Hogan / Via Getty Images

Mike Myers isn't the funny guy you'd expect.

Mike Myers posing at premiere

Mike Myers has played some of film's funniest characters in unforgettable films, from Wayne's World to Austin Powers and countless voice projects including Shrek. Amy Hill, who worked with Myers on The Cat in the Hat, believed that Myers fame got to his head.

Jim Spellman / WireImage

"I don’t think he got to know anybody. He’d just be with his people and walk away," Hill told the AV Club.

Mike Myers posing

"People would come and then he’d stand there. There was a guy who held his chocolates in a little Tupperware. Whenever he needed chocolate, he’d come running over and give him a chocolate. That’s what divas are like, I guess. Or people who need therapy."

Picture Alliance / picture alliance via Getty Images

Ben Affleck has had to work his way back from a complicated reputation.

Ben Affleck posing

Ben Affleck has fought hard to work his way back from his reputation as unreliable and a troublemaker, and it seems like he has. After working through his struggles, many have reported that Affleck is a fun-loving, sweet guy on set and off.

Arturo Holmes / Getty Images

"Ben Affleck is super nice. He made a point of remembering people's names," one casino dealer who worked with the actor on a shoot shared.

Ben Affleck leaning in to someone and pointing over his shoulder

The same cannot be said for Casey Affleck.

Casey Affleck posing

Dwayne Johnson makes people smile everywhere he goes.

Dwayne Johnson smiling

The Rock has the ultimate reputation as a Hollywood sweetheart. Sure, there are some rough stories about what he was like to work with during his earlier career, but it seems that Johnson has grown as a person and an actor.

Axelle / FilmMagic

Zac Efron sang his praises while the two were working together on Baywatch.

Dwayne Johnson seated and smiling

Bruce Willis has a tough attitude about his movies.

Bruce Willis posing

Bruce Willis's Moonlighting co-star Cybill Shepherd was known to clash with the actor during their time on the series together. Producer Jay Daniel says that Willis became more complicated to deal with as his star got brighter.

Medianews Group / MediaNews Group via Getty Images

"In the beginning, Bruce was just a guy's guy. Let's just say he evolved," Daniel told Moonlighting Strangers Fanzine.

Bruce Willis smirking at an award show

Jamie Foxx takes his craft seriously but knows how to have fun.

Jamie Foxx on stage

Katherine Heigl may have derailed her movie career with her attitude.

Katherine Heigl sitting for late-night show interview

More recently, she's argued sexism is at the heart of her bad rep.

Katherine Heigl smoking on film set

Sally Struthers is a sweetheart.

Sally Struthers listening to someone

Val Kilmer clashed with a few different directors.

Val Kilmer at Cannes Film Festival in 1999

Val has more recently said it was misunderstandings that caused trouble.

Val Kilmer gesturing to someone

Steve-O is a blast to work with and is great to his fans.

Steve O laughing while siting in a stunt airbag

Julia Roberts let her personal life make her difficult to work with professionally.

Julia Roberts smiling at The Fashion Awards 2019 held at Royal Albert Hall

She was reportedly nicknamed "Tinkerhell" on the film's set.

Julia Roberts sitting with a tight smile

Ryan Gosling is kindhearted, and he looks like that, yeah.

Ryan Gosling smiling for cameras on the red carpet

"He knew what they'd done and some of their history," Black noted.

Ryan Gosling with one eyebrow raised and a slight smirk on his face

"He had actually taken the time to get to know the kids he was auditioning with. I thought that was pretty remarkable.”

Laurent Koffel / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Lea Michele got dragged by most of the people who worked with her.

Lea Michele posing with a straight face at an event

Adam Sandler is the chill dude he's been made out to be.

Adam Sandler laughing at a park

Adam even helped one of the crew members when they got hurt.

Adam Sandler playing basketball

Daniel-Day Lewis refused to walk while playing a paralyzed character.

Daniel-Day Lewis at the 1991 Academy Awards

Are there any celebs you have met and have stories about? Let me know in the comments below!