Hollywood chemistry isn’t always what it looks like on screen. Some co-stars have had such uncomfortable experiences, creative clashes, or personal falling-outs that they reportedly wanted nothing to do with each other afterward. From awkward love scenes to feuds that lasted for decades, these actors found out that sometimes the hardest part of making a movie or TV show is getting along with your costar.
Lena Headey & Jerome Flynn — Game of Thrones
Rumors have long claimed that exes Lena Headey and Jerome Flynn were kept apart on Game of Thrones after their relationship ended badly. Flynn later pushed back on the story, saying the pair had actually appeared in the same scene and telling fans not to believe everything they read.
Sharon Stone & Billy Baldwin — Sliver
Sharon Stone and Billy Baldwin’s experience filming Sliver in 1993 apparently went from awkward to unbearable. Baldwin recently said he would “never” work with Stone again and recalled asking producers not to make him kiss her during one of their final love scenes.
Julia Roberts & Nick Nolte — I Love Trouble
Their characters were supposed to fall in love, but Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte reportedly couldn’t stand each other behind the scenes. Roberts called Nolte “completely disgusting,” while Nolte fired back that Roberts was “not a nice person.” Their scenes were reportedly filmed separately whenever possible, and they never reunited professionally.
Bill Murray & Lucy Liu — Charlie’s Angels
Bill Murray and Lucy Liu reportedly clashed during rehearsals for Charlie’s Angels after Murray objected to changes made to the script. Liu later recalled confronting him over comments she found insulting. Murray didn’t return for the sequel, although Liu has since said they eventually made peace.
Richard Gere & Sylvester Stallone — The Lords of Flatbush
Long before they became Hollywood heavyweights, Richard Gere and Sylvester Stallone reportedly had a spectacular falling out while making The Lords of Flatbush. Stallone has claimed their conflict became physical and that Gere was eventually fired from the movie. The two never became regular costars afterward.
Wesley Snipes & Ryan Reynolds — Blade: Trinity
The making of Blade: Trinity reportedly wasn’t a particularly happy experience for Wesley Snipes or Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds has discussed the difficult production, while Snipes’ behavior on set became the subject of numerous stories. The funny part? The pair eventually reunited years later in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Sarah Jessica Parker & Kim Cattrall — SATC
Carrie and Samantha were practically inseparable on screen, but Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall have had a much more complicated relationship off screen. Cattrall has repeatedly discussed their strained relationship and declined to return as a full time cast member for the franchise’s revival. Their real-life feud became almost as famous as the show.
Kiefer Sutherland & Freddie Prinze Jr. — 24
Freddie Prinze Jr. didn’t exactly look back fondly on his time working with Kiefer Sutherland on 24. Prinze described the experience as terrible and said it made him consider leaving acting altogether. Sutherland’s representative later disputed the characterization, making this one very much a case of two costars remembering the experience differently.
Charlie Sheen & Selma Blair — Anger Management
Charlie Sheen and Selma Blair’s working relationship on Anger Management reportedly deteriorated so badly that the series fired Blair. Blair had reportedly complained about Sheen’s behavior, while Sheen disputed her account. Whatever happened behind the scenes, the two certainly didn’t become a recurring Hollywood duo.
Alec Baldwin & Shia LaBeouf — Orphans
Alec Baldwin and Shia LaBeouf were both starring in the Broadway production of Orphans when their working relationship reportedly fell apart during rehearsals. LaBeouf eventually left the production, with his departure becoming one of the most talked-about Broadway backstage stories of the year.
Emma Watson & Channing Tatum — This Is the End
Emma Watson reportedly refused to participate in a particularly outrageous scene involving Channing Tatum in This Is the End. After seeing what the scene involved, Watson reportedly walked off the set. There doesn’t appear to have been a lasting feud between the two, but she definitely knew where she drew the line.
Ryan Gosling & Rachel McAdams — The Notebook
The Notebook gave audiences one of cinema’s most beloved romances, but filming it apparently wasn’t nearly as romantic. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams reportedly clashed so badly that Gosling asked director Nick Cassavetes to replace her with another actress for some scenes. They eventually dated in real life, making the whole saga even more complicated.
Tom Hardy & Charlize Theron — Mad Max: Fury Road
Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron spent months filming one of Hollywood’s most physically demanding blockbusters, and their working relationship reportedly became increasingly tense. Both actors have acknowledged the difficult atmosphere surrounding the production. Their characters may have been stuck together in the wasteland, but their real life relationship was reportedly much rockier.
Shirley MacLaine & Debra Winger — Terms of Endearment
Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger created an unforgettable mother-daughter relationship in Terms of Endearment, but their working styles couldn’t have been more different. MacLaine later recalled that Winger’s intense approach to acting often clashed with her own methods. The tension didn’t stop them from delivering Oscar-winning performances.
Bette Davis & Joan Crawford — What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Few Hollywood rivalries are more legendary than Bette Davis and Joan Crawford’s. The actresses already had years of animosity behind them when they made What EverHappened to Baby Jane?, and filming reportedly intensified their feud. Their relationship became so infamous that it eventually inspired an entire TV series about the making of the movie.
Frank Sinatra & Marlon Brando — Guys and Dolls
Frank Sinatra reportedly had very little patience for Marlon Brando’s Method acting while making Guys and Dolls. Brando’s tendency to repeat takes reportedly drove Sinatra crazy, particularly when Sinatra was ready to move on. Their wildly different personalities made for plenty of tension behind the scenes.
James Franco & Tyrese Gibson — Annapolis
James Franco and Tyrese Gibson reportedly had a difficult working relationship while making Annapolis. Gibson later described Franco’s approach to their fight scenes as unnecessarily intense, recalling that Franco stayed in character even between takes. The experience apparently left little appetite for another collaboration.
George Takei & William Shatner — Star Trek
George Takei and William Shatner spent decades playing members of the same Star Trek crew while publicly acknowledging that they weren’t exactly close friends. Takei has spoken extensively about their disagreements, while Shatner has offered his own perspective. Despite their shared history, their relationship has remained complicated for decades.
Jim Carrey & Tommy Lee Jones — Batman Forever
Jim Carrey has recalled an especially awkward encounter with Tommy Lee Jones during the making of Batman Forever. According to Carrey, he approached Jones at a restaurant and was met with a blunt declaration that Jones hated him. The two were never exactly eager to recreate their superhero pairing afterward.
Naya Rivera & Lea Michele — Glee
Naya Rivera and Lea Michele’s rumored tension became one of Glee’s most discussed behind the scenes stories. Rivera later wrote about their complicated relationship in her memoir, describing a friendship that deteriorated as the show progressed. Their characters remained connected on screen even as their real life relationship became increasingly strained.
Julianna Margulies & Archie Panjabi — The Good Wife
Fans spent years wondering why Julianna Margulies and Archie Panjabi’s characters barely shared scenes despite both being major parts of The Good Wife. Their final scene together was famously filmed separately, fueling years of speculation. Both actresses’ representatives disputed that the production was evidence of a feud, leaving this Hollywood mystery unresolved.
Pauley Perrette & Mark Harmon — NCIS
Pauley Perrette and Mark Harmon worked together on NCIS for years before Perrette’s departure from the series. Perrette later made public claims about serious problems on set involving Harmon, while Harmon did not publicly engage in the same way. The two never returned to working together after her exit.
Leonardo DiCaprio & Mark Wahlberg — The Basketball Diaries
Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg reportedly didn’t hit it off immediately when they worked together on The Basketball Diaries. Wahlberg has spoken about their early tension and how the pair eventually became friends. Their relationship ultimately improved, but their rocky start makes the story a fun reminder that not every Hollywood partnership begins smoothly.
Julie McCullough & Kirk Cameron — Growing Pains
Julie McCullough’s departure from Growing Pains became one of the show’s most controversial cast changes. McCullough played Mike Seaver’s girlfriend, but was written out after Kirk Cameron reportedly objected to her previous appearances. Whatever the exact circumstances, the two never reunited as costars on the series.
Shannen Doherty & Alyssa Milano — Charmed
Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano played sisters on Charmed, but their relationship behind the scenes was reportedly far more complicated. Tensions between the actresses became widely discussed before Doherty left the series after its third season. Both have since spoken about their relationship, offering different perspectives on what happened.
