19 celebrities who have expressed regret about roles that turned them into superstars

Denise Crosby admitted to "struggling" while filming Star Trek: The Next Generation because her character had little to do. She also expressed frustration with not being able to share her ideas for the character. "I chose to leave instead of just being satisfied with that," she said. 

Glee alum Amber Riley shared on TikTok that she wasn't a fan of working on the Fox series. In fact, she stated it was "not the most comfortable environment." 

Megan Fox’s turn as Mikaela in Transformers was iconic… and iconicly cringe-worthy in her own eyes. She’s admitted she wasn’t thrilled with how the role turned out, proving that even blockbuster fame can come with a side of regret.

Shailene Woodley got her start in teen drama The Secret Life of the American Teenager, but she’s openly critiqued the show’s moralizing tone. "Toward the end, morally, the things that we were preaching on that show weren't really aligned with my own integrity," she said. 

While Jenna Ortega didn't hate starring in Netflix's Wednesday, she did express frustration with writers who attempted to force her into a relationship. During a previous interview, she admitted to "putting her foot down" and getting part of a script changed. 

Blake Lively brought Serena van der Woodsen to life, but she’s been candid about the character’s sometimes questionable choices, saying playing the Upper East Sider was "personally compromising." 

Angus T. Jones became a household name as Jake Harper on Two and a Half Men, only to later denounce the show’s content in a shocking statement. Clearly showing that while fame has its perks, it also has some regrets. 

Shia LaBeouf skyrocketed to fame as Sam Witwicky in Transformers, but he’s described the films as dated and shallow in retrospect. 

Before Friends made her a household name, Jennifer Aniston starred in Leprechaun. Looking back, she’s been open about how less than proud she is of that early horror flick. 

Even though playing Edward Cullen made Robert Pattinson a teen heartthrob overnight, it also made him the target of intense criticism. He’s been candid about finding the Twilight series overblown and melodramatic, though it certainly launched a career that’s since taken many unexpected turns.

Johnny Depp once compared working on his series 21 Jump Street to being "in a prison." He regretted how "showboat-y" the show got. "It just started to become false. It started to become this action-packed can of soup, you know? You just market it and send it out." 

Isaac Hempstead Wright grew up on Game of Thrones sets, only to later joke about the show’s infamous finale. Even dragons and epic battles can’t make up for storytelling that divides an entire fandom.

Penn Badgley became everyone’s favorite schemer as Dan Humphrey in Gossip Girl, but he’s openly criticized the character's ways and some of the show's biggest twists.

Harold Perrineau played Michael Dawson on Lost, but he wasn’t shy about calling out the show’s occasionally baffling plotlines. 

Ian Harding played Ezra Fitz in Pretty Little Liars, the brooding teacher with a complicated love life, but he’s joked about how wild some of the show’s plotlines got. 

Before she became a legend, Michelle Pfeiffer starred in Grease 2. Her verdict? Not her finest hour. In hindsight, she’s acknowledged the film’s awkward energy, which, honestly, makes her later successes feel even sweeter.

Kristen Stewart famously brought Bella Swan to life in Twilight, but she’s also openly joked about the story’s quirks and awkward romantic drama. Even while acknowledging the series’ huge impact, she’s never shied away from admitting it wasn’t exactly her favorite creative experience.

Evangeline Lilly, aka Kate Austen, has also expressed her frustration with her role in Lost. "I felt like she became more and more predictable and obnoxious," Lilly said in a previous interview. 

Christopher Plummer may be forever linked to The Sound of Music, but he didn’t exactly love the fame it brought. He once described the film as overly sentimental and "gooey." He even implied his character was boring, admitting the producers worked hard to make him interesting.