10 Famous Actors Who Were Forced To Appear In Movies Against Their Will

8. Natalie Wood - The Searchers

There are many western fans out there who would claim that The Searchers is the greatest western of all-time; indeed, it's the one in which John Ford's powers as director hit their peak, and John Wayne - who plays complex lead cowboy Ethan Edwards - gives his best performance ever. Despite its standing as a classic, though, actress Natalie Wood - who stars as Edwards' niece, captured by Native Americans - didn't want to be in the film. Wood, then caught up in the '50s studio system, was often left prone to making movies that she had no real wish to be a part of. And whilst it might seem strange to imagine that she didn't want to be in The Searchers, that's exactly the case: Wood, signed to Warner Bros., was obliged to play Debbie Edwards due to her contractual obligation as one of their stars. Wood felt like she was wrong for the part, which saw her as a woman abducted by Native Americans as a child and raised as one of their own. She argued against appearing in the film, but was eventually worn down - most surprising by her mother, who she shared a notoriously turbulent relationship with. Despite her objections, it's one of her best roles.
Contributor

Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.