10 Movie Roles That Seriously Screwed Up Actors

Owing more to Martin Scorsese’s darkest period (from Taxi Driver to King of Comedy) than any silver screen superhero story which came before it, Todd Philips’ Joker was an unexpected smash when it hit cinemas in late 2019. Succeeding with audiences, critics, and even the Academy, the film broke countless box office records and racked up an incredible string of nominations and wins for its dark retelling of the iconic Batman villain’s story.

However, such a successful excursion into the dark side - depicting mental health struggles, poverty, and extreme violence - came at a cost to the cast and creator. In the eponymous role, Joaquin Phoenix was apparently more mercurial than ever before onset.

And offset for that matter, since the actor often walked out of scenes during shooting to compose himself, struggling to maintain control. The behaviour may seem extreme, but it makes a little more sense when you consider the staggering weight loss Phoenix put himself through to accurately embody the character’s wiry frame.