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Business Insider
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Pitch Perfect' nearly 13 years later
"Pitch Perfect" hit theaters almost 13 years ago, shedding light on collegiate a cappella. Anna Kendrick went on to star in movies like "A Simple Favor" and " Woman of the Hour." Most of the supporting cast, like Rebel Wilson and Brittany Snow, still work in Hollywood. "Pitch Perfect" was first released in September 2012 and has since become a modern classic. The movie — which follows an all-female college a cappella group — not only led to two sequels and a spin-off but also helped solidify several of its stars' careers. Here's a look at how the "Pitch Perfect" cast has evolved since the movie was released. Anna Kendrick starred as Beca, the cool music lover and reluctant a capella member. Before "Pitch Perfect," Kendrick rose to fame through her supporting role in the hit teen phenomenon "Twilight" (2008). From there, she starred alongside George Clooney in "Up in the Air" (2009), which earned her an Oscar nomination. She went on to appear in the "Twilight" sequels, "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (2010), "50/50" (2011), and "End of Watch" (2012) before "Pitch Perfect." Kendrick has been busy working on shows and films since "Pitch Perfect." Kendrick led the "Pitch Perfect" franchise for two sequels in 2015 and 2017. In between, she appeared in "Into the Woods" (2014) and "Trolls" (2016). After the "Pitch Perfect" trilogy wrapped, she worked on "A Simple Favor" (2018), "Noelle" (2019), and "Stowaway" (2021). She also starred in the first season of HBO Max's "Love Life." Later, Kendrick executive-produced, directed, and starred in "Woman of the Hour" (2023). Most recently, she reprised her role in " Another Simple Favor" (2025). Brittany Snow played Chloe, an optimistic member of the a capella team. Snow worked for over a decade in Hollywood before starring in "Pitch Perfect," appearing on series such as CBS' "Guiding Light," NBC's "American Dreams," and FX's "Nip/Tuck." She then starred in several popular films, like "The Pacifier" (2005), "John Tucker Must Die" (2006), "Hairspray" (2007), and "Prom Night" (2008) before landing a spot in the movie. Snow continues to work in Hollywood today. In addition to the two "Pitch Perfect" sequels, Snow went on to appear in films like "Someone Great" (2019) and "X" (2022). She also worked on TV shows, including Comedy Central's "Workaholics," The CW's "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," and Netflix's "The Night Agent." Rebel Wilson worked steadily on Australian TV before making the jump to American films and TV. Before playing "Fat Amy" in "Pitch Perfect," Wilson starred on a few Australian TV shows like SBS' "Pizza," Network 10's "The Wedge," and SBS' "Bogan Pride." She also worked on films like "Bridesmaids" (2011), "Bachelorette" (2012), and "Ice Age: Continental Drift" (2012). Wilson has continued to star in films since "Pitch Perfect," and she also wrote a memoir. Following her comedic success in "Pitch Perfect," Wilson starred in the short-lived ABC comedy "Super Fun Night." In addition to the "Pitch Perfect" sequels, Wilson also appeared in "Isn't It Romantic" (2019), "The Hustle" (2019), "Jojo Rabbit" (2019), and "Senior Year" (2022), which she also produced. In 2024, she published her first memoir, "Rebel Rising," detailing her journey to Hollywood success. Anna Camp worked steadily in TV and film prior to "Pitch Perfect." Camp has worked on shows and in movies since the films wrapped. Camp went on to play recurring roles on Fox-Hulu's "The Mindy Project," HBO's "True Blood," CBS' "The Good Wife," and Netflix's "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." She also played identical twins in the fifth season of Netflix's " You." After the "Pitch Perfect" sequels, some of her latest films include "Desperados" (2020), "Jerry and Marge Go Large" (2022), and "Murder at Yellowstone City" (2022). Skylar Astin starred as Jesse, Beca's love interest. Before "Pitch Perfect," Astin appeared on series like HBO's "Girls" and Fox's "House." He also worked on a couple of TV movies. But he was perhaps best known for originating the role of Georg in "Spring Awakening" on Broadway in 2006. Astin has mostly stuck with TV since the "Pitch Perfect" films. Astin appeared on several series after "Pitch Perfect," including AMC's "Halt and Catch Fire," Epix's "Graves," NBC's "Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist," and ABC's " Grey's Anatomy." The actor only returned for the first "Pitch Perfect" sequel in 2015. But like Kendrick, Astin also joined the "Trolls" franchise for the Netflix series, "Trolls: The Beat Goes On." Ben Platt began his film career with "Pitch Perfect." Platt only had one film credit, "Red Riding Hood" (2006), under his belt before "Pitch Perfect." But his stage career was blossoming before then. In 2011, he played Elder Cunningham in "Book of Mormon" on Broadway. Platt has focused more on music and Broadway since the "Pitch Perfect" series. Platt appeared in "Pitch Perfect 2," "Ricki and the Flash" (2015), and "Drunk Parents" (2019). The actor also starred on Netflix's "The Politician." In addition to film and TV, he gained recognition for his original music and role in the hit Broadway show "Dear Evan Hansen," which earned him a Tony. Platt then reprised the role of Evan Hansen in the 2021 film adaptation and also starred, cowrote, and produced 2023's "Theater Camp." Adam DeVine played Bumper, the obnoxious leader of the rival male a capella team. DeVine worked on several comedy projects before joining the ensemble cast. He guest-starred on ABC's "Samantha Who?" and Disney XD's "TRON: Uprising," but he's perhaps best known for his leading role on Comedy Central's "Workaholics," which debuted in 2011. DeVine continues to work on series and films today. DeVine went on to play roles in movies like "Neighbors" (2014), "Pitch Perfect 2," "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates" (2016), "The Lego Batman Movie" (2017), and "Isn't It Romantic." He also continued his role on "Workaholics" and appeared on Cartoon Network's "Uncle Grandpa," ABC's "Modern Family," HBO's "The Righteous Gemstone," and Netflix's "Green Eggs and Ham." In 2022, he starred in a one-season "Pitch Perfect" spin-off called "Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin." He's also done some voice acting for shows and movies, including "Captain Fall" (2023) and the coming "Fixed" (2025). Ester Dean played Bellas member Cynthia Rose. Dean lent her voice to the animated films "Rio" (2011) and "Ice Age: Continental Drift" (2012) before joining the comedy. Before joining the franchise, she was also busy writing and releasing her own music, as well as writing for global superstars like Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj. Dean went on to star in both sequels and is still working as a musician. In addition to the sequels, Dean appeared on Fox's "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" and in "Trolls 2: World Tour" (2020), alongside Kendrick. She also lent her voice to AppleTV+'s "Central Park." Dean has continued to write and compose music for major artists like Selena Gomez, John Legend, Ciara, and Fifth Harmony. Hana Mae Lee starred as Lilly, the ultra-quiet member of the Bellas. Lee appeared on a few shows, like CBS's "Mike and Molly" and Comedy Central's "Workaholics," before joining the cast of the film. Lee continues to work in Hollywood, mostly on TV. Lee has appeared in more TV movies and series between and after the "Pitch Perfect" films, like Showtime's "Californication," truTV's "Those Who Can't," and Epix's "Perpetual Grace, LTD." More recently, the actor appeared in "Phobias" (2021) and "Habit" (2021). She also voiced a role in the horror film "Abruptio" (2023). Elizabeth Banks had a lengthy résumé before appearing in "Pitch Perfect." Banks was well known for appearing on shows like HBO's "Sex and the City," NBC's "30 Rock," and NBC-ABC's "Scrubs" before "Pitch Perfect." She was also in popular movies including "Wet Hot American Summer" (2001), "Spider-Man" (2002), "Catch Me If You Can" (2002), "Definitely, Maybe" (2008), and "The Hunger Games" (2012). Banks continues to star in and direct movies today. Banks starred in all of the subsequent "Pitch Perfect" and "Hunger Games" movies and went on to films like "The Lego Movie" (2014), "Walk of Shame" (2014), "Magic Mike XXL" (2015), and "Power Rangers" (2017). She also appeared in two "Wet Hot American Summer" spin-off series on Netflix in 2015 and 2017. Up next, she'll star in the psychological thriller "DreamQuil." Behind the camera, Banks directed the third "Pitch Perfect" movie and "Charlie's Angels" (2019). She also produced recent films, including "Bottoms" (2023) and " Cocaine Bear" (2023). John Michael Higgins has been working continuously since the 1980s. With over 140 acting credits to his name, Higgins has been everywhere in TV and film. Prior to "Pitch Perfect," he worked on several shows, including NBC's "Seinfeld," Fox's "Ally McBeal," and Cartoon Network's "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law." He also starred in movies like "Blade: Trinity" (2004), "The Break-Up" (2006), "Fired Up" (2009), and "We Bought a Zoo" (2011). Higgins continues to lend his talent to series and movies today. Higgins went on to series like TV Land's "Happily Divorced," NBC's "Great News," and Peacock's "Saved by the Bell" reboot. He also hosted GSN's "America Says" from 2018 to 2022. In addition to both "Pitch Perfect" sequels, he appeared in movies like "A Million Ways to Die in the West," "Licorice Pizza" (2021), and "Prom Dates" (2024). This story was originally published on September 28, 2022, and most recently updated on June 2, 2025.
Tom's Guide
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
5 best Netflix thrillers to stream right now
When it comes to edge-of-your-seat suspense, Netflix is home to some of the most gripping thrillers you can find on a streaming service right now. Whether you're in the mood for some tense hostage standoffs, high-stakes cover-ups or pulse-pounding escapes, there's no shortage of those flicks to be found on the platform. For your next movie night, fire up a fast-moving, claustrophobic nail-biter like "Carry-On," or a gritty revenge yarn like "Rebel Ridge." Netflix has plenty of thrillers that don't let up until the credits roll. Whether you love sharp twists, morally gray characters or the kind of tension that makes you grip the armrest, we've hand-picked a few movies that we think will have you reeling until the credits hit. Keep reading for five of the best Netflix thrillers you can stream right now. Ex-Marine Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre) is targeted and robbed by the local police of Shelby Springs, Louisiana, who take not only his bail money but the savings he was going to use to build a new life. As he tries to seek justice, Terry uncovers a deep web of corruption stretching through the town. The ringleader? A police chief with no intention of being exposed. With no one to trust and everything on the line, Terry goes from victim to vigilante and pushes back against a system that seems designed to crush him. Watch on Netflix Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, "Woman of the Hour" follows struggling actress Sheryl Bradshaw (Anna Kendrick), who reluctantly agrees to appear on "The Dating Game" in a bid to boost her career. On stage, she meets Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto), a charming man who' later revealed to be a serial killer. What begins as an awkward game show taping quickly morphs into something much darker as the film explores the stories of the women whose lives Alcala destroyed. Based on true events, this thriller examines how the system failed these women and enabled one of the most notorious killers in American history. Watch on Netflix In a high-tech prison where inmates can shave time off their sentences by testing experimental drugs, Jeff (Miles Teller) and Lizzy (Jurnee Smollett) sign up for what seems like an easy gig. They take daily doses of substances designed to elicit love, fear, euphoria and more. The facility has no cells or guards, just a laid-back supervisor (Chris Hemsworth) who keeps things running with a smile and a tablet. But the trials grow darker and more invasive, and Jeff begins to question the true purpose behind the experiments as well as the real reason they're all there. Watch on Netflix Former ad executive Javier Muñoz (Javier Gutiérrez) watches his privileged life crumble after losing his job, forcing him to trade his pricey Barcelona apartment for a small rental with his wife and son. But Javier can't move on. When he discovers a spare set of keys to his old home, he starts sneaking back to his old home, at first out of nostalgia, but soon with something far more sinister in mind. As his obsession with the new residents gets even stronger, Javier's actions grow into calculated manipulation. He targets the successful family now living the life he believes was stolen from him as he secretly works behind the scenes to take it back. Watch on Netflix Rookie TSA agent Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) is forced into a deadly game when a mysterious stranger blackmails him into smuggling a package onto a Christmas Eve flight. That's about when things really get crazy. After Kopek is forced to acquiesce, things spiral until you're watching a high-stakes thriller at 30,000 feet. Kopek desperately tries to uncover his blackmailer's true intentions while keeping his fellow passengers safe. He soon finds that it won't be as simple a fix as he thought, as he faces a cunning adversary, tries to figure out some uneasy alliances, and confronts how far he'll go to protect the people he loves before the plane touches tarmac. Watch on Netflix
Buzz Feed
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
27 Famous Actors Who Looked So Much Like The Real-Life Criminals They Played, I Had To Do A Double Take
1. This is Erik and Lyle Menendez, brothers convicted of murdering their parents in 1989. Here's Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch as Erik and Lyle Menendez in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. And here's a side-by-side of Erik and Lyle Menendez, and Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch in the show. 2. This is Aaron Hernandez, a former professional football player who was convicted of murdering his fiance's sister's boyfriend. Here's Josh Andrés Rivera as Aaron Hernandez in American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez (2024). And here's a side-by-side of Aaron Hernandez and Josh Andrés Rivera in the show. 3. This is Rodney Alcala, who was a convicted sex offender and serial killer found guilty of nine murders between 1977 and 1979. However, it is believed his number of victims falls around 130. He's nicknamed the "Dating Game Killer" because he appeared on the series The Dating Game amidst his murder spree. Here's Daniel Zovatto as Rodney Alcala in the movie Woman of the Hour (2023). And here's a side-by-side of Rodney Alcala and Daniel Zovatto in the movie. 4. This is Jeffrey Dahmer, who was convicted of murdering and dismembering 17 men and boys. Here's Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer in the series Dahmer (2022). And here's a side-by-side of Jeffrey Dahmer and Evan Peters in the series. 5. This is Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was convicted of second-degree murder for killing her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, after years of abuse from Munchausen by proxy. Here's Joey King as Gypsy Rose Blanchard in the limited series The Act (2019). Hulu And here's a side-by-side of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Joey King in the series. 6. This is Michelle Carter, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for encouraging her boyfriend over text messages to kill himself. Here's Elle Fanning as Michelle Carter in the limited series The Girl From Plainville (2022). And here's a side-by-side of Michelle Carter and Elle in the series. 7. This is Charles Manson, who was the leader of the Manson Family, a cult that carried out several murders in the late '60s. Here's Damon Herriman as Charles Manson in the series Mindhunter (2017–2019). Damon also played Manson in the movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). And here's a side-by-side of Charles Manson and Damon Herrmiman in the series. 8. This is Michael Peterson, who was convicted of murdering his wife in 2003. Eight years later, he was granted a new trial after a judge ruled that a prosecution witness gave misleading testimony. The charges against him were reduced to voluntary manslaughter. 9. Here's Colin Firth as Michael Peterson in the limited series The Staircase (2022). HBO And here's a side-by-side of Michael Peterson and Colin Firth in the series. 10. This is Anna Delvey, who was convicted of grand larceny after pretending to be a German heiress and scamming New York's elite out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Here's Julia Garner as Anna Delvey in the limited series Inventing Anna (2022). Nicole Rivelli / NETFLIX And here's a side-by-side of Anna Delvey and Julia Garner in the series. Getty / Netflix 11. This is Elizabeth Holmes, who founded Theranos and was convicted of fraud for engaging in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud investors by making false statements about her technology's capabilities. Kimberly White / Getty Here's Amanda Seyfried as Elizbeth Holmes in the limited series The Dropout (2022). Beth Dubber / HULU And here's a side-by-side of Elizabeth Holmes and Amanda Seyfried in the series. Getty / Hulu 12. This is Aileen Wournos, who was dubbed the world's first female serial killer. Anonymous / ASSOCIATED PRESS Here's Charlize Theron as Aileen Wournos in the movie Monster (2003). Newmarket Releasing / Courtesy Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Aileen Wournos and Charlize Theron in the movie. AP / Everett Collection 13. This is Richard Ramirez, who was a serial killer, kidnapper, and rapist best known as The Night Stalker. John Mabanglo / AP Here's Zach Villa as Richard Ramirez in the series American Horror Story: 1984 (2019). FX / Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Richard Ramirez and Zach Villa in the series. AP / FX / Everett Collection 14. This is Ted Bundy, who confessed to 30 homicides he committed along seven different states in the '70s. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Here's Zac Efron as Ted Bundy in the movie Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019). Brian Douglas / Netflix And here's a side-by-side of Ted Bundy and Zac Efron in the movie. Getty / Netflix 15. This is Joyce "Tilly" Mitchell, who helped two convicted murderers escape a maximum-security prison. Rob Fountain / AP Here's Patricia Arquette as Joyce "Tilly" Mitchell in the limited series Escape at Dannemora (2018). Showtime And here's a side-by-side of Joyce "Tilly" Mitchell and Patricia Arquette in the series. AP / Showtime 16. This is David Koresh, who was a cult leader and head of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. Anonymous / ASSOCIATED PRESS Here's Taylor Kitsch as David Koresh in the limited series Waco (2018). Netflix And here's a side-by-side of David Koresh and Taylor Kitsch in the series. AP / Netflix 17. This is Christopher Duntsch, who was a neurosurgeon that became known for mutilating his patients and killing two of them. Warner Bros. / Here's Joshua Jackson as Christopher Duntsch in the limited series Dr. Death (2021). Peacock / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images And here's a side-by-side of Christopher Duntsch and Joshua Jackson in the series. Warner Bros. / / NBC / Getty Images Watch it now on Peacock. 18. This is Andrew Cunanan, who went on a killing spree in 1997 where he murdered five people, including Italian fashion designer, Gianni Versace. AP Here's Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan in the series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018). FX / Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Andrew Cunanan and Darren Criss in the series. AP / FX 19. This is O.J. Simpson, who was charged with the murder of his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. He was acquitted at first, but was later found guilty of the murders during a civil trial in 2008. Getty Images Here's Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson in the series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story (2016). FX And here's a side-by-side of O.J. Simpson and Cuba Gooding Jr. in the series. Getty / Fox 20. This is Christopher and Susan Edwards, who were convicted of killing Susan's parents, burying them in their backyard, and using their identities to commit fraud. Channel 5 / Here's David Thewlis and Olivia Coleman as Christopher and Susan Edwards in the limited series Landscapers (2021). HBO Max And here's a side-by-side of Christopher and Susan Edwards and David Thewlis and Olivia Coleman in the series. Channel 5 / / HBO Max 21. This is Mark David Chapman, who was convicted of murdering former Beatles member, John Lennon. Donaldson Collection / Getty Images Here's Jared Leto as Mark David Chapman in the movie Chapter 27 (2007). Peace Arch Entertainment And here's a side-by-side of Mark David Chapman and Jared Leto in the movie. Getty Images / Peace Arch Entertainment 22. This is Dennis Nilsen, who was a Scottish serial killer and necrophile that murdered at least 12 young men. Enterprise News / Here's David Tennant as Dennis Nilsen in the limited series Des (2020). ITV And here's a side-by-side of Dennis Nilsen and David Tennant in the series. Enterprise News / / ITV 23. This is Ed Kemper, who murdered six college students and is also known as the Co-Ed Killer. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images Here's Cameron Britton as Ed Kemper in the series Mindhunter (2017–2019). Netflix And here's a side-by-side of Ed Kemper and Cameron Britton in the series. Getty Images / Netflix 24. This is Candy Montgomery, who murdered her friend by striking her with an axe 41 times. NBC / Here's Elizabeth Olsen as Candy Montgomery in the limited series Love & Death (2023). HBO And here's a side-by-side of Candy Montgomery and Elizabeth Olsen in the series. NBC / / HBO 25. This is Larry Hall, who is suspected of killing over 50 young women but has never been charged because he has recanted dozens of confessions. NORTH CAROLINA'S FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX Here's Paul Walter Hauser as Larry Hall in the miniseries Black Bird (2022). Ryan Sweeney/©AppleTV+/ Courtesy Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Larry Hall and Paul Walter Hauser in the series. NORTH CAROLINA'S FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX / Ryan Sweeney/©AppleTV+/ Courtesy Everett Collection 26. This is Albert DeSalvo, who admitted to murdering 13 women in the Boston area between 1962–1964 and was nicknamed "The Boston Strangler." Hulu Here's David Dastmalchian as Albert DeSalvo in the movie Boston Strangler (2023). Hulu And here's a side-by-side of Albert DeSalvo and David Dastmalchian in the movie. Hulu 27. Finally, this is Ron Lafferty, who, alongside his brother Dan, was charged with the homicide of his sister-in-law and niece. George Frey / Getty Images Here's Sam Worthington as Ron Lafferty in the miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven (2022). Michelle Faye/FX/Everett And here's a side-by-side of Rob Lafferty and Sam Worthington in the series. Getty Images / FX / Everett
South China Morning Post
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Meet Daniel Zovatto, star of Netflix's Woman of the Hour: the Costa Rican plays serial killer Rodney Alcala in Anna Kendrick's directorial debut, and says Leonardo DiCaprio inspired him to be an actor
Few characters are more chilling than Rodney Alcala – the real-life subject of A Simple Favor 2 star Anna Kendrick's directorial debut, Woman of the Hour. The 1970s serial killer was known to have murdered at least seven women – potentially dozens more – and died in prison in 2021. The real Rodney Alcala (left) and Daniel Zovatto, the actor who plays him in Netflix film Woman of the Hour. Photos: @all_thats_interesting; @contodonetflix/Instagram The man tasked with portraying evil Alcala in the Netflix film? Actor Daniel Zovatto, who couldn't be sweeter in real life, according to his co-stars. 'Danny is just the nicest guy on the planet,' actress Autumn Best, who plays Amy, said of the 33-year-old. 'He's so friendly and warm and supportive.' Advertisement Anna Kendrick and Daniel Zovatto. Photo: @thecinescape1/Instagram So what else do we know about the actor who Kendrick reportedly hand-picked for the part? Daniel Zovatto is from Costa Rica Daniel Zovatto. Photo: @thatzovatt/Instagram While the serial killer he portrays in Woman of the Hour was from Texas, Zovatto is Costa Rican. The actor told Zay Zay Aquino last year that he had an 'amazing childhood' and was blessed to have grown up in such a naturally beautiful country. 'Costa Rica feels like a big farm with beautiful beaches … I always think about going back home in a few years and having a life back home. I miss it for sure,' he added. He has well-known parents Costa Rican TV host – and Daniel Zovatto's mum – Sylvia Blanco. Photo: @sylviablanco/Instagram
Buzz Feed
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
11 Casting Director Moments From Hell That Made Actors Feel Small, Uncomfortable, Or Just Plain Icky
1. Anna Kendrick had a comment made about her breasts. Anna Kendrick made her directorial debut with the 2013 film Woman of the Hour, which she also starred in. Despite the thriller being based on true events involving serial killer Rodney Alcala, Anna drew inspiration from her personal life for some scenes. 'There's this scene at the beginning where I'm in a casting office, and I stole little things from my real life,' Anna said on The View. 'There's a moment where they ask me if I do nudity, and they make this really weird specific comment about my body that's lifted verbatim from a thing that happened to me when I was 19.' In the scene, Anna's character Cheryl Bradshaw is attending a casting call. After letting the casting director know she wasn't comfortable with nudity, one man stared directly at her chest and responded, "I'm sure they're fine." Anna confirmed that was a direct quote from a casting director to her about two decades ago. 'I was just like, 'Oh, do you guys mind saying this thing?' I wasn't sure I was gonna keep it in the movie. It's funny in the movie. We can all laugh at my humiliation. That's funny. We're allowed.' 2. Judi Dench was told her face was all wrong. Back in 1960s, a young Judi Dench was trying to expand her career by moving from the stage to the big screen, when an unnamed film director attempted to kill her dreams. After an audition, the director told her, 'Well, it's been very nice meeting you, but I'm sorry, not this film," Judi said on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. "Probably not any film. As you have every single thing wrong with your face.' "Well, I got to do a few films after that, so I'm very pleased he was wrong,' she added. That director couldn't have been more wrong because, in addition to the accolades she racked up with plays, Judi also went on to win an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, four British Academy Television Awards, and six BAFTAs. She also starred in two films I adore: Chocolat and Notes on a Scandal. 3. Sheryl Lee Ralph was told she wasn't enough. While taking a trip down memory lane, Emmy Award-winning actor Sherly Lee Ralph opened up to AARP about her journey to stardom as a Black woman in Hollywood. Although she's often known for having a positive disposition whenever you speak to her, Sheryl's road to the top wasn't a simple one. She reflected on a time she was fired from a TV pilot. "I will never forget," Sheryl said. "One producer — I went to work. I did the table read. I went home and I had been fired. When I called and I asked why, and he said, 'Well, to tell you the truth, you're just not Black enough.'" "I was like, wow. Wow," Sheryl said as she looked down at the skin color on her hands. "I was really very stunned. Then I remember coming back to Hollywood after a very successful run of Dreamgirls on Broadway, and the big-time Hollywood casting director looked at me and he said, 'Well, everybody knows you're a beautiful, talented Black girl, but what do I do with a beautiful, talented Black girl? Do I put you in a movie with Tom Cruise? Does he kiss you? [mimics a grossed-out expression] Ugh, who goes to see that movie?'" Sheryl knew that person was trying to "break" her spirit, so she decided to view his comment in a different light. "I had to rethink what he said to me. And I said, wait a minute, everybody knows I'm a beautiful, talented Black girl, and I should be in a movie with the likes of Tom Cruise, and he should kiss me. And I said, yeah, that's right, here we go!" 4. Charlize Theron was invited to an intimate audition. When Charlize was starting out in the business, she remembers being asked to do a one-on-one audition at a director's home. She quickly realized she needed to remove herself from the icky situation. 'I thought it was a little odd that the audition was on a Saturday night at his house in Los Angeles, but I thought maybe that was normal,' she told Marie Claire in 2005. 'He was in his Hugh Hefner pajamas; I go inside, and he's offering me a drink, and I'm thinking, 'My god, this acting stuff is very relaxed.' But it soon becomes very clear what the situation was. I was like, 'Not going to happen! Got the wrong girl, buddy!'' 5. Wendell Pierce had a casting director who didn't even know Black people existed. Wendell, who's widely known for starring in projects like The Wire, Suits, Waiting to Exhale, Death of a Salesman on Broadway, and more, shot to fame for his exceptional work on the stage, as well as the small and big screen. He recounted times his race was called into play in Hollywood with the New York Times in 2016: "In 1985, I'm sitting in the casting office of a major studio," Wendell told the New York Times. "The head of casting said, 'I couldn't put you in a Shakespeare movie, because they didn't have Black people then.' He literally said that. I told that casting director, You ever heard of Othello? Shakespeare couldn't just make up Black people. He saw them.' But that wasn't the only startling incident he witnessed: "I was working on The Gregory Hines Show that depicted three generations of Black men. It was on CBS in 1997. [After] the read-through, the studio, and network give notes. Gregory kissed everybody, and so in the show he would kiss his son, Matty. This particular day someone from CBS said, 'I notice every time you come in, you kiss Matty. So I wanted to ask, do Black people kiss their kids?' That was the most offensive thing I think I've ever [heard]. Gregory stood up and said [to the executive]: 'Everybody get out. You, come with me.'" 6. Thandiwe Newton was asked to play with herself. For W magazine, Thandiwe recalled a traumatic experience she dealt with as a teen actor with an unnamed male director during a callback audition. 'A director, on a callback, had a camera shooting up my skirt and asked me to touch my tits and think about the guy making love to me in the scene. I thought, 'Okay, this is a little weird,' but there was a female casting director in the room, and I'd done weird stuff before, so I did it.' She would later discover that same director had been sharing that video with friends in the industry. Thandiwe was approached by a drunk producer at the Cannes Film Festival who said, "Oh, Thandiwe, I've seen you recently," and walked away looking shocked that he even said it. Her husband, director Ol Parker, approached the man to find out what he meant by it. "It turns out," Thandie continued. "The director was showing that audition tape to his friends after poker games at his house. And they would all get off on it.' 7. America Ferrera was told to become a Latina caricature. America has always been open about her treatment in Hollywood as an actor, which is why she had no problem sharing what her first audition was like: "My very first audition ever," America told the New York Times. "I was about 16, and the casting director [for a commercial] said, 'Can you do it again but sound more Latino?' I had no idea what she was talking about. You mean you want me to speak in Spanish? She's like, 'No. Do it in English but just sound more Latino.' I genuinely didn't realize until later that she was asking me to speak English with a broken accent. It confused me because I thought I am Latino, so isn't this what a Latino sounds like? From the get-go of my career, I thought, there's a certain box or a certain way that you're seen, which I didn't feel growing up." 8. Queen Latifah was made to believe her weight was an issue. Queen Latifah has been a household name in Hollywood for years, from her illustrious rap career to her notable roles on-screen, but that doesn't mean she's escaped the Hollywood pressure to adhere to certain beauty standards. She reflected on a time when her weight was called into question. "We helped create Living Single," Queen said on Red Table Talk. "When you look at that picture, you see four different women, four different shades, four different types, and we looked like four women who would live in Brooklyn. And that's who we were supposed to be representing," "And we loved being able to do that," she continued. "Because we rocked brands that nobody was rocking. We had all kind of guests on our show that had never been on TV before — rappers and actors and just cool people. But the word came down that we needed to lose weight," she recalled, irritated by the memory. We're on the No. 1 show among Black and Latino households in America, and you're telling us we need to lose weight? Maybe you're the one with the problem." 9. Keira Knightley was told to make sex faces. During an interview on The Graham Norton Show, Keira shared a very interesting detail about the audition process for her 2011 historical drama A Dangerous Mind. Although she was prepared for the unusual ask, it still didn't make the experience less embarrassing. "Yeah, I had to go on Skype with David Cronenberg so that he could see what my planned weird sex faces were. No, it's awful on every level, because I'd never met him before. So, like, to say, 'Hello, nice to meet you,' and then all of a sudden have to go, 'Hey, what are your sex faces?'" "I'd been practicing in the mirror just before, which is just weird." And if that wasn't awkward enough, Keira revealed the Skype meeting froze while she was making one of her intentionally bad sex faces. 10. Kat Dennings was told she was "ugly" as a kid. In an interview with People, Kat opened up about her decades-long experience in the business and how she never allowed rude comments to impact her self-esteem. She recalls casting directors being "very cruel" even when they were "talking about a child." "The time that I was auditioning and starting to act, it was a very different environment than it is now," she said. "There was not a lot of inclusivity at all. It was very harsh. There was a lot of extremely negative feedback, and people would not hold back." "It was pretty crazy thinking about it. I'm like, 'How can anyone say that about a little kid? This is insane.' For example, I was 12. I'd go into an audition, and I'd do it, and my manager would call me, and I'd be like, 'How'd it go?' And they'd be like, 'Well, they thought you weren't pretty enough and you're fat." But even at a young age, Kat had a very strong sense of self. "That was my attitude. For some reason, it didn't break my spirit. I was like, 'I'll show them,'" she added. "I guess props to my parents, because they were like, 'They're idiots. Don't listen to them.' And I was like, 'They're idiots, I'm not.'" 11. Lastly, George Lazenby was forced to have sex with an audience. Australian actor George Lazenby was the first to replace Sean Connery as James Bond. Although he looked the part, at the time, the 28-year-old didn't have any professional acting experience, so producers decided to test him. He passed the acting and fighting trials, but now they wanted to make sure their newest hero wasn't gay. According to NY Post, 'A male employee brought up girls on separate occasions and stayed while Lazenby made love to them,' wrote Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury, authors of Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films, ' a comprehensive account of the James Bond series. 'I'm really looking forward to being Bond, for the bread and the birds,' George said. 'It's not that I'm a sex maniac. Forget my ego. I wouldn't even care if they didn't put my name on the marquee.' He would go on to only star in one film: On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
