Actresses Who Demand Crazy Things In Their Contracts

In the high-stakes world of Hollywood, A-list actresses often wield significant leverage when negotiating their film and television contracts. While many requests focus on salary and billing, some stars include highly specific and unusual riders to ensure their comfort or maintain their brand. These demands range from environmental aesthetics to strict rules regarding the fate of their characters and the ownership of expensive wardrobes. Understanding these unique contractual clauses provides a fascinating look into the power dynamics of major entertainment productions.

Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah includes a specific clause in her contracts that prohibits her characters from being killed off on screen. This professional decision was made early in her career to ensure her characters could potentially return for sequels or spin-offs. By maintaining the longevity of her roles, she effectively protects her brand and future employment opportunities within various franchises. This unique requirement has been a standard part of her negotiations for decades across film and television projects.

Julianna Margulies

While starring in ‘The Good Wife’, Julianna Margulies insisted on wearing a wig for every episode of the long-running series. The actress had this stipulation written into her contract to avoid the hours of daily styling required to achieve her character’s specific look. This decision protected her natural hair from the heat and chemical damage often associated with consistent television production. The high-quality wigs cost thousands of dollars each and were funded entirely by the production budget as part of her agreement.

Sharon Stone

During the production of ‘Basic Instinct 2’, Sharon Stone included a clause that allowed her to keep her entire wardrobe from the film. This collection included expensive designer pieces and custom-made items tailored specifically for her role as Catherine Tramell. The total value of the clothing and accessories she retained was estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. This contractual demand ensured that the high-fashion elements of the production became part of her personal archives once filming concluded.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez is widely recognized for requiring specific environment settings in her professional contracts, often mandating an all-white aesthetic for her workspace. This typically includes white furniture, white candles, white flowers, and white curtains in her dressing rooms or trailers. The temperature in these spaces must also be strictly regulated to her preferences to ensure a controlled and comfortable working environment. Such detailed specifications are designed to create a serene and consistent atmosphere regardless of the filming location.

Lea Michele

Similar to other high-profile stars, Lea Michele reportedly secured a “no-death” clause for her character Hester Ulrich in the series ‘Scream Queens’. This contractual agreement guaranteed that her character would survive the events of the show, regardless of the horror-themed plot developments. By ensuring her character’s survival, she maintained her position in the cast for the duration of the series’ run. This type of legal safeguard is often used by actors to maintain job security in ensemble casts where characters are frequently eliminated.

Jennifer Aniston

While filming the comedy ‘Wanderlust’, Jennifer Aniston reportedly demanded a private trailer dedicated solely to her hair and makeup team. This was in addition to her standard living trailer, creating a separate workspace for her beauty technicians to prepare her for scenes. The arrangement ensured that her preparation process remained secluded and undisturbed by the general activity on the film set. This specific logistical requirement highlights the importance of her public image and the resources dedicated to maintaining it throughout a production.

Barbra Streisand

Barbra Streisand is known for contractual riders that include very specific bathroom requirements, such as peach-colored towels and rose petals in the toilet. The peach hue is chosen specifically because the actress considers it the most flattering color against her skin tone. These demands extend to her dressing rooms, which must be set up with precise floor coverings and specialized lighting arrangements. Her contracts ensure that her surroundings meet her high standards for comfort and aesthetic presentation during any professional engagement.

Kim Basinger

During the height of her career, Kim Basinger famously included a requirement in her contract that she only wash her hair with Evian bottled water. This stipulation was intended to protect her hair from the minerals and chemicals found in standard tap water on various film sets. The cost of providing a constant supply of imported spring water for grooming was absorbed by the production companies as a business expense. This demand became one of the most cited examples of celebrity riders in Hollywood history.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz has been known to include “no-touch” clauses regarding plumbing fixtures in her professional contracts and riders. This requirement specifies that all faucets and bathroom amenities in her private trailers must be touchless or motion-activated. This demand stems from a public concern regarding personal hygiene and the spread of germs in shared or temporary spaces. By codifying these preferences in her contract, she ensures her personal environment meets her specific sanitary standards while on location.

Angelina Jolie

For her role in ‘Salt’, Angelina Jolie negotiated a contract that included extensive travel and housing allowances for her entire family. The production was required to provide a private jet for her children and staff, along with high-end accommodations that could house her large household. These provisions ensured that her personal life and parental responsibilities did not suffer due to the demands of a high-budget action shoot. This level of logistical support is often a prerequisite for her involvement in long-term international productions.

Jennifer Lawrence

While filming the intense psychological thriller ‘mother!’, Jennifer Lawrence requested a dedicated “Kardashian tent” to help her cope with the dark themes of the script. This space was equipped with a television playing ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ on a continuous loop and was decorated with photos of the reality TV family. The production provided this sanctuary as a way for the actress to decompress between emotionally taxing scenes. It served as a vital psychological tool to keep her grounded throughout the difficult filming process.

Julia Roberts

For her work on the film ‘Eat Pray Love’, Julia Roberts negotiated a contract that included significant travel and housing expenses for her family. The production was required to cover the costs of bringing her children and their nanny to various filming locations across the globe. This ensured that she could maintain her family unit while working on an international shoot that spanned multiple continents. Such stipulations are common for the actress, who prioritizes her personal life alongside her high-profile acting career.

Faye Dunaway

Faye Dunaway once included a clause in her contract that required the production to provide a specific type of lighting on set at all times. This “glamour lighting” was designed to ensure she always appeared in the most flattering way regardless of the scene’s actual setting or mood. The actress was known for being very protective of her image and would often stop production if the lighting did not meet her standards. This requirement was a non-negotiable part of her agreements during the peak of her film career.

Reese Witherspoon

For her role in ‘Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde’, Reese Witherspoon had a contract stipulation that allowed her to keep all of her character’s outfits. This collection included 77 pairs of Jimmy Choo shoes and dozens of designer costumes tailored specifically for the role of Elle Woods. The actress later confirmed that she kept the entire wardrobe in storage to preserve the iconic look of the character for her personal collection. This agreement ensured that the massive investment in the film’s fashion remained in her possession after filming wrapped.

Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore reportedly includes a clause in her contracts that prohibits any digital alterations to her face or body in promotional materials. She insists that her natural appearance, including her signature freckles and any signs of aging, must remain untouched by airbrushing or CGI. This requirement reflects her commitment to authenticity and her desire to present a realistic image to her audience. By codifying this in her legal agreements, she maintains control over how her likeness is used in advertising for her various film projects.

Tell us which of these celebrity contract demands surprised you the most in the comments.