Superhero Actors and Actresses Who Absolutely Hated Their Costumes

Actors often dream of playing superheroes but the reality of wearing the iconic costumes is frequently a nightmare. These outfits look fantastic on the big screen yet they usually restrict movement and breathing for the performers involved. Many stars have shared horror stories about bathroom breaks and heat exhaustion while filming intense action sequences. The following list highlights performers who despised their heroic attire.

Oscar Isaac

The suit for ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ weighed nearly forty pounds and required cooling tubes to keep the actor from passing out. Isaac described the experience as excruciating because the prosthetics limited his mobility and made sitting down impossible between takes. He felt isolated from his castmates since he had to be transported in a specially designed tent to rest. The immense amount of glue and latex trapped his sweat and made the entire filming process miserable.

Scarlett Johansson

The actress found her tactical suit in ‘The Avengers’ to be incredibly hot and uncomfortable during the physically demanding shoot. She noted that the material acted like a wetsuit that trapped heat and caused her to sweat profusely while performing stunts. Johansson famously recalled hallucinating from the high temperatures while filming a fight scene on a rooftop. The tight nature of the outfit also made bathroom breaks a significant logistical challenge throughout the production.

Christian Bale

The cowl used in ‘Batman Begins’ was so tight that it gave the actor severe headaches almost immediately after putting it on. Bale used the discomfort to fuel his angry performance but found the inability to turn his neck incredibly frustrating. He advised future actors to ensure their suits had zippers so they could use the restroom without assistance. The intense heat inside the rubber suit famously caused him to nearly fall asleep between takes due to exhaustion.

Margot Robbie

Robbie expressed discomfort with the skimpy outfit she wore as Harley Quinn in ‘Suicide Squad’ due to how exposed it made her feel. She stated that wearing tiny shorts and a wet t-shirt was physically uncomfortable during the cold night shoots. The actress felt self-conscious while filming and worried about the practicality of the clothing for a character involved in combat. She was relieved when her character received a wardrobe update in subsequent films that offered more coverage.

Andrew Garfield

The spandex suit worn by the actor in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ was extremely itchy and left him feeling exposed. Garfield struggled with the fact that the costume was designed without zippers and made using the restroom a complicated ordeal. He felt claustrophobic wearing the mask for long hours and had difficulty seeing clearly during stunt work. The paparazzi taking photos of him in the skintight material added a layer of self-consciousness to the filming experience.

Michelle Pfeiffer

Getting into the latex suit for ‘Batman Returns’ was a physical ordeal that required being vacuum-sealed to achieve the skin-tight look. She could only wear the outfit for short periods because it became difficult to breathe and lightheadedness would set in quickly. The mask was so tight around her face that it often muffled her hearing and made acting against other performers a challenge. Pfeiffer famously noted that the costume was the most uncomfortable thing she had ever worn in her career.

Ryan Reynolds

Reynolds famously disliked the motion capture suit he had to wear for ‘Green Lantern’ because it felt ridiculous on set. He jokingly referred to the outfit as a motion capture unitard that made him look uncool compared to practical costumes. The actor later struggled with the heavy makeup and prosthetics required for ‘Deadpool’ which made him feel trapped. He admitted that the full face mask caused panic attacks until he grew accustomed to the lack of air.

Jennifer Lawrence

The extensive blue body paint required for Mystique in ‘X-Men: First Class’ took several hours to apply and caused skin irritation. Lawrence hated the fumes from the paint and worried about the long-term health effects of the toxins entering her body. The makeup team eventually switched to a body suit for later films to reduce the application time and physical toll. She constantly felt uncomfortable and eager to remove the layers of prosthetics at the end of each shooting day.

Chadwick Boseman

The late actor revealed that the Black Panther suit was suffocating and made it extremely difficult to breathe during action sequences. He struggled to maintain his composure in the heat while wearing the thick rubber outfit that trapped all perspiration. Boseman noted that the helmet restricted his oxygen intake and required him to practice meditative breathing to stay calm. The physical restrictions of the costume added an extra layer of difficulty to his intense martial arts choreography.

Olivia Munn

Munn revealed that her costume for Psylocke in ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ was so tight that she required two assistants and lubricant to put it on. The latex outfit was extremely fragile and popped open at the crotch on her very first day of filming. She found the ensemble impractical for the sword fighting and wirework her character had to perform. The lack of breathability meant she had to be extremely careful about her movements to avoid tearing the fabric again.

Paul Bettany

Playing Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe required Bettany to wear a restrictive suit along with heavy face paint and prosthetics. The actor found the process physically painful and noted that the cowl pressed tightly against his ears. He often felt isolated on set because the elaborate costume made it difficult to hear or interact casually with others. Bettany described the relief of ripping the glued components off his face as the best part of his day.

Ben Affleck

Affleck found the motion capture pyjamas he wore for certain scenes in ‘Justice League’ to be humiliating and unheroic. He also struggled with the practical armored suit which was heavy and restricted his movement significantly during fight scenes. The actor noted that the technology required to bring the character to life often made him feel silly on set. He appreciated the look of the final product but despised the process of wearing the various bulky components.

Tom Holland

The young actor has frequently complained about the lack of peripheral vision in his Spider-Man mask. Holland struggles to drink water while in costume and has to use a specialized tube that feeds through the eye hole. He also noted that the suit creates a challenge when he needs to use the bathroom since it is a single piece of fabric. The tightness of the material leaves him with lines on his skin after long days of filming stunts.

Ron Perlman

The prosthetic makeup required to transform Perlman into the title character of ‘Hellboy’ took four hours to apply every morning. He found the extensive red chest piece and heavy tail to be physically exhausting to wear for twelve hours a day. The actor stated that the contacts he wore limited his vision and the fake teeth affected his speech patterns. He eventually declined to return for a third film in part because of the grueling makeup process.

Gal Gadot

Gadot revealed that the first version of her costume in ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ was so tight she could barely breathe. The corset was constricting to the point where she was unable to speak properly during her initial fittings. Designers had to adjust the outfit significantly so she could perform the necessary stunts without passing out. She still found the metal armor cold and uncomfortable during shoots in winter weather conditions.

Michael Keaton

Keaton felt incredibly claustrophobic in the original 1989 Batman suit because the rubber casing solidified his entire upper body. He could not turn his head independently from his shoulders which forced him to pivot his entire torso to look around. The actor used this physical limitation to create the stoic movements that became a signature of his portrayal. He admitted that the isolation he felt inside the suit helped him get into the dark mindset of the character.

Rebecca Romijn

Romijn spent up to nine hours in the makeup chair to become Mystique for the original ‘X-Men’ trilogy. She was essentially naked on set with only prosthetics and blue paint covering her body which made her feel very vulnerable. The actress noted that removing the makeup was also a tedious process that could take hours at the end of the day. She eventually reduced her role in the third film because the process had become too grueling to endure.

Val Kilmer

Kilmer described the suit he wore in ‘Batman Forever’ as a torture device that made it impossible to hear anyone on set. He felt isolated from the cast and crew because the mask covered his ears and required assistants to help him stand up. The actor struggled to move freely and claimed that wearing the suit drained his energy rapidly. He famously stated that playing the character was more about endurance than acting due to the costume.

George Clooney

The suit worn by Clooney in ‘Batman & Robin’ is infamous for its nipples but the actor hated it for its immense weight. He complained that the heavy rubber material caused him back pain and made simple movements difficult. The cowl was just as restrictive as previous versions and prevented him from turning his neck naturally. Clooney has apologized numerous times for the film and often cites the ridiculous costume as a low point.

Burt Ward

Ward suffered numerous injuries while wearing the Robin costume for the 1960s ‘Batman’ television series. The tights were made of uncomfortable wool that caused rashes and offered zero protection during dangerous stunts. He was also told to take medication to shrink his manhood so the tight shorts would appear more family-friendly on screen. The actor found the entire wardrobe experience physically painful and humiliating throughout the show’s run.

Idris Elba

Elba disliked the elaborate armor and gold contact lenses he had to wear as Heimdall in the ‘Thor’ franchise. He described the experience of hanging from wires in the bulky costume as torture that made him question his career choices. The contact lenses severely impaired his vision and made him feel disoriented during large action sequences. He felt the role was a step back for him as an actor due to the restrictive nature of the appearance.

Dave Bautista

The makeup process for Drax in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ originally took five hours and required Bautista to stand completely still. He found the grey skin paint difficult to remove and noted that it ruined his bedsheets for weeks during production. The actor felt like he was in a sauna constantly because the silicone prosthetics trapped his body heat. He eventually negotiated for a vest in later films to reduce the amount of body makeup required.

Elizabeth Olsen

Olsen expressed frustration with the plunging neckline of her Scarlet Witch corset in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’. She felt that the cleavage was unnecessary and placed her as the only female character with such an exposing outfit. The actress constantly worried about a wardrobe malfunction while performing dynamic movements on set. She was pleased when her costume was redesigned in later projects to be more practical and less revealing.

Tom Hardy

Hardy found the mask he wore as Bane in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ to be incredibly tight and headache-inducing. The heavy apparatus pressed against his face and made it difficult for him to hear his own voice while delivering lines. He had to signal the crew with hand gestures when he was in pain because the mask muffled his speech. The physical discomfort added to the menacing physicality he brought to the villainous role.

Brie Larson

Larson discovered that the Captain Marvel suit was nearly impossible to manage when she needed to use the restroom alone. She required a team of assistants to help her unclip and remove various layers of armor and fabric. The actress described the process as a thirty-minute ordeal that halted production whenever nature called. She found the tight leather material restrictive during the extensive wirework training she had to undergo.

Jason Momoa

Momoa complained that his classic orange and green Aquaman suit was extremely heavy and uncomfortable to wear for long periods. He struggled with bathroom breaks and the sheer weight of the armored scales dragging him down. The actor noted that the suit was not conducive to the underwater movement simulations and caused chafing. He preferred the scenes where he could wear lighter clothing or remain shirtless to avoid the bulk.

Amber Heard

Heard described her Mera costume as being vacuum-sealed onto her body to create the hydro-dynamic appearance. She felt like she was being squeezed constantly and had trouble bending her joints to walk naturally. The actress mentioned that the outfit was so tight that she had to lean against a board to rest instead of sitting. The complex layers made changing in and out of the costume a lengthy production delay.

Anthony Mackie

Mackie found the transition from Falcon to Captain America difficult because the new suit was made of thick and heavy material. He struggled to lift his legs high enough to perform the running kicks required for the fight choreography. The cowl was also problematic as it pressed against his face and made him feel overheated quickly. He joked that the suit looked great but felt like wearing a carpet in the middle of summer.

Sebastian Stan

The metal arm worn by Stan for the Winter Soldier character required heavy amounts of lubricant to slide onto his actual arm. He found the prop to be stiff and uncomfortable during long days of filming action scenes in the heat. The actor noted that the arm often restricted his circulation and had to be removed frequently to restore blood flow. He described the feeling of the rigid sleeve as carrying a dead weight on one side of his body.

Grant Gustin

Gustin experienced significant anxiety when he first wore the cowl for ‘The Flash’ because it was glued directly to his face. He suffered from headaches due to the tightness of the mask and the lack of proper ventilation. The actor later requested a zipper for the cowl to allow him to breathe easier between takes. The leather suit also absorbed sweat and began to smell terrible after repeated use under hot studio lights.

John Cena

Cena described his Peacemaker costume as a tight and uncomfortable uniform that offered no warmth during cold shoots. He hated the helmet which he described as a toilet seat that was heavy and awkward to balance. The actor committed to wearing the outfit for interviews to promote the project but despised the physical sensation of it. He noted that the tightness of the fabric left little to the imagination and made him feel exposed.

Alicia Silverstone

Silverstone faced body-shaming criticism while filming ‘Batman & Robin’ which made wearing the tight Batgirl suit a traumatic experience. She found the rubber outfit heavy and difficult to move in while trying to perform kickboxing moves. The actress stated that the costume fittings were painful and the final product was incredibly unflattering. She recalled feeling humiliated by the focus on her weight while squeezed into the unforgiving material.

Mickey Rourke

Rourke despised the heavy suit he wore as Whiplash in ‘Iron Man 2’ because it weighed nearly forty pounds. He complained that the metal contraption was agony to wear and caused him significant back pain. The actor felt limited in his performance because he could barely move without exhaustion setting in. He was vocal about his dissatisfaction with the role and the physical toll the costume took on him.

Jared Leto

Leto found the aesthetic choices for his Joker in ‘Suicide Squad’ to be excessive and uncomfortable to maintain. The extensive tattoos and metal teeth were irritating and affected how he spoke and ate during production. He felt the flashy costumes were a departure from the classic look and made him feel more like a gangster than the clown prince. The actor struggled with the grills in his mouth which caused pain to his gums over time.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

The armor for Mr. Freeze in ‘Batman & Robin’ was incredibly heavy and contained lights that required large batteries. Schwarzenegger leaked battery acid into his mouth during one take because the rig was poorly constructed. He felt immense pressure on his neck and shoulders from the bulk of the suit and the helmet. The actor had to take frequent breaks to avoid injury from the sheer weight of the costume components.

Zoe Saldaña

Saldana endures a lengthy makeup process to become Gamora which involves being covered in green paint and prosthetics. She dislikes the sticky feeling of the paint and the fact that it transfers onto everything she touches. The actress has noted that the removal process is harsh on her skin and leaves her feeling raw. She dreads the early morning call times required to get into the full alien appearance.

Nicholas Hoult

Hoult found the Beast makeup in the ‘X-Men’ films to be stifling and hot during action-heavy sequences. The fur suit trapped heat and made him sweat profusely which sometimes caused the prosthetics to slide off. He felt uncomfortable eating or drinking while in character because of the fake teeth and lips. The actor was relieved when the character design was altered to a human form for large portions of later movies.

Karen Gillan

Gillan shaved her head for the role of Nebula and endured complex makeup application that took several hours. She described the sensation of the prosthetics as having a thick rubber hat glued tight to her skull. The actress struggled to show facial expressions through the layers of blue paint and mechanical attachments. She found the removal process particularly painful as the glue pulled at her sensitive skin.

Jessica Alba

Alba felt uncomfortable in the blue spandex uniform she wore as the Invisible Woman in ‘Fantastic Four’. She noted that the material was unflattering and made her feel self-conscious about her body on set. The actress disliked the blonde wig she was required to wear which felt unnatural and itchy. She felt that the costume was designed more for the male gaze than for a powerful female hero.

Matthew Lewis

Although not a traditional superhero, Lewis wore a fat suit for his role as Neville Longbottom which he found humiliating. He had to wear the padding and false teeth to maintain the character’s awkward appearance as he matured. The actor disliked how the suit made him move and felt it held him back from feeling like himself. He was eager to shed the prosthetics in the final films to show his actual physical progression.

Robert Pattinson

Pattinson found the Batman suit to be incredibly hot and difficult to maneuver in during fight scenes. He described the feeling of wearing the cowl as being stuck in a warm sleeping bag that you cannot escape. The actor struggled with the limited visibility and the weight of the cape dragging him backward. He had to learn to control his sweat levels to prevent the eye makeup from running into his vision.

Henry Cavill

Cavill noted that his Superman suit was incredibly tight and had no fly which made bathroom breaks a major production. He had to wait for the right moment to drink water to avoid delaying the shoot with a complex undressing process. The actor found the material unforgiving and freezing during winter shoots in exposed locations. He mentioned that the suit was designed for appearance rather than comfort or practicality.

Share your thoughts on which costume sounds the most miserable in the comments.