These Actors Lied To Land Major Movie And TV Roles

Hollywood auditions can be brutally competitive, which is why some performers stretch the truth to get their shot. From shaving years off their age to claiming skills they hadn’t learned yet, these fibs helped actors secure auditions and sign contracts before scrambling to catch up. In most cases the lie was followed by a crash course, months of training, or careful workarounds on set to make everything believable for cameras.

Mila Kunis – ‘That ’70s Show’

Mila Kunis told casting that she was 18 when she auditioned even though she was actually 14. The role required actors to be legal adults, so she gave a technically true answer that she would be 18 “on her birthday,” leaving out the year. Producers discovered the real age after she’d already nailed multiple reads and fit perfectly with the ensemble. The show kept her, and production adjusted supervision and on set rules to comply with child labor requirements.

Laurence Fishburne – ‘Apocalypse Now’

Laurence Fishburne said he was 16 to qualify for the part of a young soldier when he was really 14. The production accepted the stated age during early casting, which let him join the lengthy shoot. Filming extended so long that he actually turned 16 before principal photography wrapped. The age misrepresentation let him work legally across jurisdictions until his true age became moot.

Ben Hardy – ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

Ben Hardy assured the team he could play drums to portray Roger Taylor, even though he hadn’t learned the instrument yet. After landing the role he began intensive daily practice to match Taylor’s parts and posture on stage. The production coordinated with music supervisors and editors so performance footage synced convincingly with pre recorded tracks. By the time cameras rolled on concert sequences, his technique and stick grip matched the reference material closely enough for close ups.

Emilia Clarke – ‘Game of Thrones’

Emilia Clarke claimed she had solid horse riding experience when she first met with producers. Large scale scenes required confident riding for travel and battle sequences, so the show arranged training right away. She worked with wranglers to master mounting, cues, and high visibility safety routines around pyrotechnics and camera vehicles. Stunt doubles handled hazardous maneuvers while her improved skills covered medium shots and dialogue on the move.

Kit Harington – ‘Game of Thrones’

Kit Harington indicated he could ride and handle sword work at a professional level to strengthen his audition. After casting, he went through boot camp style prep with fight coordinators covering broadsword fundamentals, footwork, and safe contact distance. The production scheduled regular riding lessons to build endurance for cold weather shoots in armor. Stunt departments designed repeatable choreography so his on camera technique stayed consistent across episodes.

Sam Claflin – ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’

Sam Claflin reportedly said he was a confident swimmer to meet character requirements tied to water sequences. Once hired, he trained in controlled tanks to develop breath control and safety protocols with the marine unit. The crew rehearsed entries, exits, and underwater eyelines to keep shots usable for editors. When conditions were risky, doubles and plate work filled gaps while he handled close range material.

Anne Hathaway – ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

Anne Hathaway affirmed she could handle the specialized motorcycle used for Catwoman’s chase scenes. The production quickly paired her with vehicle trainers to learn throttle control, mount and dismount procedures, and camera safe movement. Stunt performers executed high speed runs while she performed low speed and stationary beats for dialogue and eyeline continuity. Rigging teams and rehearsals ensured the illusion of seamless riding across shot setups.

Jenna Fischer – ‘The Office’ (2005–2013)

Jenna Fischer presented herself as comfortable with receptionist duties that mirrored the role. She practiced phone multi line etiquette, message taking formats, and basic office workflows to look natural at the desk. Set dressing and prop notes incorporated believable forms, call sheets, and sticky note habits to support the performance. Her familiarity with small office rhythms helped the show capture realistic background business during long takes.

Rebel Wilson – Early Film And TV Roles

Rebel Wilson publicly presented a different age and parts of her background earlier in her career to navigate casting expectations. The discrepancies helped her fit breakdowns that skewed older for certain comedic roles. Once established, she clarified details while continuing to book work on the strength of auditions and box office performance. The early misstatements illustrate how age perception can influence which scripts reach an actor.

Javier Bardem – ‘The Counselor’

Javier Bardem signaled comfort with driving high performance cars for scenes requiring precision movement. Production arranged training with stunt drivers to practice marks, braking points, and safe acceleration under camera rigs. Coordinators planned closed course routes and repeated rehearsals so shots could be captured efficiently. When sequences demanded extreme maneuvers, specialists doubled him while he covered cabin dialogue and controlled approaches.

Share the wildest casting fib you’ve heard in the comments and tell us which one surprised you most.