The Other Side of Film: Actors Who Turned Out to Be Bad People in Real Life
Do the characters actors play on screen match their real personalities?
Viewers often admire film heroes who fearlessly throw themselves into battle and are always ready to sacrifice themselves for others. Fans spend years imagining themselves in their favorite characters' shoes and dream of meeting the actors who played them.
But are actors really as flawless off set as they appear on screen? The DeTalks team gathered stories of actors who turned out to be quite different in real life from their on-screen characters.
Matthew Davis's Strange Behavior
The Vampire Diaries actor Matthew Davis played Alaric Saltzman in the show's universe. His character always showed up in the toughest moments, practically coming back from the dead to help his friends and students overcome whatever they faced.
In reality, though, Davis has more than once shown strange behavior toward his co-stars off set. During an interview with the main cast of The Vampire Diaries, he said, that he saw a romantic storyline developing between Elena Gilbert and Alaric (who, in the show, is her teacher and guardian). The cast initially took his comment as a joke, but Nina Dobrev pointed out that his character is effectively the girl's stepfather, married to her biological mother.
Later, in a comment for TVGuide, Matthew Davis again stated that he wanted to see a romance develop between Elena and Alaric.
“I'm surprised he hasn't snuck into her bed yet.”
James Franco's Interest in His Students
Known for playing Harry Osborn in the 2000s Spider-Man trilogy, James Franco captivated audiences with his acting and charisma. In 2011, he even hosted the Oscars, and the following year, he received a Best Actor nomination for 127 Hours.
In 2019, Franco was sued by former students of the acting school he founded, who accused the star of harassment. Toni Gaal and Sarah Tither-Kaplan claimed that James and his fellow instructors pressured students into undressing in exchange for desired roles.
The actor initially denied all the allegations, but in 2021, agreed to an out-of-court settlement, paying $2.2 million.
Later, on Sirius XM's 'The Jess Cagle Podcast,' the actor admitted to seducing his students.
The Airplane Incident Between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
Film actor Brad Pitt, known for roles in F1: The Movie, Fight Club, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Inglourious Basterds, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and others, has also found himself at the center of scandal.
In 2016, his then-wife, Angelina Jolie, filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Later, in court documents, she alleged that during a family flight on September 14, 2016, she and their two children were subjected to violence by her husband.
Jolie's court filing alleged that when one of the children stepped in to protect her, Pitt lunged at the child, and Jolie grabbed him from behind to stop him, that Pitt then threw himself back into his airplane seat to shake her off, injuring her back and elbow, that the children rushed to help and bravely tried to protect each other, and that before it was over, Pitt grabbed one child by the neck and struck them in the face, with some of the children begging him to stop, everyone frightened.
A representative for Brad Pitt denied the claims, calling them baseless. "He has faced every kind of personal attack and distortion imaginable," said Anne Kiley, Pitt's attorney. In 2021, he was granted joint custody of the children.
After eight years of legal disputes, the couple signed their divorce papers.
Kostiantyn Temliak's Hidden Past
Ukrainian actor Kostiantyn Temliak, who played the lead role in the film Bozhevilni and the series I Budut Liudy, embodied defiance of the regime and a longing for freedom in his characters. His character Andrii Dovzhenko, for instance, chose the side of truth and tried to convey that idea to the world. In real life, though, the actor himself concealed facts from his own past.
Kostiantyn's ex-girlfriend, photographer Anastasiia Solovyova, posted a message accusing the actor of physical and psychological abuse. Following a specific dress code, having her social media fully controlled with only approved photos allowed to be posted, being barred from talking to men, and coming home by a set time— these were the rules Anastasiia had to follow.
Solovyova has described him as a 'man' who repeatedly raised his hand against her (and, as it later turned out, not only her), accused her of infidelity, controlled her, and undermined her mental state, making her doubt her own sanity and grip on reality, breaking her down as a person day after day.
Anastasiia Solovyova published photos and videos showing the actor using obscene language toward her and others, behaving aggressively while intoxicated, making threats, and engaging in abusive behavior. According to her, after one argument, he twisted her arm, causing a hairline fracture.
According to the photographer, besides Solovyova, Temliak also communicated with an underage singer, Manita (who was 15 at the time), sending her intimate photos and messages and trying to get similar material from her in return. A second post the photographer shared is currently unavailable due to reports against it.
In response to the allegations, Kostiantyn Temliak apologized to Anastasiia on his Instagram page, stressing that it had been a deeply unhealthy relationship on both sides and that he'd done many things he was still ashamed of. The actor also apologized to other women he may have hurt through 'mistakes from his past.' Temliak admitted to having pushed or gripped a girl's arm hard enough to bruise it. He now insists that, with the support of those closest to him, he was able to work through his problems and become who he is today.
How Many Women Worldwide Have Experienced Violence
- According to data from the WHO, a third (27%) of women worldwide aged 15 to 49 who have been in a relationship have experienced some form of violence from a partner.
- About 30% of women worldwide have experienced violence at some point in their lives, whether from an intimate partner or someone else.
The DeTalks editorial team urges anyone experiencing any form of violence to contact law enforcement or specialized support services.
Current Support Lines for People Who Have Experienced Violence
Free Legal Aid Line
- 0 800 213 103 (mobile and landline)
National Domestic Violence Prevention Hotline
- 15-47 and 116 123 (from mobile) or 0 800 500 335 (from landline)