Auditions are a crucial part of being an actor. Whether it’s auditioning for a commercial, a show, or a major movie, it pretty much defines the kind of actor you are. In other words, that initial impression is what sticks with a casting director.
Over the years, many actors who are now bigwigs in the entertainment industry have shared stories from their most memorable auditions. While many took a nostalgic trip down memory lane, not all of them had a good experience.
From being asked to carry out bizarre and personal requests to crossing professional boundaries, some actors and actresses have unfortunately seen the dark side of casting.
Here are some of the most insane audition stories, ranging from embarrassing to straight-up inappropriate, from some of the biggest names in Hollywood:
George Clooney:
George Clooney’s father told him, “I don’t give a s— what you do in life…You have one thing you have to do: You have to challenge people with more power than you and defend people with less power than you. If you do that, you win.” #ActorsOnActors https://t.co/g4J5Dn0Shs pic.twitter.com/MhNCXrRjR6
— Variety (@Variety) April 22, 2025
George Clooney is a legendary actor with a decade of experience in the entertainment industry. The actor is known for his roles in the Ocean’s franchise, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Peacemaker, and more. Before he could get his big break in the industry, possibly not have had to audition these days. Clooney was gunning for a role in 1992’s Dracula.
During an exclusive 2016 interview with E! News, Clooney opened up about the time he went to an audition drunk. The actor recalled auditioning for a “drunk guy” and decided that the best way to portray the character was to audition while under the influence of alcohol.
Clooney didn’t go too many details, but he did mention that it didn’t turn out. He did recall a call between the movie’s filmmaker, Francis Ford Coppola, and Clooney’s agent. The actor said, “Coppola called my agent and said, ‘He was drunk!’”
Charlize Theron:
“I tore the ligament off the bone.” Charlize Theron tells @HowardStern about injuring herself while shooting her new @Netflix action film @oldguardmovie.
Check out the full interview on the @SIRIUSXM app: https://t.co/BvuOBH98QF pic.twitter.com/8EZ4I0hsdl
— Stern Show (@sternshow) June 22, 2020
Charlize Theron is renowned for her role in Mad Max: Fury Road, among other major projects such as Monster, The Italian Job, The Devil’s Advocate, and Fast X. She is one of the many actresses who faced the dark side of casting.
During a 2019 interview with Howard Stern on, The Howard Stern Show, Theron recalled her haunting and downright inappropriate audition. What should have possibly been her big break instead turned into a horrible experience that she remembers to this date.
Theron was only 18 or 19 years old when she decided to go for her very first audition. The actress claimed that at the time, a director had invited her to his house to read lines. When she got to his place, the director was in his PJs and was also drinking.
Not wanting to lose her shot at auditioning, Theron initially didn’t think much of it. But things shifted as soon as he expressed disinterest in her reading lines and kept his hand on her knee. With alarm bells ringing, Theron recalled leaving without a second thought. She said, “I don’t even know how I got out of the house, but I left.”
Mads Mikkelsen:
Few actors can say so much with so little. Mads Mikkelsen in Druk. pic.twitter.com/3M78a7dsCR
— CineLost (@thecinelost) January 30, 2026
Regarded as one of Hollywood’s most handsome men, Mads Mikkelsen has left many long-lasting impressions on fans through his movies. The Danish actor’s noteworthy works include Hannibal, Clash of the Titans, Casino Royale, and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.
Who knew we could have had a completely different version of ‘Reed Richards’ from the Fantastic Four franchise? Apparently, Mikkelsen auditioned for the role of Mr. Fantastic, but backed out after an exhausting audition.
During a 2016 Rolling Stone interview, Mikkelsen recalled testing out his flexibility, or rather elasticity, given the character’s superpower. The actor claimed that he only had “one line” and had to repeatedly attempt to reach out to an object from the other side of the room.
About the experience, he said, “This is so embarrassing…” When he couldn’t reach out several times, he decided it wasn’t worth it. Mikkelsen didn’t specify which installment of the movie he auditioned for. But since the reboot of the movie was released in 2015, it’s most likely that he tried his hand at that.
Geena Davis:
Geena Davis spills the tea on the first time she met Brad Pitt! She was so big in the early 90s omg a league of their own… then she did cutthroat island 😂 but the The Long Kiss Goodnight & Thelma and Louise were pretty good 👍 pic.twitter.com/5A0XNdgQaa
— Larry Conger 🇺🇸 (@eMTBrides) January 31, 2026
Geena Davis is renowned for her role in Stuart Little. Davis played the role of the beloved mouse’s mother in the live-action movie franchise. Like Theron, Davis was also a victim of the dark side of casting. During a 2019 interview with USA Daily, she highlighted her experience.
Davis recalled going through negative experiences multiple times over the years of her acting career. During her early years, Davis was once asked to act out the scene of sitting on a man’s lap by the director.
The director urged Davis to first enact it with him and then film the actual scene. Since she was inexperienced, young, and new to the industry, Davis wasn’t aware of her right to decline the instruction. Davis hasn’t been very active in the entertainment industry lately. But, she continues to speak up against such injustices.
Lukas Gage:
— lukas gage (@lukasgage) January 24, 2025
Lukas Gage’s fame skyrocketed after his appearance in Euphoria. The actor was also recently cast in the reboot of the Prison Break series and appeared on Season 4 of You. During the pandemic in 2019, Gage auditioned for a role in an undisclosed part over a Zoom call.
After completing his audition, Gage waited for feedback, but what he got instead was an awkward apology. The anonymous director had forgotten to put his microphone on mute and commented on Gage’s apartment at the time, and his television.
Unable to stay silent any longer, Gage chimed in on the comment about his TV and said, “Give me this job so I can get a better one.” The director profusely apologized to Gage after the awkward moment.
