6 actors who fibbed to land movie roles

Robert Pattinson

Robert Pattinson, known for his roles in the "Twilight" franchise, Christopher Nolan's sci-fi blockbuster "Tenet," and Matt Reeves' superhero film "The Batman," was once just a beginner trying to break into the film industry. On his way to fame, he even had to resort to tricks.

Robert Pattinson (photo: Kinorium)

"I was out of work for many years, and when I came to Los Angeles, casting directors would constantly ask what I had been doing lately. I would say, "Oh, I studied at RADA." With an English accent, it sounded convincing," Pattinson told Mirror.

RADA, or the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, is one of the most prestigious theater schools in England, but fortunately for the actor, no one ever checked his story.

Mila Kunis

When Mila Kunis auditioned for a role in the TV show That '70s Show, she was only 14, having just moved into high school. However, the casting directors were looking for someone older, so the actress decided to embellish the truth a little.

"I told them I was 18... Technically, that wasn't a lie because sooner or later, if things went well, I really would turn 18," Kunis shared in an interview with Jay Leno.

Mila Kunis (photo: Kinorium)

What she decided not to clarify was that she still had four years until reaching adulthood. Later, the production team discovered her real age, but fortunately, it didn’t cause any issues.

Eddie Redmayne

Eddie Redmayne, although a very talented actor, cannot boast of being skilled at horseback riding. During the audition for the role in the TV series Elizabeth I, director Tom Hooper asked the actor if he was confident in the saddle. Redmayne, not wanting to miss the opportunity, assured him that he knew how to ride a horse.

But on set, it became clear that this was an exaggeration.

"As soon as the 'Action!' call went off, I literally raced down a hill at 100 miles per hour. I almost killed myself and half of the crew," Redmayne recalled on Conan O’Brien's show.

Eddie Redmayne (photo: Kinorium)

The director appeared from behind Helen Mirren with a loudspeaker and shouted, "You’re a real liar, Redmayne!" After that, the actor was immediately sent to horseback riding lessons to prepare for the shoot.

Chloë Grace Moretz

Chloë Grace Moretz was still a teenager when she decided to lie to Martin Scorsese to land the role of Isabelle in Hugo. Since the character was British, the actress figured her chances would improve if she showed up at the audition with a British accent and a fabricated backstory.

"The casting director knew I wasn't British, but she liked my willingness to lie. She said, 'Lie to Marty. It’ll work.' And it did help," the actress shared in an interview with Stephen Colbert.

Chloe Grace Moretz (photo: Kinorium)

The legendary director didn’t suspect the deception until the filming of Hugo was already well underway.

Chris Hemsworth

Most men typically tend to add a few extra inches to their height, but Chris Hemsworth, standing at about 190 cm, admitted that he sometimes deliberately downplays his height during auditions.

"There are roles I wanted, but my physical dimensions didn’t quite fit. Usually, I downplay my height and say I’m shorter," the actor shared in an interview with Radio Times.

However, there were times when his height became a significant advantage.

Chris Hemsworth (photo: Kinorium)

"For the Thor casting, the role requirements stated: 'Must be over 6 feet 1 inch.' That was the first time I’d seen anything like that!" Hemsworth shared.

His height and physical fitness made him the perfect candidate for the role of the God of Thunder.

Anne Hathaway

To land a role in Brokeback Mountain, Anne Hathaway convinced the casting directors that she knew how to ride horses, despite never having done it before.

"My parents gave me valuable advice: if you're asked whether you can do something, always say "yes." In two weeks, you can learn anything if you really try," the actress revealed in an interview with Out.

She assured them she was an expert equestrian and quickly set about mastering horseback riding, eventually achieving a high level of proficiency.

Anne Hathaway (photo: Kinorium)

However, during rehearsal for the shoot, an unexpected event occurred: the horse, which only responded to verbal commands, refused to follow her instructions.

"In front of 300 extras, all of whom were rodeo professionals, the horse simply wouldn't listen to me. In the end, it threw me off — right in front of everyone," the actress recalled.

Earlier, we reported on 6 actors who used stunt doubles for nude scenes.

We also wrote about the top 5 Hollywood stars who went years without landing roles in films.

Sources: Mirror, Conan O'Brien's Show, Radio Times, Out.