Hollywood is often reported to have various diva actors, whether on set or during contract negotiations; clearly, some things are never enough for some of Hollywood’s elite.
From demanding an equal number of lines to all-white dressing rooms, it seems nothing is too much for these actors.
Queen Latifah Refusing to Die
This one may seem reasonable at first until you realize this was about a part in a movie.
During a 2016 interview with James Corden on “The Late Late Show,” Queen Latifah explained why she has this clause in her contract. After starring in a few films where her character was killed off, Queen Latifah realized this meant there was no way of returning for a sequel and that she could be missing out on more roles (and money).
Steve McQueen Demanded Equal Lines
When starring in “The Towering Inferno” alongside Paul Newman, Steve McQueen had several demands for this film.
Not only did he demand that he and Newman had the same amount of lines, but he also demanded that he get the top billing. To compromise, McQueen’s name was first on the film poster, but Newman’s was positioned slightly higher, as reported by WhatCulture.
Uma Thurman Wanted Only the Best
When she was due to star in “Eloise in Paris,” although the film was never made, Uma Thurman did have some demands, and while some were reasonable, others were very demanding.
According to Watch Mojo, Thurman had a clause in her contract that stated that she was to have the best dressing room and that no one else was allowed to have one better than her.
J-Lo Only Wants White
Clearly, dressing rooms play a key role whenever an actor or singer is negotiating their contract, and Jennifer Lopez is no different.
Dannii Minogue reflected on one incident with J-Lo on her podcast “The 90s with Dannii Minogue,” where she stated that J-Lo had refused to perform unless her dressing room was completely white.
Will Smith’s Home Away from Home
While on film sets, most actors might get a trailer that is just big enough for them and a few of their things. But not Will Smith.
When filming “Men in Black 3,” Smith had a two-story, two-bedroom trailer that cost $2 million, according to The Daily Mail. However, apparently, this wasn’t big enough for one thing — workout equipment. Because of this, Smith demanded a separate trailer to help with his apparent storage problem.
Samuel L. Jackson Loves Golf
While many might choose to organize their hobbies around work, Samuel L. Jackson likes to do things differently.
Jackson loves golf so much that he has it stated in all of his movie contracts that he has to be allowed at least two days a week off to take some time out and go and hit some balls.
George Clooney Loves a Day at the Beach
Some might say it’s reasonable for actors to make demands regarding their dressing room and items in it, but George Clooney took this one step further.
While filming “Gravity,” Clooney demanded that he have a specially made beach hut on set, as well as a basketball court, potentially so he had something to do in between takes.
Don’t Want to Lose a Fight
This one applies to Vin Diesel, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Jason Statham, so clearly, this is a popular demand among some of Hollywood’s elite.
This all happened in the “Fast & Furious” franchise, when the three actors stated in their contracts that they had limits as to how badly they could be beaten up, which might shock fans given how much fighting goes on in the films.
Gary Busey Demands No Mirrors
In the film “Quigley,” there is one scene in it that depicts heaven. However, Gary Busey wasn’t happy about various aspects of the set.
Busey said he had died and gone to heaven before and the set for the scene that depicts heaven wasn’t accurate. According to Busey, there are no mirrors in heaven, so he demanded they be removed from the set immediately.
Daniel Day-Lewis’ British Accent Ban
This may sound a bit extreme, but as Daniel Day-Lewis wanted to go method for his role in “Lincoln,” this was a strict request of his.
While playing U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, Day-Lewis didn’t break character throughout filming, regardless of whether he was on set or not. He also demanded to be called Mr. Lincoln by the cast and crew at all times to help him fully immerse himself in the role.
Justin Timberlake — No Guests Allowed
Just one room in a hotel wasn’t enough for Justin Timberlake, as he wanted the entire floor to himself as a way to keep his privacy.
According to Radar Online, Timberlake also requested that cleaning staff polish any doorknobs whilst he was at the Manchester Arena, demanding they be disinfected every two hours.
Barbra Streisand, the Ultimate Diva
Some actor demands are quite strange, but the ones Barbra Streisand has made might just top the list as the weirdest demands any actor has ever made.
According to The Evening Standard, Streisand has demanded rose petals on stage, 60 towels, 120 bath-sized towels, and that security can’t wear T-shirts. She has also reportedly asked for toilet paper the same shade as her skin, which might just make her the ultimate diva.
