35+ Celebrity Who Hated Kissing Their Co-Stars On Screen
Sliver – Not the passion we witnessed
The steamy thriller Sliver served up plenty of sultry scenes between Sharon Stone and William Baldwin, leaving audiences convinced their on-screen romance was burning hot. But according to multiple reports, the reality behind the camera told a very different story. Behind-the-scenes drama and personal tension between the co-stars made filming some of the film’s most intimate moments incredibly uncomfortable. Despite the heat on screen, this turned out to be one of those awkward celebrity moments where the chemistry was strictly professional—and far from passionate in real life.
Sharon Stone later revealed in interviews that the passion in Sliver was purely for the cameras. In fact, she recalled a particularly painful moment when William Baldwin accidentally bit her tongue during a kiss—ouch. To make matters worse, she admitted she had to rinse with mouthwash after every take. Talk about a celebrity kiss confession no one expected. It’s a textbook case of movie romance gone wrong, where the chemistry on-screen masked the real-life tension and discomfort brewing behind the scenes.
Romeo and Juliet – Opposites don’t attract
Leonardo DiCaprio earns another spot on this list—and it’s no surprise, considering his long resume of romantic roles and unforgettable celebrity kissing stories. In Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, Leo starred alongside Claire Danes in one of the most visually striking and modernized Shakespeare movie adaptations to date. While the film delivered major drama and style, the chemistry between the leads was reportedly lacking. As iconic as their love story appeared on screen, things behind the scenes weren’t exactly star-crossed in the best way.
However, that chemistry seemed to fizzle the moment the cameras stopped rolling. According to multiple reports and celebrity gossip, Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes had very different energies on set—Leo was known for being playful and lighthearted, while Claire was more serious and focused on the craft. Their clashing personalities created an off-screen dynamic that didn’t exactly mirror the fiery passion of their characters. It’s another perfect example of how on-screen chemistry can be miles apart from the real-life tension brewing behind the scenes.
Water For Elephants – Spreading the sickness
Water for Elephants delivered a tender, vintage love story with Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon at the center of its emotional core. Audiences and critics alike praised the film for its heartfelt performances and seemingly strong on-screen chemistry. But behind the curtain, the story was a little less dreamy. As it turns out, real life didn’t quite match the cinematic sparkle—especially when illness got in the way of the romance.
In a candid celebrity interview, Reese Witherspoon revealed that many of their kissing scenes were made awkward by one unfortunate detail—Robert Pattinson had a bad cold during filming. What was meant to be romantic and cinematic ended up being anything but. Despite the gorgeous setting and sweeping cinematography, Reese admitted the experience was far from enjoyable. Kissing a co-star with the sniffles? Definitely one of the more uncomfortable kissing scenes in Hollywood, and a prime example of the kind of behind-the-scenes confessions fans never see coming.
Jennifer’s Body – They knew it’d be ‘used’
In the cult horror hit Jennifer’s Body, Amanda Seyfried and Megan Fox shared one of the film’s most buzzed-about scenes—a steamy celebrity kiss that quickly became the centerpiece of the movie’s promotional campaign. While both actresses were fully comfortable filming the moment and approached it professionally, the real issue wasn’t the kiss itself—it was how it was used. The scene became a prime example of Hollywood exploitation, where movie marketing tactics focused more on sensationalism than substance, leaving both stars feeling like their performance was reduced to clickbait.
In later celebrity interviews, they revealed their frustration with how heavily the scene was used for marketing. They felt it was a shallow attempt to attract attention, especially considering the film’s deeper themes. It’s a prime example of how Hollywood movie promotion tactics can sometimes feel exploitative, even to the stars involved.
The Hunger Games – “Gross” breath
Another famously awkward moment from The Hunger Games set came from Liam Hemsworth and Jennifer Lawrence, whose characters shared several intense kisses during the emotionally packed trilogy. While the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale had fans fully invested, things were far less swoon-worthy behind the scenes. In a hilarious yet cringeworthy Hollywood kiss confession, Liam revealed that Jennifer would deliberately eat tuna or garlic before their kissing scenes—just to mess with him. He described the experience as “gross,” proving that even in a blockbuster hit, on-screen romance can come with some seriously unromantic realities.
In a humorous (and slightly savage) behind-the-scenes confession, Liam Hemsworth revealed that Jennifer Lawrence would deliberately eat garlic or tuna before their kissing scenes—just to mess with him. He even described the experience as “gross.” While the comment was made jokingly, it quickly turned into one of those unforgettable awkward on-screen moments that fans still talk about. It’s yet another gem in the world of celebrity gossip, showing that even in a high-stakes blockbuster, co-star pranks can leave a lasting (and stinky) impression.
Wanted – A clinical kiss
In the explosive action-thriller Wanted, Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy delivered high-stakes stunts, intense drama—and one very hyped-up on-screen kiss. Given Angelina’s reputation as a top-tier Hollywood sex symbol, fans expected undeniable chemistry. But according to James, the moment was surprisingly sterile. In a blunt celebrity interview, he described the kiss as “clinical,” admitting that the whole scene felt more like a technical rehearsal than a romantic spark. It’s a classic case of an on-screen romance letdown, reminding us that not every kiss with an A-lister is as steamy as the trailer makes it look.
In an interview with The Huffington Post, James McAvoy described his on-screen kiss with Angelina Jolie as “clinical,” admitting that there was little to no real chemistry between them. It’s a textbook example of how celebrity chemistry rumors can fall flat in reality—despite how steamy things appear in the final cut. This behind-the-scenes truth highlights just how much acting (and editing) goes into making a kiss look passionate on screen. Sometimes, those unforgettable Hollywood movie moments are more about illusion than emotion.
Australia – Kissing with an audience
In Baz Luhrmann’s sweeping epic Australia, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman brought a rugged and romantic love story to life, delivering intense passion and undeniable on-screen chemistry. But while their scenes appeared seamless, Hugh later revealed that filming those kissing scenes wasn’t as comfortable as it looked. The issue wasn’t Nicole—it was the audience. According to Hugh, having dozens of crew members watching during intimate moments made the whole experience feel more like a live performance than a private connection, turning a cinematic kiss into an awkward behind-the-scenes moment.
In later celebrity interviews, Hugh Jackman admitted that kissing in front of a large crew—while both he and Nicole Kidman were married in real life—added an extra layer of pressure to an already delicate scene. The result? One of those classic Hollywood kissing scene disasters, where professional acting collided with personal discomfort. Despite their undeniable talent and chemistry on screen, this moment was a reminder that even A-listers aren’t immune to a little on-set awkwardness.
The Tourist – Take some mouthwash, please
The Tourist brought together two of Hollywood’s biggest stars—Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp—in a sleek, romantic thriller filled with glamorous locations and steamy scenes. With several kissing scenes in the script, fans expected undeniable sparks to fly. But behind the scenes? Not so steamy. In celebrity kissing scene confessions, Angelina Jolie revealed that she actually asked Depp to use mouthwash before filming their intimate moments—a not-so-subtle nod to the on-set awkwardness between the two. It’s yet another example of how Hollywood behind-the-scenes drama can turn even the most anticipated screen kisses into uncomfortable memories.
Johnny Depp, always the joker, said that the only way to get through kissing scenes is to laugh. And while their chemistry looked natural on-screen, this quirky bit of celebrity gossip proves that even the biggest stars face unexpected challenges during filming.
Silver Linings Playbook – A little too wet
Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper wowed audiences with their raw performances and undeniable on-screen chemistry in Silver Linings Playbook, a film that racked up critical acclaim and award nominations. But while their connection looked seamless on screen, the reality of filming those romantic moments was a little messier—literally. In one of the more surprising celebrity kissing confessions, the actors revealed that their kisses weren’t exactly smooth. According to Cooper, some scenes got “a little too wet,” proving that even Oscar-worthy chemistry can have its share of Hollywood behind-the-scenes hiccups.
Jennifer Lawrence, known for her unfiltered honesty in countless celebrity interviews, didn’t hold back when it came to her kissing scenes with Bradley Cooper. After one take, she bluntly told him he was a “wet kisser”—a comment that quickly joined the ranks of memorable Hollywood behind-the-scenes drama. It’s just one more entry in Jennifer’s growing collection of awkward kissing confessions, proving that when it comes to on-screen romance, she’s never shy about calling it like she sees it.
30 Rock – How do they do it?
In 30 Rock, Alec Baldwin and Jennifer Aniston shared several romantic scenes that had viewers buzzing. But behind the scenes, things weren’t nearly as effortless. In a brutally honest celebrity kissing scene confession, Baldwin revealed to New York Magazine that kissing Aniston wasn’t the dreamy experience fans might imagine. In fact, he admitted he didn’t “know how anyone does it,” and described the scenes as “painful.” It’s one of those truly unexpected on-screen chemistry issues that reminds us not all Hollywood moments are as picture-perfect as they appear on screen.
While Jennifer Aniston has earned plenty of praise for her many beloved on-screen romances, Alec Baldwin’s remark remains one of the more bizarre and unforgettable awkward celebrity kiss confessions still making the rounds in Hollywood tabloids. It’s a reminder that even TV royalty isn’t immune to a little behind-the-scenes discomfort.
Mighty Aphrodite – Kissing a wall
In Woody Allen’s quirky comedy Mighty Aphrodite, he starred alongside Helena Bonham Carter as a couple stuck in a strained, unhappy marriage. And apparently, that emotional distance wasn’t just acting—it showed up behind the scenes too. In later interviews, Helena revealed that Woody was very particular about how the kissing scenes were filmed, going so far as to forbid any “exchange of liquid.” She even joked that kissing him felt like “kissing a wall.” This icy moment has since become one of the more memorable on-screen romance fails and a classic case of awkward celebrity kisses in Hollywood behind-the-scenes lore.
Later, Helena Bonham Carter took it a step further, describing the experience as “like kissing the Berlin Wall”—a brutally honest comparison that paints a vivid picture of how cold and lifeless those scenes really felt. It’s a perfect example of actor chemistry issues turning what should’ve been a tender romantic moment into a stiff, robotic interaction. In the world of awkward kissing scenes, this one easily ranks as one of the most uncomfortable—and unforgettable—on-screen romance fails in Hollywood history.