Seeing yourself on screen can be a strange thing for many people. Whether it's their first movie of fiftieth, even some professional actors never get used to it.
Some actors won't watch their own films because they are overly critical about their insecurities, other times it because they're afraid of getting in their own heads and it affecting their future work. Regardless of the reason, they big name stars refuse to sit down and watch their own movies for one reason or another.
May of them will surprise you about why!
Julianne Moore
With big titles under her belt, Julianne Moore make make movies for a living, but that doesn't mean she enjoys watching them in her spare time. The Big Lebowski, Mockingjay and Still Alice actress admits to never seeing any of her own movies.
"I haven't seen any of my own movies... I can't sit there for a premiere or anything," the actress told Daily Express. "I like being in the movie more than I like watching them. That's my big thrill, rather than seeing the finished product."
Angelina Jolie
There's no argument that Angelina Jolie has been a part of some Blockbuster flicks, including Maleficent, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, as well as Salt. In spite of being a lead actress in some big roles, it sounds like Jolie isn't a fan of not having control and therefore cannot be brought to watch the final product.
"As an actress, you learn about your character, and you understand the overall picture of any film you're working on, but there's so much you're not a part of," she said, according to The Telegraph. "And there's many times I've felt frustrated with the films I've been in, or seen them and not felt connected to them, or haven't wanted to watch them at all."
Andrew Garfield
A rising star in Hollywood the Spiderman and Hacksaw Ridge star can't bring himself to voluntarily watch his performance on screen when the movie is finally done. Though he admits that he was forced to watch The Social Network according to The Hollywood Reporter, he doesn't make it a habit for fear of over-analyzing his role.
"I don't want to be aware of what I'm doing. As soon as I am, I'm less open ... I just want to be fully open to the story and what that subjective moment is."
Joaquin Phoenix
This Gladiator and Walk The Line actor has admitted to only watching two of his own movies: The Master and Her. He is not a fan of watching himself on screen, in spite of being curious about the finished product.
"I don't ever really want to see myself as the camera sees me ... I don't want to watch myself. Of course, there's a part of you that's curious for a second, and I have to constantly tell myself, "˜No.' Because I know it's not going to be of any value to me, and in fact it stands a greater chance of having a negative effect on future work."
Megan Fox
"I think most actors are pretty insecure," the Transformers and Ninja Turtles actress admits. Fox has no desire to watch herself in the finished product because it makes her uncomfortable and causes mental stress.
"I never [look at myself], even in still photographs. I don't look at anything," Fox says. "I panic if there is a monitor in the room. I immediately go into, like, an anxiety attack."
She was however able to make herself watch Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, but doing so involved copious amounts of champagne.
Johnny Depp
While it seems like Johnny Depp's schedule has him busy all the time, it's not the reason why he doesn't watch his own movies. The Pirates of the Caribbean and Alice in Wonderland actor is afraid how watching himself on screen will affect his future work.
"I made a choice a long time ago, that I was better off not watching my films, which is a drag because you miss out on a lot of your friends' incredible work," explained Depp to The Independent. "But I feel like it would just harm me. I would rather stay as ignorant as possible about the result of anything because once you're done playing that character, it's really not your business anymore."
Meryl Streep
Considered to be one of the greatest living actress, Meryl Streep has been nominated for 20 Academy Awards, winning 3 times. The Devil Wears Prada and Julie & Julia actress also doesn't spend time watching her own movies because he does not hold onto projects that are done.
"I don't do that. I just look ahead," Streep said at the Monte Cristo Awards.
Sources: CheatSheet / Mental Floss