Tom Hanks Admits to Having Behaved Badly on Movie Sets in the Past

Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks is known for his roles in many diverse films, including dramas like Philadelphia, and Forrest Gump, the two films for which he won his Oscars, comedies like Big and his series Bosom Buddies, romantic comedies like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, and plenty of feel-good films as well. He’s the nice guy in movies, and has often been referred to as America’s Sweetheart, but he is only human, and he recently admitted to not being so perfect on the sets of some of his previous jobs.

While doing press for his new novel, Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, Hanks told BBC News that some of the characters in his book that end up misbehaving, having meltdowns, or mistreating others on set are entirely based upon his own worst days making movies: 

"I have pulled every single one of those moments of behavior myself on a set. Not everybody is at their best every single day on a motion picture set. I've had tough days trying to be a professional when my life has been falling apart in more ways than one and the requirement for me that day is to be funny, charming, and loving – and it's the last way I feel."

He also hinted that other accounts that are fictionally depicted in the novel may reflect some of the experiences Hanks has had working with some of Hollywood’s elite that are revered, but are actually not as nice as you’d hope. He went on:

"You will be amazed at how many people know that they can get away with it, and are told they can get away with it because they are carrying the movie on their shoulders."

I think people have a good idea about the fact that some actors can be a total pain. We’ve heard the stories about difficult people in the business, so it’s not a shocker, but it is interesting. I feel like despite having bad days on set in the past, Hanks is probably still a pretty nice guy. I haven’t heard anything to the contrary, and I like to think it’s true.

Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece is available now where books are sold.