Dustin Hoffman described a "terrible" experience filming the iconic 1967 movie "The Graduate," for which he received his first Academy Award nomination. In an excerpt from his forthcoming memoir, "Look at Me," obtained by The New Yorker, Hoffman detailed the constant anxiety he felt during production, often believing he was about to be fired.
According to Hoffman, director Mike Nichols appeared to undergo a drastic personality shift once filming began. Hoffman characterized the change from "wonderful" to critical as "shocking" and "destabilizing," leading him to feel "in a state of constant anxiety." He recalled believing that Nichols was "angry" with him, either due to perceived mistakes or a belief that he had been miscast as Benjamin Braddock.
Hoffman also recounted hearing from theater director Ulu Grosbard, who visited the set, that Nichols was "very much" regretting his casting choice. These experiences left Hoffman feeling that he never wanted to "make another movie again for the rest of [his] life."
He shared instances of receiving harsh notes from Nichols, including criticism of his eyebrows and the appearance of his neck. Hoffman remembered one specific moment where Nichols' "acid voice" questioned his actions after a take, instructing him to "Do the opposite of that."
Despite the challenging production, "The Graduate" became a classic film. Mike Nichols received the Academy Award for best director in 1968, and Hoffman earned his first Oscar nomination for his role. The film depicted Braddock's affair with Mrs. Robinson, played by Anne Bancroft.
Nichols passed away in 2014 at the age of 83. In his memoir, Hoffman referred to "The Graduate" as a "self-portrait" of Nichols' life, suggesting it served as an "unconscious making" of the film, intended to absorb the director's self-loathing.
Hoffman's memoir, "Look at Me," is scheduled for release on November 10.