Dustin Hoffman Reflects on Difficulties Filming ‘The Graduate’

Dustin Hoffman recently shared his experiences while filming The Graduate, describing it as a “terrible experience” that heightened his insecurities. In an essay for The New Yorker, the 89-year-old actor discussed the challenges he faced, despite the film earning him a nomination for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award win.

Hoffman recalled feeling immediately uncomfortable and unworthy while working on the set. “Here I was, playing a starring role in a movie by Mike Nichols, who was the director of the moment, but I felt like I had no right to be there,” he wrote.

Throughout the filming, Hoffman often wondered if director Mike Nichols was displeased with his performance. He reflected on feeling miscast, noting that he didn’t even want to audition for the role. Hoffman’s character, Benjamin, was a track star and straight-A student, attributes Hoffman felt ill-suited to portray.

Part of the difficult experience was his relationship with Nichols, whom he described as “irritable with everyone” on set. This atmosphere led Hoffman to believe he might be fired, especially during challenging scenes.

Hoffman also pointed to an incident involving a scene with co-star Katharine Ross, where Nichols insisted on doing 27 takes of a slap scene. Hoffman noted that by the end of the day, he was left dizzy, and that scene was not used in the final cut of the movie.

Following a challenging day on set, Hoffman filmed a scene underwater, which caused a punctured eardrum, leaving him with blood trickling from his ear.

The Graduate became one of Hoffman’s most well-known films, showcasing his character Benjamin’s struggle to find direction after college and his entanglement with an older woman, Mrs. Robinson, played by Anne Bancroft.

The film, released in 1967, received numerous accolades, including seven Academy Award nominations, with Hoffman nominated for Best Actor.