Smellebrities: 10 actors whose hygiene habits sparked co-star complaints, from Charlotte Church to Hollywood A-listers

A compiled roundup of entertainment reporting this year highlights an unusual backstage truth: even the most famous actors can become the subject of odor stories on film sets. At the center of the chatter is Charlotte Church, who revealed on a Walking The Dog podcast that she generally does not wear deodorant and has stopped shaving, a stance she says contributes to her being perceived as smelling less than fresh by some. Church told host Emily Dean that she recently stopped applying deodorant and described her grooming as a personal choice tied to considerations about skin and whether products entering the bloodstream make sense for her body. The discussion quickly fed into a larger, long-running thread in Hollywood: co-stars sometimes recount unpleasant smells from their on-screen colleagues, leading to a lighthearted but pointed dialogue about hygiene expectations in the industry.

Among the most frequently cited anecdotes, Brad Pitt’s on-set odor is the stuff of showbiz lore, according to veteran collaborators. In a 2009 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Eli Roth recalled that Pitt would sometimes skip a full shower and instead reach for baby wipes to freshen up between takes. Roth recounted a close-up scene in which Pitt leaned in and joked that his fellow actor might notice the scent, and he pushed back with the idea that a quick wipe could suffice when time does not permit a proper wash. The anecdote underscored a broader theme of urgency on busy shoots and the compromises performers sometimes make to stay in character and on schedule.

Matthew McConaughey has also been a central figure in odor-related anecdotes, with colleagues recounting both his deodorant choices and his fragrance-free personal-hygiene stance. Kate Hudson, who co-starred with him on Fool’s Gold, told Watch What Happens Live that she could smell him from a mile away and noted that both she and McConaughey do not wear deodorant. McConaughey has repeatedly discussed his approach to odor in interviews dating back to the mid-2000s, describing a preference for natural scent and explaining that he has been advised by partners and family to use alternative products—though he has often asserted that his personal odor is a natural signature. His remarks have been paired with a broader claim that he showers multiple times daily and maintains rigorous hygiene without relying on conventional deodorants or fragrances.

Other anecdotes in the compilation feature a mix of public retellings and candid remarks from actors across genres. Kate Hudson, who has spoken openly about her own hygiene choices, has described a candid dynamic with McConaughey in which their frank discussions about deodorant are part of a larger comfort level on set. Hudson’s portrayal of the deodorant debate reflects a wider conversation about personal care, industry expectations, and the reality that stars often balance image with practicality during demanding shoots. The long-running dialogue has not been limited to one generation or one studio; it spans decades of Hollywood history and includes cross-sport anecdotes about stars who do not conform to typical grooming norms.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s name appears in a separate vein of on-set anecdotes. Miriam Margolyes recounted in 2022 that he farted in her direction during a scene on End of Days, a moment she described with a mix of humor and grievance. While not a direct odor complaint in the traditional sense, the anecdote adds to a broader mosaic of off-screen moments fans remember as part of a film’s production lore. Such recollections underscore how even small, private moments can become part of public memory when they involve major stars and high-profile productions.

Robert Pattinson has been cited in conversations about on-set odor as well. In 2009, a colleague reportedly said Pattinson sometimes smelled bad and did not shower regularly, a claim that sparked further discussion about how the paparazzi-driven culture around Twilight-era productions could influence on-set practices. Peter Facinelli later weighed in, joking that Pattinson’s insistence on staying in the same outfits to avoid changing clothes could be a strategic choice to manage appearances in a world of constant photo coverage.

Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller’s banter about The Spectacular Now became a widely circulated example of how scent can enter the humor of intimate scenes. Teller told Variety that Woodley once prepared for a kiss by taking Chinese dirt supplements that allegedly gave a strong aroma. Woodley later pushed back, describing Teller’s own scent as smelling like Gatorade, and the exchange underscored how even apparently mundane pre-kiss rituals can become part of the story fans remember from press tours and interviews.

Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth also found themselves at the center of a scent-driven anecdote. Hemsworth, appearing on The Tonight Show, recalled that kissing Lawrence could be awkward because she would sometimes eat garlic or tuna beforehand and then not brush her teeth. The remark, shared in a joking context, reflected how performers navigate the sensory realities of close-quarters acting while maintaining a sense of humor about the experience.

The roster of tales extends to Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock. Reports from 2002 and associated outlets described Bullock giving Affleck a box of mints to help with halitosis on screen, highlighting how even small acts of generosity can become part of the on-set folklore when odor issues arise during intimate scenes. Scarlett Johansson has also been mentioned in passing within these discussions; a 2023 retelling cited Matt Damon joking about Johansson’s onion breath during a kiss on a We Bought a Zoo shoot, illustrating how coworkers in comedic, or even romantic, scenes sometimes lean on lighthearted ribbing to defuse tension around scent.

The breadth of anecdotes reflects a shared industry experience: the tension between performing in close proximity to a lead co-star and maintaining personal grooming standards in high-pressure, fast-paced productions. Some of the accounts are framed as lighthearted reminisces from colleagues, while others are presented as sharper critiques that touch on privacy and professional boundaries. In every case, the stories have endured in popular memory because they mix celebrity glamour with the ordinary realities of daily life on set.

Experts note that discussions about hygiene on film sets have evolved with changing cultural norms around deodorants, skincare, and odor management. The conversations cited in these anecdotes also mirror broader debates about fragrance-free or natural-product preferences among some actors, the environmental and health considerations behind product choices, and the practical constraints that shoots face when time, locations, and weather complicate routine grooming. The public-facing narratives tend to emphasize humor and candor more than any formal policy on set, but industry insiders acknowledge that professional standards and mutual respect remain central to easing discomfort when odors become unavoidable in tight-knit scenes.

As fans weigh the anecdotes against the stars’ public personas, the overarching takeaway is that even the most highly scrutinized careers are sustained by ordinary human experiences—odors, grooming, and the simple fact of sharing close spaces with colleagues for long hours. The stories continue to circulate in interviews, on social media, and in retrospectives about film history, serving as an amusing reminder that celebrity life, for all its fame and glamour, also involves the same everyday challenges as any workplace.