Dustin Hoffman had a ‘terrible experience’ making Hollywood classic ‘The Graduate’

Dustin Hoffman has described making *The Graduate* as a “terrible experience”, saying the role intensified his insecurities and left him feeling uncomfortable and unworthy on set. The film later became one of his best-known works and earned him his first Academy Award nomination.

Hoffman said he doubted he suited Benjamin, whom he saw as an affluent, all-American student, and often feared director Mike Nichols thought he was doing something wrong. He recalled Nichols ordering 27 takes of a scene in which Katharine Ross slapped him; Hoffman became dizzy, and the scene was not used. The next day, an underwater shoot left blood coming from his ear, which was later found to be punctured.