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

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/dustin-hoffman-had-a-terrible-experience-making-hollywood-classic-the-graduate/
- Published: 2026-11-07T22:00:51+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-07T22:24:02+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/dustin-hoffman-had-terrible-experience-making-hollywood-classic-the-graduate
- Topics: Entertainment, Film, World

## Key points

- Hoffman says *The Graduate* intensified his insecurities.
- He doubted he was right for the role of Benjamin.
- A 27-take slap scene left him dizzy and with a punctured eardrum.

## Summary

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.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.