Cameron Diaz Reveals Her Least Likeable On-Screen Character

For most of her career, Cameron Diaz has been known for playing characters with at least a hint of decency or a soft spot, even when they’re a bit rough around the edges. Whether she’s voicing the determined Princess Fiona in Shrek, taking on the role of a streetwise pickpocket in Gangs of New York, or lighting up the screen in The Mask, There’s Something About Mary, and Charlie’s Angels, Diaz’s roles have usually had some redeeming quality. She’s often cast as the likeable underdog or the glamorous lead, and that’s been a running theme in her filmography.

Turning the Tables in Bad Teacher

That all changed in 2011 when Diaz took on the part of Elizabeth Halsey in Bad Teacher. The character is a far cry from her usual roles. After being dumped by her wealthy partner, Elizabeth is forced to actually do her job as a middle school teacher, something she’s never taken seriously. She drinks, dabbles in drugs, swears at the kids, and generally does everything you’d expect a teacher not to do. On paper, she’s not someone you’d want in charge of a classroom.

During a promo event for the film, Diaz explained what drew her to such a questionable character. She said,

“There was absolutely not one ounce of energy spent on making anything about this character likeable. It was genius. It was what I loved. I read 30 pages into the script and thought, ‘There’s no way I can play this character. How can I ever redeem her? There’s no redemption. This is a horrible person’. And ten pages later, I was like, ‘I think I like her’. By the end, I was like, ‘This is amazing because I don’t have to apologise’.”

No Redemption Arc in Sight

Elizabeth’s list of misdeeds is long. She scams the school to pay for cosmetic surgery, chases after a colleague for his money, and even sets up her main rival to take the fall for things she didn’t do. The film is meant to be a comedy, so you might expect her to have a change of heart or some sort of moral turnaround. But that’s not what happens. Even when it looks like she’s changed, the final moments show she’s still the same person, flipping the usual feel-good ending on its head. It’s a cheeky twist, though some reckon the rest of the film didn’t quite hit the mark.

Despite making a tidy profit on its modest budget, Bad Teacher didn’t win over the critics. The script, the concept, and the chemistry between Diaz and her co-stars Justin Timberlake and Jason Segel all copped criticism. Many saw it as a low point in Diaz’s otherwise strong career, with the film falling short in most areas.

Embracing the Dark Side

Of all the roles Diaz has taken on, Elizabeth Halsey isn’t the first that comes to mind. But when you think about it, getting paid to play someone with no filter and no consequences might have been a bit of fun. It’s a rare chance for an actor to let loose and not worry about being the hero or winning over the audience. Sometimes, being the worst version of yourself on screen is exactly what makes a role memorable.