Rachel Weisz Opens Up About Her Least Favourite Film Experience
Rachel Weisz has spoken candidly about her disappointment with the 2001 film Enemy at the Gates, describing the project as one that "didn't work for me" despite its promising cast and concept.
Not every project in an actor’s career turns out to be a winner, and even the most respected names in the business have a few choices they’d rather forget. The world of film is full of surprises—sometimes you land a gem, other times you end up in something that just doesn’t click. Rachel Weisz knows this all too well, having found herself in a production that, despite its promise, left her unimpressed from the get-go.
When High Hopes Don’t Pan Out
Weisz, who’s built a reputation for picking strong roles, once found herself stuck in a film that simply didn’t deliver. She’s the first to admit that not every job is a dream gig, and sometimes you just have to see it through and move on. One particular project stands out for her as a misstep: the 2001 war drama Enemy at the Gates, directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. The film had all the makings of a hit, with a solid cast and a gripping premise, but things didn’t quite come together.
Despite sharing the screen with the likes of Bob Hoskins, Ron Perlman, Ed Harris, and Jude Law, the end result was a mixed bag. The story, based on the book about the Battle of Stalingrad, seemed ambitious enough, but the execution left a lot to be desired. Even a well-known critic pointed out that the film lost its way, saying,
“The additional plot stuff and the romance are kind of a shame.”
Weisz’s Take on the Role
For Weisz, the experience was far from satisfying. She played Tania Chernova, a real-life ballerina who became a sniper, but the role didn’t live up to her expectations. She didn’t hold back in her assessment, stating,
“Didn’t work for me.”
She went on to say,
“But then, I’m very hard to please. The opening 20 minutes were amazing, [but] the script was a bit dodgy.”
Sometimes, a film starts off strong but fizzles out, and there’s not much an actor can do once things are in motion. It’s up to the director to steer the ship, and occasionally, it just doesn’t come together.
Enemy at the Gates remains one of the rare projects in Weisz’s career that she openly regrets. She’s usually known for her discerning choices, but this one stands out as a rare misfire. Still, she took it in stride, acknowledging that you can’t win them all.
Other Regrets and Moving On
If you were to ask which film she considers her absolute worst, some might point to her voice work in the animated film Eragon. Luckily for her, it was just a voice role, so plenty of punters probably didn’t even realise she was involved. The film itself didn’t fare well, with reviews so poor that any plans for a sequel were quickly binned.
Even so, it’s Enemy at the Gates that sticks in her mind as a real letdown. When you’re handed a script that’s a bit on the dodgy side, you do your best with what you’ve got. In this case, Weisz gave it a go, but it wasn’t enough to leave her feeling satisfied with the final product.