Dustin Hoffman Says Filming “The Graduate” Was Hard

Dustin Hoffman says he struggled while making The Graduate. He felt he was wrong for the role and worried he would lose the job.

He said director Mike Nichols was often impatient during filming. This made Hoffman feel nervous and unsure of himself.

Hoffman also recalled being slapped repeatedly for a scene. He said those slaps and filming underwater caused an ear injury.

Despite the difficult experience, the movie made Hoffman a star. He earned an Oscar nomination, and Nichols won Best Director.