Andrea Riseborough, who starred alongside Tom Cruise in the 2013 science fiction film Oblivion, has openly described the project as her worst movie experience, despite the prestige of working on a major Hollywood production. The Tom Cruise Oblivion co-star worst movie experience account emerged during a candid interview, where Riseborough detailed the challenges she faced during the making of Joseph Kosinski’s $120 million blockbuster.
Challenges Faced By Andrea Riseborough on the Set of ‘Oblivion’
When asked about her most unpleasant job, Andrea Riseborough responded without hesitation, comparing her time filming Oblivion with a stint shredding duck in a Chinese restaurant.
“Either shredding duck in a Chinese restaurant or Oblivion.”
—Andrea Riseborough, Actress
This stark comparison draws attention to how the experience working on the blockbuster differed from her earlier, critically acclaimed roles. As a northern Brit from Newcastle upon Tyne, joining a large Hollywood spectacle like Oblivion—along with Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, and Olga Kurylenko—should have been a career milestone. Instead, Riseborough found herself isolated and uncomfortable, contending with what she perceived as a lack of camaraderie, especially among female co-workers, and an impersonal working environment created by the film’s large scale and technical demands.
Her character, Victoria “Vika” Olsen, functioned mainly as Jack Harper’s (Cruise) communication officer and love interest, roles that became less impactful due to script changes. These alterations left Riseborough’s character relegated to passively monitoring control panels and delivering exposition, limiting opportunities for her creative input. Further diminishing her morale, she experienced scrutiny over her physical appearance during production, which she recounted in depth.
“There was quite a lot of talk about whether my body was the right size or not — too big or too small, not muscly or long enough. I can almost laugh at things like that now, but at the time, it was very lonely.”
—Andrea Riseborough, Actress
The atmosphere, compounded by the lack of support and meaningful character development, contributed to Riseborough’s sense that filming Oblivion was not the Hollywood dream she had anticipated.
Script Issues and Production Complications Behind the Scenes
The road to Oblivion’s final form involved considerable difficulty beyond the cast’s experiences. The film, directed by Joseph Kosinski and featuring impressive visual effects and set design, was based on a screenplay that saw numerous revisions. The story centers on Jack Harper, a drone maintenance technician on a post-apocalyptic Earth, who uncovers hidden truths alongside characters played by Riseborough and Olga Kurylenko.
However, the original script by William Monahan underwent significant rewrites when Universal stepped in, with Karl Gajdusek and Michael Arndt reshaping it for production. Monahan described the process as one that transformed a promising science fiction narrative into something less substantial.
“It differed enormously. I’d written something I think was very good, perhaps a science fiction classic, which I imagine got the film greenlit, and then it was turned by subsequent writers into cannon fodder, despite Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman and Andrea Riseborough and Olga Kurylenko, all of whom I love.”
—William Monahan, Screenwriter
While the finished film received mixed reviews and performed decently at the box office, many, including those involved, felt the potential of the story and cast was undermined by these constant changes and production demands.
Amid the technical achievements and visually engaging spectacle, actors like Riseborough and writers like Monahan found their creative ambitions diluted, leading to a sense of disappointment that colored their overall view of the finished project.
Andrea Riseborough’s Success Beyond ‘Oblivion’
Despite her negative experience filming Oblivion, Andrea Riseborough went on to distinguish herself through acclaimed performances in films such as Birdman, where she played Laura, and The Death of Stalin as Svetlana Alliluyeva. Her transformative role as Tasya Vos in Possessor further solidified her reputation for tackling complex characters, while her portrayal of a troubled woman in To Leslie earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
Riseborough also appeared in Amsterdam with Christian Bale and Margot Robbie, and in Wes Anderson‘s ensemble film Asteroid City, continuing to expand her range. These projects suggest that her strengths lie in collaborative settings that value in-depth character work and narrative over large-scale spectacle.
Her willingness to openly reflect on her time with the Oblivion cast showcases the honesty and determination underpinning her career. Ultimately, the difficulties she faced on the set of a high-profile blockbuster did not define her trajectory; instead, they seemed to motivate a pursuit of more fulfilling roles that highlight her dedication to the craft. For actors like Riseborough, commitment to artistry and authenticity endures beyond any one turbulent experience, even in the demanding landscape of Hollywood.
