Dustin Hoffman: Too ugly for fame?

24-10-2006 11:30

Dustin Hoffman thought he was too ugly to succeed in Hollywood.The Oscar-winning actor - who has been promoting his new film 'Stranger Than Fiction' at the London Film Festival - said even his performance in 'The Graduate' didn't change some critics' minds.Dustin, 69, revealed: "I was always classed as a 'character' actor. Character actors really meant you were ugly, ethnic or Jewish. "The leading men and most of the actors were white and tall. I was short, dark and Jewish."He added: "Even after the 'The Graduate' came out people kept telling director Mike Nichols he had miscast the role."Dustin also revealed that he almost turned down his Oscar-winning role in 'Kramer vs Kramer'.He explained: "I was getting divorced and I really didn't want to do it but in the end it was terrific."