Jessica Alba was one of the most promising young actors in the early 2000s. Having starred in a number of successful films, including The Sleeping Dictionary and Honey, Alba’s decision to take on challenging performances solidified her status in Hollywood. However, interestingly., her role as Sue Storm in Fantastic Four movies almost made her quit acting altogether.
Jessica Alba Fantastic FourJessica Alba in Fantastic Four (2005)
Alba’s role in the $301 million Marvel movie was a huge stepping stone in her career. But instead of being ecstatic with it, the actress almost decided to quit the industry.

Jessica Alba opened up on why Fantastic Four almost made her quit

In a 2022 interview, Jessica Alba opened up about her experience on the set of Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer. She said that the director, Tim Story, told her to “cry prettier” when she was filming a scene where her character was dying. This experience made Alba feel insecure and unvalued. She said that she felt like she “didn’t feel worthy” to be an actor.
Jessica AlbaJessica Alba
“I remember when I was dying in Silver Surfer. The director was like, ‘It looks too real. It looks too painful. Can you be prettier when you cry? Cry pretty, Jessica.’ It all got me thinking: Am I not good enough? Are my instincts and my emotions not good enough?… And so I just said, ‘F**k it. I don’t care about this business anymore’”.
Alba eventually took a step back from the spotlight as she felt that she needed to take a break from acting in order to feel confident in her own skin. During the interview, she said that she was grateful that she took that break because it allowed her to find her passion for storytelling again.

How did Jessica Alba’s career progress after the break?

After her break, Jessica Alba revealed that her experience on the set of Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer was not the only reason why she considered quitting acting. It seems that the actress also had a difficult time dealing with the constant scrutiny of the media.
Jessica AlbaJessica Alba
“I felt so judged…I was my worst critic. I think I didn’t feel worthy…I just admired people who just were swaggy on set. I think taking a break for so long from it and literally having no consequence to whether it works or not, it allows me to have the freedom as a storyteller to just be completely present and try things, and I really love it. And it’s brought me real joy.”
Since then, Alba has spoken about the importance of body positivity and self-acceptance. She is an advocate for women’s empowerment and is committed to using her platform to make a difference.
The Good Luck Chuck actress is a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur and is also the co-founder of the Honest Company, a natural products company that has become a household name.

Source: Elle, iHeart