Dustin Hoffman recalls feeling miscast and insecure on The Graduate

Dustin Hoffman says making The Graduate was a terrible experience despite the film later becoming one of his best-known roles.

In an essay, the 89-year-old actor recalled feeling uncomfortable and unworthy on set.

He thought he was wrong for the role of Benjamin, whom he viewed as an affluent, all-American young man unlike himself.

Hoffman said director Mike Nichols was often irritable, leaving him worried that he was doing something wrong or might be fired.

A slap scene took 27 takes, and Hoffman said his co-star Katharine Ross accidentally hit his ear several times.

He recalled that the scene was cut, and that he filmed an underwater scene the next day while blood came from his ear.

The injury was later found to be a punctured eardrum, though no further follow-up was given.