EXCLUSIVE: Clint Eastwood Emotionally Reflects on His Movie Career — And Admits the Huge Regret He Has About ALL His Films
Hollywood icon Clinton Eastwood has shared his big regret from all of his movies as he lists his top ten roles.
May 30 2025, Published 3:14 p.m. ET
Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood has reflected on his legendary movie career and admitted his one big regret about all his films.
RadarOnline.com can reveal the big-screen idol, who celebrates his 95th birthday on Saturday, claimed he was unable to spend enough time on his movies to make them to the standard he envisaged —admitting, "My reputation for speed is not necessarily a good one."
The actor and director made the confession while revealing his ten favorite roles from his glittering career, which has spanned seven decades.
Rawhide (1959)
Eastwood says the 1959 movie was a 'good training ground for me'.
“It was a good training ground for me. Over seven years, I learned how different directors direct. I subconsciously absorbed things, tried to emulate what they did well, and discard methods that didn’t work."
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
He fought for the "Man With No Name" to be a man of few words. "The more he would start explaining things, the more it would dissipate his mystery. You're not quite sure who he is. You're not even sure he's the hero."
Dirty Harry (1971)
The big-screen star's profile rocketed after starring in Dirty Harry.
Playing the titular cop in Dirty Harry and its four sequels, Eastwood went from star to icon.
"It's gotten me out of a lot of speeding tickets through the years."
Every Which Way but Loose (1978)
"It's a film everyone begged me not to do. There was something hip in an odd way — this strange guy tells his troubles to an orangutan and loses the girl. Everything about it was a little bit off-center.
"It seemed like something to do at the time."
The Mayor (1986)
Becoming the Mayor of Carmel for two years kickstarted Eastwood's love for making movies.
In a role that lasted two years, Eastwood played … Clint Eastwood, Mayor of Carmel, Calif. Running against such things as a ban on ice cream cones, "I enjoyed it for two years, but not beyond. At about a year and a half, I said, 'I might go back and make more movies!'"
Unforgiven (1992)
He won Oscars for Best Picture and Director but says the true reward was working with Morgan Freeman.
"He's one of those guys who's so good, so consistent for so long, he's taken for granted."
The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
The actor says his role in the 1995 movie was the closest character to himself.
The romantic photographer he portrays "is more like me than some of the things I've played. He's in love with the small things.
"He doesn't need a lot of fancy things to enjoy life."
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Again, he won Best Picture and Director Oscars after the studio "saw it as a boxing movie. I saw it as a love story."
"It's a father-daughter love story. And it's about hopes and dreams. And it's about people and the fragility of life."
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American Sniper (2014)
Eastwood says he wasn't known for his speed making movies.
"I think my reputation for speed is not necessarily a good one — you don't want to do Plan 9 From Outer Space, where the gravestones fall over and you say, 'I can't do another take. We're too busy. Move on.'
"You're still making a film that you want to be right."
The Mule (2018)
"When I did The Mule, I had no idea of starring in it. I thought, 'That's just something I'll direct.'
"My gal in the office said, 'You've got to play it.' I said, 'You're kidding.'
"I just thought it was a good script. Sometimes you have to listen to what's going on around you."
