Method acting is a controversial acting approach that has been highly discussed in Hollywood for decades. It involves an actor aspiring to complete emotional identification with a role or character for a project. The technique was popularized by Lee Strasberg, the “father of method acting,” who believed that actors should draw on their own real-life experiences to connect with their characters.
However, the method has sparked a debate in the industry, with some actors expressing aversion to the approach. Succession star Brian Cox, for example, criticized the idea of immersing oneself in a performance to the point of obsession, calling it “crap.” But regardless of where one stands on the debate, actors are always testing out new techniques and approaches to their craft.
One actor known for immersing himself in his roles is Al Pacino. Throughout his decades-long career, Pacino has been notorious for fully committing to his characters. In 1992’s Scent of a Woman, he played a blind man and prepared for the role by seeking advice from the sight impaired, attending a school for the blind, and even living his daily life as if he had lost his sight.
Jeremy Strong, who plays Kendall Roy in Succession, is another actor known for his immersive approach. Though he does not consider himself a method actor, Strong believes that he must go through whatever the ordeal is that his character experiences. For his role in The Trial of the Chicago 7, Strong asked the stunt coordinator to rough him up and be sprayed with real tear gas.
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Jared Leto is another actor who is not afraid to fully immerse himself in a role. In Suicide Squad, he reportedly pulled pranks on his co-stars, including gifting Margot Robbie a real rat, to channel the Joker. Leto has also been known to lose or gain weight for certain roles, pushing his physical and mental limits.
Robert De Niro is possibly one of the most famous method actors in the industry. In Taxi Driver, he worked as a cab driver for hours to study their behavior and lost 30 pounds in weight. In Raging Bull, he trained extensively to portray the toned boxer Jake LaMotta.
Christian Bale is another actor known for going to great lengths for his roles. He has altered his weight drastically for films like The Fighter, American Hustle, and The Machinist, where he lost nearly 70 pounds. Bale’s dedication to his roles has often put his health at risk.
Lady Gaga is a singer-turned-actress who fully embraced the method acting approach for her role as Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci. She spent nine months speaking in an Italian accent, even off-camera, and lived as her character day-to-day for a year and a half. Gaga admitted that she experienced psychological difficulties adjusting back to her normal life after the intense immersion.
Austin Butler took on the intense acting approach for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. He isolated himself from his family for three years, speaking in Elvis’s voice and never breaking character. Butler admitted that this level of immersion took a toll on him, causing him to lose touch with his own identity.
Hilary Swank fully dedicated herself to her roles. In Boys Don’t Cry, she bandaged her chest, deepened her voice, and lost weight to portray her character authentically. In Million Dollar Baby, she gained nearly 20 pounds of muscle and trained like a professional boxer, even contracting a staph infection in the process.
Joaquin Phoenix underwent a drastic physical transformation for his role as the Joker. He lost 52 pounds and said it impacted his mental health. Phoenix described the weight loss as an obsession and a wild experience, but also noted that it allowed him to discover new physical movements for the character.
Natalie Portman took her preparation to the extreme for her role in Black Swan. Despite having previous experience with ballet, she underwent intensive training to transform herself into a professional ballerina, even suffering injuries during the process.
In conclusion, method acting remains a controversial topic in Hollywood. While some actors fully embrace the approach and are willing to go to great lengths to immerse themselves in their characters, others criticize and reject it. The debate continues as actors continually seek out new techniques and approaches to enhance their performances and bring authenticity to their roles.
