In recent years, method acting has become a trend amongst Hollywood actors. Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst apparently didn’t speak to each other on the set of ‘Power of the Dog’, to help them stay in character. While Lady Gaga is said to have spoken entirely with an Italian accent for nine months while working on ‘House of Gucci’.
Jared Leto is also said to have sent animal carcasses to his castmates while playing the Joker in ‘Suicide Squad’. Matthew McConaughey, meanwhile, lost so much weight he started to go blind for his role in ‘Dallas Buyers Club’. There are increasing number of famous Hollywood actors staying in their character throughout the shooting period to enhance their character’s outlook. However, there are some actors who are calling out method acting as “dangerous” and “nonsense.”
Read More: “It’s Bullsh*t”- Mads Mikkelsen Reveals He Is Not A Fan Of Method Acting
Sebastian Stan On Method Acting
Sebastian Stan, known most commonly for playing the Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, recently gained notoriety for his transformation into Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee in Hulu’s ‘Pam & Tommy‘. The Method had nothing to do with that transformation, though, as Stan has expressed his rejection of it. “I don’t believe in creating chaos for the purposes of [acting],” Stan told the In the Envelope podcast. He criticized performers who used this chaos to artificially create tension in scenes, calling that an “irresponsible, narcissistic, kind of self-indulgent thing.”
Read More: Sebastian Stan Speak His Mind On Bucky’s Uncertain Future In The Marvel Universe
Martin Freeman On The Recent Trend Of Method Acting Amongst Hollywood Actors
Known for his work in shows like ‘Sherlock’ and films like ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy, British actor Martin Freeman doesn’t approve of method actors either. Talking on the Off Menu podcast, he briefly touched on the topic. He thinks method acting is amateurish. Freeman thinks that method acting is much more amateurish and “academic” than practical because an actor losing themselves in a role detracts from the value of acting as a craft. “It’s no longer a craft or a job.” He condemned performances like Jim Carrey’s in ‘Man on the Moon‘, calling them “aggrandizing, selfish, [and] narcissistic.”
John Malkovich Hates Method Acting
The actor, who has won many awards for his acting, including a primetime Emmy, is not a fan of method acting. His quote about it is quite famous. “I’m not a Method actor. I don’t believe acting should be psychodrama. I look within myself and see what I can find to play the role with. If I’m playing a blind man, I don’t go around blindfolded for days. A lot of good actors would, but I don’t go in for that very much. I like to just make it up as I go along.” He believes in staying himself, at some level not just losing himself to the character.
Charlize Theron Says Method Acting Is “Exhausting”
The actress won an Oscar for her intense performance in ‘Monsters’ (2003). She played the role of Aileen Wuornos – a serial killer. However, now the actress claims that her days as a method actor are over. Charlize Theron shared in an interview that method acting is exhausting and can take up too much of her energy. Going into the deep dark places was heard for her. She shared, “It was good for me to figure this out, and I am much better now at understanding and living and breathing at the moment with the character.”
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