Home / Arts and Entertainment / Oscar Winner Day-Lewis Criticizes 'Lunatic' Method Acting Trend
Oscar Winner Day-Lewis Criticizes 'Lunatic' Method Acting Trend
5 Oct
Summary
- Daniel Day-Lewis disappointed with public perception of Method acting
- Calls out actors who use Method as an excuse for "behaving like a lunatic"
- Believes the focus is on "less important details" rather than "internal work"
According to a recent report, acclaimed actor Daniel Day-Lewis is disappointed with the public perception of Method acting in today's Hollywood. The three-time Academy Award winner, who earned his first Oscar for his work in the 1989 film "My Left Foot," has expressed concerns about actors who he believes are misusing the Method approach.
Day-Lewis told The New York Times that he is "a little cross these days to hear all kinds of people gobbling off and saying things like 'gone full Method,' which I think is meant to imply that a person's behaving like a lunatic in an extreme fashion." He believes the focus has shifted to "the less important details of the work" rather than the "internal work" that should be the core of an actor's process.
The veteran actor's comments come as several other high-profile actors, including Jared Leto, Jeremy Strong, and James Franco, have become known for their embrace of Method acting techniques. While the Method approach encourages performers to immerse themselves in a role by drawing from their own experiences and emotions, some actors have taken it to extremes, even staying in character off-set.
Day-Lewis, who prematurely announced his retirement from acting in 2017, maintains that acting should not be solely about "some sort of self-flagellation or an experience that imposes upon oneself a severe discomfort or mental instability." He believes the craft should be primarily focused on the "internal work" required to bring a character to life authentically.
