15 Times an Actor Took ‘Method’ All the Way

Method acting has produced some unforgettable performances, but it can also lead actors into some unusually intense territory. When performers become deeply immersed in a character, they sometimes keep elements of that role alive long after the cameras stop rolling. That can mean changing their appearance, adopting strange routines, refusing to break character, or putting themselves through genuinely uncomfortable situations for the sake of a performance. Some stories have become almost as famous as the movies themselves, especially when fellow cast members were left wondering where the actor ended and the character began. These fifteen examples show just how far some performers have been willing to go for their craft.

Daniel Day-Lewis — Gangs of New York (2002)

Day-Lewis stayed deeply immersed in Bill the Butcher, even adopting the character’s aggressive mannerisms and period specific speech between takes.

Heath Ledger — The Dark Knight (2008)

Ledger reportedly isolated himself in a hotel room for weeks while developing the Joker’s voice, movements, and unsettling personality.

Adrien Brody — The Pianist (2002)

Brody gave up his apartment, car, and many everyday comforts before filming to better understand the isolation and deprivation experienced by his character.

Robert De Niro — Taxi Driver (1976)

De Niro obtained a taxi driver’s license and reportedly spent time driving passengers around New York to study the people and environment his character inhabited.

Shia LaBeouf — Fury (2014)

LaBeouf reportedly stopped showering during production and had a tooth removed to make his appearance more authentic to the conditions of a World War II tank crew.

Jared Leto — Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Leto lost a significant amount of weight to play Rayon and reportedly remained in character throughout much of the production.

Jamie Foxx — Ray (2004)

Foxx wore prosthetic eyelids that kept his eyes closed for long periods while portraying Ray Charles.

Natalie Portman — Black Swan (2010)

Portman trained extensively in ballet for the role and underwent an intense physical preparation that contributed to the demanding production.

Forest Whitaker — The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Whitaker immersed himself in Idi Amin’s world by studying his speeches, mannerisms, accent, and Ugandan history before filming.

Jim Carrey — Man on the Moon (1999)

Carrey remained in character as Andy Kaufman throughout production, sometimes behaving as Kaufman even when cameras were not rolling.

Meryl Streep — The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Streep deliberately kept her distance from the other actors while filming to maintain Miranda Priestly’s intimidating presence.

Leonardo DiCaprio — The Revenant (2015)

DiCaprio endured freezing conditions, physically demanding sequences, and an actual raw bison liver scene to portray Hugh Glass.

Daniel Radcliffe — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

Radcliffe reportedly kept the emotional intensity of certain scenes going between takes during the filming of Harry Potter’s final adventures.

Tom Hanks — Cast Away (2000)

Hanks lost a substantial amount of weight during production and spent long periods filming alone to capture the physical and psychological isolation of Chuck Noland.