5 Actors Who Despise Method Acting: 'It's Utter Wankery'

Method acting might be Hollywood's favorite buzzword, but not for these stars. Anthony Hopkins called it "a pain in the ass," Mads Mikkelsen roasted it as "bullshit," and Toni Collette? She labeled it "utter wankery." Dive into how these five legendary actors didn't just reject the method — they tore it apart.

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#methodacting #MadsMikkelsen #ToniCollette #BrianCox #BehindTheScenes

[charlescoleman]

There’s a famous apocryphal story about Lawrence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman when they did ‘Marathon Man’. Supposedly, Hoffman had to look like he had been up for two or three days. Therefore, he actually stayed up two or three days before the shoot. And when Olivier saw Hoffman in this condition, he said to Hoffman “Have you considered acting?”

[lurx]

So three of the "Hannibal Lecters" didn't like method acting. ...makes sense.

[jamessheridan]

Despite Lee Strasberg strenuously trying to co opt Brando into his fold, Brando was a student of Stella Adler and was never a 'Method' actor.

[TowGunner]

James Cagney didn't understand actors who took method acting to extremes. He said, "Walk in, plant yourself, look the other fellow in the eye and tell the truth.” After filming the Marathon Man scene where Dustin Hoffman's character had stayed awake for three days, his costar Laurence Olivier asked how it went. Dustin said he also hadn't slept for three days, to which Laurence replied, "My dear boy, why don't you just try acting?"

[MrAhuapai]

Every actor has find the process that works for them. Whatever that process may be, every actor still has to remain respectful and professional in working with everyone else involved in the project.

[robertlehnert]

You can't deny the possibility the Method contributes to already existing psychological conditions--Marilyn Monroe took a marked downturn after she went through the Method, intensifying perhaps simple depression into full bore Borderline Personality Disorder.

[digigroovestudios]

I used both techniques, (Meisner), in the past. There are ways to use the Method so it does not disturb the other Actors. I use it more for emotional memory. But, staying up for three days as the character is a bit extreme. It really depends on the Actor.

[commieRob]

It's important to remember that stanislavsky first impacted American theater in 1923, and has had a major impact on how actors do their job ever since. Like any other trailblazing thinker in the 1920s, some of what he said was brilliant, some of it was nuts. You could put his books on the shelf with other books on the topic of acting, without becoming a "method actor". The weird cultish behavior surrounding the term came later. And, to be fair, there are unquestionably good actors who came from The Actors Studio or similar backgrounds. But there are also crappy ones. As well as excellent actors who didn't.

[booksteer]

It is narcissistic. That's why so many successful actors are narcissists.

[tomryan]

Jim Carey stay 'in character' during the 'Man In The Moon' shoot, portraying an UNFUNNY asshole !

[martystrasinger]

What would happen if more than one cast member did method? The Dirty Dozen would be The Dirty Eleven, then The Dirty Ten etc before filming ended.

[TheChiefEng]

Some people can indulge in method acting without making the rest of the cast miserable but those are the very few.
At the end of the day, it's called acting for a reason. It should be a profession and not something that will destroy your life and turn you into a mental case.

[rhobatbrynjones]

And yet there is Daniel Day Lewis with how many Oscars now?

[erikramaekers]

Just learn your lines and stand in the right place.Everything else is nonsense.

[tonyc]

Most people who toss around the term “ method acting “ have no idea what they are talking about. Also, Stanislavski never used that term and Brando credits Stella Adler with nurturing his talent, not Lee Strasberg and HIS version of the method, or the Actors Studio. Next time someone uses the term “ method” acting, ask them to be specific about what that method entails.

[renatab]

Brando was great because he was so naturally creative. If anything he would have been even better if he hadn't fallen for the quackery of the Method.

[BUKUDI]

Bill the Butcher & Daniel Plainview speak for themselves. While I always enjoy Hopkins, apart from Hannibal he pretty much phones it in as himself in every role

[christophersnyder]

I don't mind either, either way, it won't matter about if the film has method acting, or not in it, I'll get it if I really like it.
Take care, and all the best.

[Sunsworn]

If it works for the individual and it comes across well on screen or stage then do it, if it doesn't work for the individual then don't do it. Pretty simple

[MarioLamRedRebel]

Everybody has his or her way of doing You must respect this ( what ever you think) . Its not hard too be respectfull and kind.