The subject of method acting is something we have talked about on this site on a few occasions, even as recently as last week when Jared Leto’s method acting choices on Morbius were made public by the film’s director. Now, in two separate interviews, actors Mads Mikkelsen and Will Poulter are speaking out against the acting choice.
Mikkelsen recently spoke with GQ UK and he said that method acting is “bullsh*t” and “pretentious.” While Mikkelsen has learned new skills for roles, he says he has never taken it to the level of method acting:
“It’s bullshit but preparation, you can take into insanity. What if it’s a shit film — what do you think you achieved? Am I impressed that you didn’t drop character? You should have dropped it from the beginning! How do you prepare for a serial killer? You gonna spend two years checking it out?”
The actor then took on a mocking tone when he added, “I’m having a cigarette? This is from 2020, it’s not from 1870 — can you live with it? It’s just pretentious.” Mikkelsen then blamed the media for perpetuating the idea that method acting stunts equals real acting skills.
“The media goes, ‘Oh my god, he took it so seriously, therefore he must be fantastic; let’s give him an award.’ Then that’s the talk, and everybody knows about it, and it becomes a thing.”
In his own interview, actor Will Poulter also spoke out against the method. During a chat with the Independent, Poulter said he doesn’t necessarily mind when fellow actors use the method if it helps their performance but he said it’s not an excuse for inappropriate behavior or making it affect others on the production in a negative way. The actor was pretty adamant that he’s tired of seeing his colleagues making life miserable for other people on set by falling back on the “excuse” that they are staying in character:
“When it comes to an actor’s process, whatever that is, so long as it doesn’t infringe on other people’s and you’re being considerate, then fine. But if your process creates an inhospitable environment, then to me you’ve lost sight of what’s important. Method acting shouldn’t be used as an excuse for inappropriate behavior – and it definitely has.”
Both actors don’t name names but a quick google search regarding method acting will pull up a few famous names. Jared Leto has become the poster child for his method, in a bit of a negative way, while veteran actors like Daniel Day-Lewis have been known to use the method to great acclaim. I’m not a fan of method acting as I too believe that it comes off a bit pretentious and it could lead to negative energy on set. If your character is an a**hole and you continue to act that way when the cameras aren’t rolling, then we have a problem.
Do YOU agree with Mads Mikkelsen and Will Poulter about method acting?