Hollywood has had a problem with method actors for a while now. While the acting style has led to some Oscar-winning performances. To many it’s also become an excuse to act toxic to others on set and can even be dangerous to an actor’s health.
Christian Bale dropped roughly 63 pounds for The Machinist on tuna, an apple, and coffee until he could barely climb stairs. Joaquin Phoenix lost more than 50 pounds for Joker on lettuce and an apple a day.
Jeremy Strong’s immersion in Succession left Brian Cox complaining it created hostility and was “not good for the ensemble.” The through-line is the same: one actor disappears into a role, and everyone else has to live with the wreckage.
Now actors and the wider community are becoming more aware that many just use the excuse of “method acting” to be unkind to others on set.
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While promoting her new A24 action thriller Onslaught, Adria Arjona sat with John Feitelberg on Scene Stealers and described a co-star whose process left her stunned.
She would not identify the actor or even say whether the person was a man or a woman.
She says:
“I’ve had it with an actor that I was like, ‘Good God,’ but it was more just like an ego trip. I’m like, ‘How are you getting away with this?’ I’m confused by it, too. I’m like, ‘Wow, if I start doing that, I will never work again.’
I was in shock by the behaviour, but also in awe. … ‘What makes you think that this is OK?’ I really needed to get into [their] brain about it. I would watch interviews of this actor – not saying female or male, just actor in general – and I would be like, ‘Oh my God, they’re so nice. They’re so nice. What a good actor.’ It just fascinates me to see people and how they behave.
Can we cancel method acting? … I don’t buy it. You don’t get to behave like this. You will never see a woman say she’s a method actor. Just men … because we wouldn’t get away with it. We would never work again.”
Online, many people immediately pointed to Jared Leto, her co-star in Morbius. Back when he was playing the Joker, he mailed Suicide Squad co-stars unhinged “gifts” like a live rat and a dead pig. While on the set of ‘Morbius, ’ reports allege he stayed on his crutches to stay in character, causing him to stay over 45 minutes using the bathroom.
The culprit being Jared Leto still remains speculation as Arjona never confirmed it.
It’s fair to say method acting is acceptable as long as it doesn’t cross professional boundaries. Everyone deserves to feel safe while at work. From director Adam Wingard and starring Adria Arjona, Alex Pereira, Drew Starkey, Rebecca Hall, Reginald VelJohnson, Michael Biehn, Eric Wareheim and Dan Stevens. ONSLAUGHT is in theatres now
