17 times stars took method acting way too far

Few thespian techniques are more controversial than method acting – when an actor goes the extra mile by totally immersing themselves in their character for the whole of production, and sometimes even long after shooting has finished. Some of the most celebrated actors swear by the technique, including Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.

However, the strategy is not without its criticisms. Robert Pattinson told Conan O’Brien: “You only ever see people do the method when they’re playing a**holes. You never see someone being lovely to everyone while they’re really deep in character.” Jennifer Lawrence joked on Hot Ones: “I would be nervous to work with somebody who is method. I would have no idea how to talk to them.”

Natalie Portman, meanwhile, criticised the technique in The Wall Street Journal Magazine. “I think it’s honestly a luxury that women can’t afford. I don’t think that children or partners would be very understanding of, you know, me making everyone call me ‘Jackie Kennedy’ all the time.”

Here are 17 times when stars took method acting to the extreme, resulting in temporary blindness, microwaving ice cream and psychiatric treatment.

Jared Leto in Suicide Squad (2016)

Jared Leto is infamous for his commitment to method acting. He gained 67 pounds to portray John Lennon’s murderer in Chapter 27 (2007). For the vampire film Morbius (2022), he refused to break character and stop limping along in crutches. His 45-minute-long bathroom breaks cost the whole crew time and money. Eventually, the producers got so fed up that they struck a deal with him that he could use a wheelchair to get to the toilet.

Leto took his strange acting skills to a whole new level for his role as the in He insisted on being addressed as “Mister J” and told that he tried to “create an element.