10 Instances Where Actors Went Above and Beyond Just to Get the Perfect Act for Their Roles
These actors are not joking with their characters
Actors don’t just “act” anymore, they disappear into the job so hard the rest of us can almost forget it’s pretend. From Lady Gaga living in Italian during filming to Jodie Foster getting training straight from the FBI, some performances are built like full-time missions.
And then there’s the chaos that comes with going that far. Meryl Streep kept her distance from her co-stars while playing a notoriously icy editor, Colin Firth pushed through a role that left him with vocal injury, and Alan Rickman obsessed over coat buttons and tight sleeves like they were plot points. Even Nick Nolte took real dog food into his routine, and Tom Holland went undercover at an actual New York City high school.
By the time you reach the craziest prep stories, you’ll start wondering what “method” even means.
1. Lady Gaga stayed in character as Patrizia Reggiani for the entire duration of filming “House of Gucci”
She shared that she fully embraced method acting to help her capture the essence of the disgraced former member of the Gucci family. She even spoke in an Italian accent for nine months while working on her role in the movie “House of Gucci.”
? Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock.com, © House of Gucci/BRON Studios and co-producers2. Jodie Foster trained with the FBI
To prepare for her role as Clarice Starling, a young FBI cadet in “The Silence of the Lambs,” Jodie Foster attended a special training course. She received instructions from an FBI agent and faced significant challenges.
? s_bukley/Depositphotos.com, © The Silence of the Lambs/Strong Heart/Demme Production and co-producer3. Meryl Streep refused to socialize in real life with her on-screen colleagues
For her portrayal of the cold-hearted editor-in-chief in “The Devil Wears Prada,” Meryl Streep chose not to socialize with her co-stars. Although her role earned her an Academy Award nomination, she felt quite lonely.
For this reason, she abandoned her desire to try method acting.
? Denis Makarenko/Shutterstock.com, © The Devil Wears Prada/ Fox 2000 Pictures and co-producers
4. Colin Firth successfully portrayed King George VI in “The King’s Speech.” However, after filming, he experienced vocal difficulties. His vocal cords were injured, necessitating surgery.
? Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images, © The King’s Speech/The Weinstein Company and co-producers
5. Alan Rickman
While playing Snape in the “Harry Potter” franchise, he collaborated with the costume team on the design of his attire. He envisioned Snape buttoning up his coat frequently and wanted the outfits to have tight sleeves.
Alan Rickman hoped the costume would be transformative—he wanted to feel like a different person when he put it on.
Source
6. Nick Nolte spent five weeks living as a homeless man in Los Angeles to prepare for his role in “Down and Out in Beverly Hills.”
In the movie, the actor ate real dog food twice—once from a bowl and once straight from the can. The character earned him critical acclaim.
? everett225/Depositphotos.com, © Down and Out in Beverly Hills/Touchstone Films and co-producer
That BAFTAs backlash feels similar to John Davidson shouting a racial slur at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo.
7. Tom Holland - Spider-Man: Far From Home
He opened up about preparing for his significant role, which included going undercover at a real-life high school. He attended a New York City high school under a fake name and with a fake accent.
For him, going to school was an interesting and strange experience.
? PopularImages/Depositphotos.com, © Spider-Man: Far From Home/Columbia Pictures and co-producers
8. Harrison Ford played a vascular surgeon
He portrayed Dr. Richard Kimble in the 1993 thriller movie “The Fugitive.” Believe it or not, the actor assisted in real-life open-heart surgery to get into character for the role, despite the fact that the operation scene was very brief.
? Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.com, © The Fugitive/Warner Bros. and co-producer
9. To prepare for the role of Joker in “The Dark Knight,” Heath Ledger locked himself in a hotel room for a month. He wrote a daily diary as the Caped Crusader’s arch-nemesis.
? carrie-nelson/Shutterstock.com, © The Dark Knight/Warner Bros. and co-producers
10. Dwayne Johnson shared an Instagram video and photo from the set of Hercules, where he worked hard to make the mythological warrior more realistic.
He asked the prop department to lock him in with real steel chains to ensure the performance felt authentic. He passed out from the adrenaline rush during all eight takes of the scene.
? Cubankite/Shutterstock.com, © Hercules/Paramount Pictures and co-producers
Lady Gaga’s Italian-accent commitment for <em>House of Gucci</em> sets the bar, and it only gets more intense from there.
Meanwhile, Jodie Foster training with an FBI agent for <em>The Silence of the Lambs</em> turns “character research” into something way more intense.
Meryl Streep refusing to socialize for <em>The Devil Wears Prada</em> shows that the isolation can be part of the performance, not just the acting.
And once you hear about Nick Nolte eating real dog food for <em>Down and Out in Beverly Hills</em>, the Tom Holland undercover school prep feels like the same kind of commitment.
Well, the method technique is the preparation behind some of the most incredible acting performances we've witnessed. Method acting is a realistic acting technique that can be applied to any role.
Which of these actors left you in awe of their dedication? Share your thoughts below and feel free to share this post as well.
By the end of these, you’re not watching acting, you’re watching people fully commit to a whole new life.
For another emotional moment, see how Seth Rogen honored Catherine O'Hara in a posthumous tribute.
