Daniel Day-Lewis Says Method Acting Has Become an ‘Easy Target’ and Implies That an Actor Is ‘Behaving Like a Lunatic’: ‘Everyone Tends to Focus on the Less Important Details’
Key Takeaways
- Daniel Day-Lewis dislikes viewing acting purely as a 'craft,' believing it leads to focusing on less important details.
- He criticized the modern, often derogatory use of the term 'gone full Method,' clarifying that acting should focus on internal work, not self-imposed discomfort.
- Day-Lewis has returned from his 2017 retirement to star in an indie drama titled "Anemone."
- The new film, "Anemone," is directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis, and also features Sean Bean.
- Day-Lewis described working with his son on the film as a natural and comfortable extension of their lifelong creative collaboration.
Daniel Day-Lewis, who stepped out of his 2017 retirement to star in his son Ronan's indie drama "Anemone," recently gave an interview to The New York Times where he offered candid thoughts on the acting profession. The celebrated actor stated he strongly dislikes framing acting as a 'craft,' arguing that an excessive focus on process causes performers to fixate on minor details of the work. Day-Lewis also expressed annoyance with the contemporary use of the phrase 'gone full Method,' which he feels incorrectly implies that actors are behaving maniacally or subjecting themselves to extreme mental instability. He emphasized that while techniques exist, the core of an actor's life must revolve around internal work rather than self-flagellation or discomfort. Day-Lewis retired after "Phantom Thread" but has now reunited with his son, Ronan, for "Anemone," where he plays an ex-soldier confronted by his past. He noted that working on the film felt like a natural, larger-scale extension of the many creative projects he and his son have shared over the years.
