Top 10 Times Method Actors Ticked Off Their Co-Stars

“Phantom Thread” (2017)

Even when the cameras aren’t rolling, this three-time Oscar winner will often stay in character until the director says, “That’s a wrap!” Some might describe Daniel Day-Lewis as intense. Others - like his “Phantom Thread” co-star Vicky Krieps - would call Day-Lewis’ behavior tiresome. Krieps “didn’t know so much about [his] method acting” going into the film. About halfway through, she thought, “Okay, I get it. It’s a game. I’ve played it. But can we just talk normally now, please?” Adding to Krieps’ frustration, everyone else seemed to worship Day-Lewis, overlooking his quirks because he’s a “great thespian.” As Krieps saw it, though, “We are all equal… We all sit on the toilet. I could see it all like a circus. I just didn’t get afraid.”

“Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015)

Max and Furiosa are a dynamic duo, but Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron weren’t as compatible. Kyle Buchanan’s book on the film’s chaotic production delves into Hardy’s method approach. While Theron is no stranger to method acting, she swore it off after her exhausting experience on “The Devil’s Advocate.” Many crew members, including George Miller, cited their differing acting styles as a basis for their beef. Where Hardy demanded more motivation, Theron wanted to get through each scene in an all-around stressful shoot, saying she went into “survival mode.” While the stars found common ground after filming the Green Place scene, Theron generally felt uncomfortable throughout production. Hardy was just one reason, as her pleas to hire a female producer for security were also ignored.

“Succession” (2018-23)

Recently, Jeremy Strong has become method acting’s poster boy - for better or worse. In “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” Strong asked to be doused with tear gas for a protest scene. Aaron Sorkin declined, not wanting to endanger Strong or the 200 others on set. Robert Downey Jr., who played his brother in “The Judge,” said that Strong’s method acting “crosses the Rubicon.” Brian Cox discussed his “Succession” son in a very Logan Roy manner. Cox by no means hates Strong, calling him “a very good actor.” As far as his method approach goes, though, Cox found it “annoying”... at least that’s the PG version. Cox worried that Strong was too committed to his work, feeling he should unwind with “a hit of marijuana.”

“Full Metal Jacket” (1987)

Vincent D’Onofrio gave a chilling performance as Private Lawrence, who becomes Gunnery Sergeant Hartman’s prime target of ridicule. Hartman’s constant insults - many improvised by actor R. Lee Ermey - eventually push Lawrence too far. Just as Lawrence becomes unhinged, some feared D’Onofrio was throwing himself too deep into this demented character. D’Onofrio and Matthew Modine, who plays J.T. Davis, went into “Full Metal Jacket” as friends. Once filming started, Modine says D’Onofrio “just got weirder and weirder as he went into the world his character was entering into.” D’Onofrio didn’t think Modine took his work as seriously, threatening to beat him up. Likewise, Modine felt like he could “kill” D’Onofrio. While they’ve since restored their friendships, Modine reflects on their rivalry as “really ugly.”

“The Disaster Artist” (2017)

Almost a decade before the #MeToo movement brought several allegations against James Franco to light, Tyrese Gibson opened up about their experience on “Annapolis.” According to Gibson, Franco “never snapped out of character,” which turned especially hostile during boxing scenes. Even when practicing, Gibson recalls Franco “full-on hitting [him].” Where Gibson said he “never want[ed] to work with him again,” Seth Rogen collaborated with Franco for years. That doesn’t mean Rogen appreciated Franco’s method acting. On “The Disaster Artist,” which Franco also directed, he stayed in character as Tommy Wiseau. It didn’t take long for this to get on Rogen’s nerves, saying, “I couldn’t deal with it, straight up, for the first two days.” That didn’t end their partnership, but Franco’s misconduct allegations did.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962)

This method actor cemented his cinematic legacy as the irredeemable racist Bob E. Lee Ewell. Like everyone else in the film, Ewell felt like he could exist in real life, which made him so scary. Mary Badham, who played young Scout, says the child actors were instructed not to engage with certain adult actors to preserve their naturalism. Badham thus didn’t get to know Anderson on set. Whenever he arrived, though, Badham remembered Anderson already being in character. Reflecting on Anderson’s performance, Badham said, “He gave everybody the willies, and we were all intimidated by him.” Badham’s methods succeeded, as Anderson went down as one of the most hateable characters in film, still giving audiences young and old the willies decades later.

“Man on the Moon” (1999)

As the 90s wrapped, this comedy superstar demonstrated his dramatic capabilities in projects like “Man on the Moon.” While Carrey proved that he has great range, some felt he went too far in getting his point across. Portraying Andy Kaufman, Carrey claimed that the late comedian possessed him, bringing his signature anarchy to the set. Paul Giamatti says that Carrey carried cheese in his pockets while channeling Kaufman’s Tony Clifton persona, smelling “horrible.” While Giamatti thought Carrey’s performance was “amazing,” he reflects on the biopic as “challenging” and “one of the weirdest experiences [he’s] had making a movie.” Giamatti and the other co-stars didn’t confront Carrey about his behavior, although Martin Freeman and Timothy Olyphant might’ve been more direct if they were in the cast.

“Suicide Squad” (2016)

Like the late Heath Ledger, Jared Leto went method for his take on the Joker. Where Ledger evolved the iconic villain to a new level of terror, Leto didn’t seem to understand the character. This is not only represented through his infamous performance, but also the so-called “pranks” that Leto played on his co-stars. In addition to sending the cast bullets, condoms, and a dead pig, Leto allegedly gifted Margot Robbie a rat and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje “sticky Playboy magazines.” Sounds like one of the Joker’s master schemes! While some tried to laugh it off, others were more frank. When Viola Davis met Leto - in character as the Joker - she thought about breaking out the pepper spray and saying, “You remember that bullet you sent me?”

“Marathon Man” (1976)

The most memorable quote from 1976’s “Marathon Man” supposedly happened behind the scenes. Where Laurence Olivier was classically trained, Dustin Hoffman learned method acting at the Actors Studio. If Hoffman’s character stayed up all night, so would he. Hoffman thought Olivier didn’t share the same levels of commitment. This eventually prompted Olivier to say, “My dear boy, why don’t you just try acting?” At least that’s the legend, as Hoffman claims Olivier was only joking. In any case, this wasn’t the last time Hoffman’s methods were contested. Filming “Kramer vs. Kramer,” Hoffman allegedly tormented Meryl Streep, shattering a glass and slapping her unprompted during a scene. Whether this was method acting or Hoffman just being cruel, Streep said, “It was overstepping.”

“Last Tango in Paris” (1972)

Few actors played a more prominent role in popularizing method acting and Stanislavski’s system than Marlon Brando. While his acting style earned Brando unbound praise, it also made him one of the most notorious actors to work with. Arguably nobody had a worse experience acting opposite Brando than Maria Schneider. Director Bernardo Bertolucci essentially wanted Brando to play himself, asking him to improvise. In one spontaneous moment, Brando’s character assaults Schneider’s using a stick of butter. Brando and Bertolucci didn’t tell Schneider about the scene until right before filming. Bertolucci said that he “wanted Maria to feel, not to act.” Although the act was simulated, Schneider felt “humiliated” and the experience haunted her. Schneider nonetheless stayed friends with Brando, although she never forgave Bertolucci.

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