Martin Freeman calls Method Acting "F*cking B*llocks"

[trekkiepetrelli]

Martin Freeman calls method acting “the most self-aggrandizing, selfish, narcissistic f**king bollocks I have ever seen.”

(via: https://t.co/vixxn5LEJI) pic.twitter.com/VToYvB1E1Y
- DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) May 31, 2021

• In a recent appearance on the Off Menu podcast (via The Telegraph), Martin Freeman criticized the practice of method acting

Comments

[ahkna]

Every time a man mentions method acting, I think of this quote from Judi Dench.

"Acting is about the exploration of character rather than simply a projection of self. I was in New York with Maggie Smith recently, promoting a film, and we were asked about the Sanford Meisner Method school of acting which is based on ruthless self-exploration. Maggie, in her unique way, said, 'Oh, we have that in England, too. We call it wanking.'"

[champagnexdream]

Omg I love Maggie

[geneforrester]

OMG ive never heard this quote before and it makes me love maggie so much more lmfao

[raffriff]

I adore Maggie Smith

[rihaty]

My theory is that actors that need to do method acting are lacking empathy or something, as they can't understand their character unless they *are* the character. Most method actors are assholes so I think my theory holds (I still love DDL roles though...)

Also, below (around 3:45ish I think) Stephen asks Anthony how he got into the role and Anthony is just like "IDK I just learned my lines and remembered them and came to set," that's it. And this truly was one of the most amazing performances I have ever seen.

[sibylblack]

He was amazing, I was crying at the end of the movie and just felt his pain as if he was there in front of me. Well-deserved Oscar.

[sibylblack]

It's all sad except maybe the first 10 minutes, I mean I think the trailer shows it clearly...

[black_swan87]

Men that do method acting always come off as dudes that are really insecure about having such a “feminine” career so they have to do all this to show that they’re manly men that “suffer” for their art. It’s like taking “no homo” to the extreme

[januarysix]

interesting insight, I've never heard it put that way

[euraylie]

Now that you mention it, we do only ever hear about male method actors

[carminaburana]

Marilyn Monroe studied Method directly from Lee Strasberg himself and used it for most of her subsequent roles, but a lot of people don't acknowledge her as a Method actor. There are a lot of women who use it, but i think it has a lot to do with media focus (we only really hear about women method actors who transform their looks - i.e. Charlize and Hilary Swank, etc.)

[colossusx]

"I always say about people who do method acting, you only ever see people do the method when they’re playing an a-holes"

that's true. honestly i think it's just an excuse to treat everyone around them like shit for months because they're not actually very good actors.

[bossm]

We all know bad examples of method acting so I don’t think about supporting idiotic behavior. But if I would be an actor I would also try to use method acting. I’m very empathic and can make me feel like someone else. Isn’t it easier that way? Or am I understanding this wrong?

[frelling_tralk]

I think that method acting makes sense in terms of when you’re actually playing the character, but then there are the more extreme examples where they decide to somehow act like they are actually are that person for the entire shoot and take it offset as well, like Jared Leto and The Joker for one particularly obnoxious example where he somehow thought that sending his cast-mates gross and inappropriate gifts would help him get more into character

[euraylie]

Didn’t DDL refuse to take modern medication for his flu on the set of Lincoln because it would take him out of his role?

[bossm]

He’s the example I’m talking about. Disgusting.