Though the technique has been popularized over the years among some of the industry's most revered stars, not every acclaimed actor walked away from method acting moments with good memories.&nbsp;

Among contemporary <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/richest-actors-in-the-world-wealthiest-hollywood-actresses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">actors</a> looking to go deeper into their roles, method acting techniques have become a common approach. Of course, the practice is a decades-old one, used even by classic Golden Age stars, but in recent years, certain fixtures of Hollywood&mdash;think <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/men/mens-street-style-milan-fashion-week-fall-winter-2025-patrick-bateman-trend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christian Bale</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/men/jared-leto-interview-finneas-billie-eilish-morbius" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jared Leto</a>, and Jeremy Strong, among them&mdash;have come out as especially dedicated method actors. While fully stepping into the great role can make for a showstopping, Oscar-winning performance, it can also be a difficult burden to bear&mdash;both for actors themselves, some of whom cite psychological and physical tolls, and staff on set.&nbsp;
Though he announced his retirement several years back, Daniel Day-Lewis, one such method actor, is making his return to the silver screen with the upcoming project,&nbsp;Anemone.&nbsp;The film is slated to release later in Fall 2025, on Oct. 3.&nbsp;
In light of Day-Lewis' return to the screen, the conversation around method acting techniques has been jump-started once again, prompting us to take a look back into film history. Without further ado, join&nbsp;L'OFFICIEL&nbsp;as we dive into all the method actors who tried the technique just once or twice for major roles.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hollywood Method Actors: Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep at Cannes Film Festival in 2024. Getty Images.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/meryl-streep-young-rare-photos-movies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meryl Streep</a> has stepped into the shoes of countless characters over her years in the spotlight, but Miranda Priestly's stilettos in <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/devil-wears-prada-best-looks-sequel-news-meryl-streep-anne-hathaway-emily-blunt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Devil Wears&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/devil-wears-prada-best-looks-sequel-news-meryl-streep-anne-hathaway-emily-blunt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prada</a>&nbsp;were notoriously difficult to bear. As Priestly, Streep became an intense, hard-hitting editor-in-chief, and to most accurately portray her character's fervent work ethic, the one-time method actor took on Priestly's steely attitude outside of filming.&nbsp;
"It was horrible! I was [miserable] in my trailer. I could hear them all rocking and laughing," Streep told <a href="https://ew.com/movies/devil-wears-prada-cast-reunion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Entertainment Weekly</a> during a cast reunion back in 2021. "I was so depressed! I said, 'Well, it's the price you pay for being boss!' That's the last time I ever attempted a method thing!"&nbsp;
However, Streep's co-stars, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt, did note that while her on-set demeanor was intimidating to be sure, they never doubted that it was a ploy to get in character, rather than a reflection of Streep's real-life attitude. Though Streep said she had a miserable time, the method acting technique certainly got the job done in portraying the fearsome <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/the-devil-wears-prada-2-funeral-plot-predictions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miranda Priestly</a>.&nbsp;

Hollywood Method Actors: Andrew Garfield

Andrew Garfield attends the Loewe Menswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

No, he didn't develop a social media platform for&nbsp;The Social Network,&nbsp;or offer up an arm for a radioactive spider to bite in&nbsp;Spiderman&mdash;instead, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/andrew-garfield-movies-best-roles-spiderman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andrew Garfield</a> opted to try out method acting in his 2016 film&nbsp;Silence, when he starred as a Jesuit priest. The actor reportedly exercised his spiritual muscles and even abstained from food and intimacy for a time.&nbsp;

Hollywood Method Actors: Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga 2013. Getty Images

The "Abracadabra" singer is no stranger to drama&mdash;we all remember her wild Y2K stunts, meat dress included. When she's off the stage and on the screen, she's favored going all in, too. For her role as Patrizia Reggiani in&nbsp;House of Gucci, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/lady-gaga-mayhem-ball-tour-setlist-dates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lady Gaga</a> said that she used method acting techniques to feel in tune with her character. 
&ldquo;I will be fully honest and transparent: I lived as [Reggiani] for a year and a half. And I spoke with an accent for nine months of that,&ldquo; the singer explained in an interview with <a href="https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/lady-gaga-interview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">British Vogue</a>. "I never broke, I stayed with her.&rdquo;
Reportedly, Gaga also asked fellow actors and set staff to call her by her character's name when filming as Harley Quinn.

Hollywood Method Actors: Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman on set for 'Black Swan' in 2009. Getty Images.

15 years ago, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/natalie-portman-interview-miss-dior-perfume-movies-2025-the-twits-good-sex-the-gallerist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Natalie Portman</a> danced onto the silver screen as Nina Sayers, an ambitious young ballerina, in Black Swan.&nbsp;In an endeavor to portray the dedicated dancer to the best of her ability, Portman's techniques verged on method acting&mdash;but according to her, she didn't even mean to; dance training just took up that much time. However, she's been vocal about the fact that method acting techniques aren't her preferred method of character acting.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve gotten very into roles, but I think it&rsquo;s [method acting] honestly a luxury that women can&rsquo;t afford,&rdquo; Portman said to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/style/natalie-portman-may-december-skin-care-books-garden-state-7678b097" rel="noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a> in early 2024. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think that children or partners would be very understanding of, you know, me making everyone call me &lsquo;Jackie Kennedy&rsquo; all the time.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Hollywood Method Actors: Austin Butler

Austin Butler in 2024. Getty Images.

Maybe this one isn't quite as forgettable, but when it comes to method acting, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/jeremy-allen-white-austin-butler-enemies-movie-chicago" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Austin Butler</a>'s approach is nothing short of legendary. So legendary, in fact, that he forgot how to stop speaking like Elvis Presley after <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/austin-butler-iconic-roles-zoey-101-icarly-elvis-dune-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his portrayal of the singer</a> in Baz Luhrmann's 2022 biopic. Butler reportedly isolated himself from friends and family during filming and had to hire a vocal coach to regain his natural speaking patterns afterwards, though some fans say that even in 2025, they still hear a hint of The King.&nbsp;

Hollywood Method Actors: Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx onstage accepting an award during the BET Awards in 2025. Getty Images.

In his portrayal of revered musician Ray Charles back in 2004, Jamie Foxx went to extreme lengths to step into the character. Beyond dieting and exercise, he also had his eyes glued shut and overlaid with prosthetic eyelids to accurately convey the blind musician. However, unlike other method actors, this move reportedly wasn't Foxx's choice&mdash;the request came straight from the director, and Foxx has admitted the whole process was anxiety-inducing.&nbsp;

6 Hollywood Stars You Forgot Used Method Acting For Their Iconic Roles

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