Darren Aronofsky Doesn’t Mince Words While Describing His ‘Hate’ For Method Actors Years After Working With Jared Leto

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Darren Aronofsky‘s most notable films, such as “Black Swan,” “Mother!,” and “Requiem for a Dream,” stand out as exceptionally impactful due to their exceptional direction and powerful acting. Despite his Academy Award nominations, he has been candid about his dislike of working with method actors, following his collaboration with Jared Leto in “Requiem for a Dream.

Actors who adopt the method approach, unlike their peers, don’t just play a character while the cameras are rolling. Instead, they immerse themselves in the part even when the scene is over, striving to deliver an authentic performance. However, acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky has expressed skepticism towards this immersive acting style, as he made clear during his masterclass in Paris (as reported by Variety).

While I appreciate the dedication and effort put into method acting, I believe it’s crucial to remember that acting is essentially a form of make-believe. Engaging in thorough research and working diligently are undeniably beneficial, but it’s essential to understand that acting isn’t about living the role 24/7.

During intense scenes, it may be helpful to maintain focus and emotional readiness by isolating yourself between takes. However, this doesn’t mean you should fully immerse yourself in the character throughout your entire life. Instead, think of acting as a sport or game – a great basketball player doesn’t dribble the ball all day long. They practice, study their moves, and prepare themselves before stepping onto the court.

In essence, just like a basketball player who does their homework and gets ready for the game, an actor should do their research and prepare themselves to deliver an authentic performance when needed. The world created on stage or screen is only temporary – between “action” and “cut.

The unspecified American director has indeed worked with method actors, although he didn’t provide any specific examples. Notably, this filmmaker has also collaborated with Jared Leto, an actor renowned for his deep-dive acting techniques that have often made headlines.

In the movie “Requiem for a Dream,” it was disclosed that Jared Leto shed 25 pounds by fasting, consistently adopted a Brooklyn accent, and interacted with real-life drug dealers on New York City streets to portray Harry Goldfarb. This indicates that director Darren Aronofsky had previously witnessed Leto’s commitment as a method actor.

Beyond this, it’s worth noting that Leto’s approach to acting has been extensively analyzed due to his work on various films. For instance, he used cloudy contact lenses to portray the blind character Niander Wallace in ‘Blade Runner 2049’, and went so far as to make himself visually impaired during filming, relying on an assistant to guide him around set. Moreover, his commitment to embodying the Joker in ‘Suicide Squad’ was unwavering; his co-star Jai Courtney attested that Leto immersed himself completely in the villainous role throughout production.

In a later discussion during his masterclass, The Whale’s director expressed that method acting was acceptable as long as it didn’t negatively affect others in the production. This raises curiosity about Darren Aronofsky’s perspective regarding Jared Leto’s unconventional actions while portraying the Joker in Suicide Squad, such as kissing a co-star and sending peculiar gifts to his fellow actors. Despite some concerns over Leto’s method acting approach, his co-star Common stated he found no issue with it, feeling that extreme measures are sometimes required to fully embody a character.

In summary, Darren Aronofsky acknowledged that actors may engage in activities during their free time, though he offered some constructive advice on the matter.

They can certainly choose to spend their time as they see fit. However, I would suggest they take some time for relaxation too!

Absolutely, taking time to unwind is beneficial advice for all, particularly actors dealing with demanding and exhausting parts. Yet, it’s worth noting that the method acting approach has shown success for numerous performers, such as Daniel Day-Lewis, as well.

In Darren Aronofsky’s 2025 film, titled “Caught Stealing“, Austin Butler will be collaborating with him. Notably, the actor previously associated with Nickelodeon is well-known for immersing himself deeply in roles using method acting techniques.

In an extraordinary effort, he immersed himself deeply to portray Elvis Presley, sacrificing time with family for months, drifting off to sleep listening to The King’s music, and maintaining the character’s voice throughout. Fans were taken aback when the actor from “Masters of the Air” continued speaking in his Elvis persona even after the biopic ended, raising questions about whether Butler will employ some method acting in Aronofsky’s film.

Darren Aronofsky might not be fond of the practice of method acting. Yet, plunging deeply into a character’s psyche can prove effective for some actors, inciting both admiration and controversy among their peers. Consequently, this technique appears to have its pros and cons, and it seems that Aronofsky acknowledges these differing viewpoints (though he himself may not be a proponent of method acting).

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2025-04-10 02:38