Daniel Day-Lewis Says Method Acting Criticism Is From ‘People Who Have Little or No Understanding…”

Variety ^ | Oct 2025 | Ellise Shafer, Alex Ritman

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Daniel Day-Lewis rejected misconceptions about Method acting during a wide-ranging conversation at the BFI London Film Festival…

The accomplished actor — a three-time best actor Oscar winner for “My Left Foot” (1989), “There Will Be Blood” (2007) and “Lincoln” (2012) — is known for his immersive process, devoting himself to staying in character throughout filming. Despite how it’s worked out for him, going Method has received a fair amount of pushback in recent years from those who believe it to be unhealthy — or just plain silly.

However, Day-Lewis pushed back against these notions after an audience member asked about his acting process: “All the recent commentary in the last few years about Method acting is invariably from people who have little or no understanding of what it actually involves. It’s almost as if it’s some specious science that we’re involved in, or a cult. But it’s just a way of freeing yourself so that the spontaneity, when you are working with your colleagues in front of the camera, that you are free to respond in any way that you’ll move to in that moment.”

Day-Lewis reflected on Jim Sheridan’s “My Left Foot,” which marked a pivotal moment in both his career and acting process. The film saw Day-Lewis play celebrated Irish writer and painter Christy Brown, whose cerebral palsy meant he could only work with the toes of one foot.

The months of preparation he was afforded as finances were put together, actually gave birth to his style of acting. He spent that time immersing himself in the world of his character, getting used to living in a wheelchair and writing and painting solely with his foot.

Day-Lewis officially returned to acting last month after an eight-year break with “Anemone,” a psychological drama directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis.

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TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: acting; actors; danieldaylewis; film; getajob; hollywood; movies

[newfreep]

I liked him in Last of the Mohicans.

Was he Butters? MANTEQUILLA?

[stanne]

You’re telling me why I didn’t like a movie?

Politics?

Civil war politics?

I went with my cousin and her husband. We wanted to see Irish history of NY, our people

It was Lewis as a phony surreal unrealistic nothing

When it was over and the lights came on we looked at each other and busted a laugh

[Tallguy]

“Truth hurts so people reject it.”

The Winners get to write the history. Of course the South got to write about the “Lost Cause” and that burnished Lee’s memory and slandered others, Grant in particular.