Method acting is the most discussed methodology in Hollywood—admired for its zeal, attacked for its excesses, and talked about in acting schools and movie sets equally. For some, it’s the ultimate expression of commitment to the art; for others, it’s a risky plunge into madness. Whatever side you’re on, you can’t deny that a performance that completely erases the distinction between actor and character carries a tremendous amount of power.
Here are ten of the greatest, most intense, and most unforgettable method acting performances ever committed to film.
1. Daniel Day-Lewis – My Left Foot
Daniel Day-Lewis is usually regarded as the gold standard of method acting. To play Christy Brown, an artist who had cerebral palsy, Day-Lewis went all-in. He spent two months living in a Dublin clinic, learning to walk and talk like Brown. On location, he remained in character constantly, refusing to exit his wheelchair and insisting on being fed by cast and crew during shooting breaks. The dedication cost him physically, bruising his ribs, but brought him his first Oscar.
2. Robert De Niro – Taxi Driver
In order to enter the world of isolated insomniac Travis Bickle, De Niro didn’t merely research the character—he inhabited him. He procured a cab medallion and drove actual shifts throughout New York City, listening and learning the life of a taxi driver. He also researched mental illness and ad-libbed lines that would go on to be iconic, such as the unforgettable “You talking to me?” The end product was a raw, unfiltered performance that was a career-defining moment for De Niro.
3. Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
Ledger’s performance as the Joker is now iconic. In preparation, he spent a month in a hotel room by himself, crafting the character’s peculiar voice, laugh, and unsettling thought processes. He kept a journal as the character, with madness-inducing thoughts and images. The depth of his immersion scrubbed out all vestiges of the actor—what was seen on screen was a shivering, compelling performance that posthumously won him an Oscar.
4. Adrien Brody – The Pianist
Brody didn’t merely play a Holocaust survivor—he divested his own life of everything to achieve it. He rehearsed piano for hours a day, sold his apartment and everything he owned, cut himself off from people he loved, and shed 30 pounds in five weeks. The physical and emotional cost was staggering, and it took months to repair the damage. But the payoff was a haunting, profoundly human performance that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor.
5. Christian Bale – The Machinist
Bale is famous for his body transformations, but The Machinist took a toll on his body. He shed 62 pounds, living off a very lean diet and minimal rest to portray the thin, sleep-deprived Trevor Reznik. Crew members were worried about him and had to intervene before he could lose even more weight. His performance is chilling and unforgettable—a masterclass in body and psychological transformation.
6. Hilary Swank – Boys Don’t Cry
For her work as Brandon Teena, Swank spent a whole month living as a man. She changed her voice, lost weight, strapped down her chest, and even wore prosthetics in order to completely become a part of the character’s world. She stayed in character on set every day, never breaking the illusion. The commitment was rewarded with an Oscar-winning performance that remains one of the most powerful of her career.
7. Marlon Brando – The Men
Generally credited with being the first of the Hollywood method actors, Brando’s preparation for The Men raised the bar. For weeks, he stayed in a veterans’ hospital, learning firsthand what it was to live with paralysis. His performance as an injured soldier wasn’t merely believable—it brought with it a new, unvarnished style of realism to American film.
8. Joaquin Phoenix – Joker
Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck transformation was a profound psychological and physical one. He shed more than 50 pounds, a process he called mentally and physically destabilizing. The character’s deterioration into madness necessitated Phoenix digging into a dark emotional place, and the results were harrowing. His performance won him an Oscar and defined the Joker for a new generation.
9. Natalie Portman – Black Swan
Portman’s training for her professional ballerina role was a full-time effort. She trained for more than a year, putting in hours a day with professional dancers and swimmers to master the strenuous choreography. The physical strain involved injuries, weight loss, and plain exhaustion. But she was rewarded with a performance that received critical success and an Academy Award.
10. Jared Leto – Suicide Squad and Morbius
Leto has gained notoriety for his methodical approach. For Suicide Squad, he even plunged into the Joker’s unstable psyche, sending strange”gifts” to co-stars—used condoms and a pig’s corpse—to keep up character. During Morbius filming, he would not take down crutches even during breaks, limping all over the set in order to remain in character. Although responses to his acting range, his complete commitment to the method is evident.
The Fine Line Between Dedication and Obsession
Method acting has yielded some of the rawest, affecting performances in movie history. But it also prompts significant questions about boundaries, mental health, and the price of complete immersion. For some, the method is a means to an end. For others, it’s a way of life—one that can leave deep scars, both in front of and behind the camera. What is certain is that when actors commit, the outcome can be remarkable. Whatever you consider method acting to be, brilliant or excessive, its influence on film cannot be denied.