Most Famous Modern Day Method Actors

Method acting has been a technique used by actors since the beginning of film especially by those who wish to hone and master their craft. Here is a list of 5 of the most famous method actors, all of whom have won an Oscar for a performance in their career.

5 – Heath Ledger

Portraying one of the greatest and most terrifying depictions of the Joker, heath ledger was known as a method actor, refusing to break character in many of his roles which people believe might have been the reason for his drug overdose that ultimately killed him.

4 – Sean Penn

Sean Penn might be known as a little abrasive on the acting set, but it is because for almost all of his characters that he plays he refuses to break character and is extremely serious about his craft when performing.

3 – Nicholas Cage

For many of Nicholas Cage’s more serious roles, specifically for leaving Las Vegas, he stayed in character the entire time, ultimately earning himself an Oscar for the performance.

2- Christian Bale

Two method actors and a great director is probably what made the dark knight franchise so great and at the forefront was Christian bale. Going to extreme lengths as losing 100 pounds for his role in the machinist and gaining it all back in muscle in under a year is just one of the examples of how far Bale is willing to go for his roles. He is truly a method actor which is why so many of his performances are fantastic.

1- Daniel Day Lewis

Daniel Day Lewis is the father of modern day method acting, only choosing specific roles that he will go completely into character for over a long period of time. Sometimes it took him multiple years before he found a script that he liked and was willing to act in. Having a background in theater, Daniel Day Lewis is as good as it gets in terms of modern day method acting