Succession star Jeremy Strong has given his take on method acting, after a co-star previously expressed concern.
Brian Cox stated in 2021 that Strong’s method acting technique “worries” him, but other celebrities like Jessica Chastain have defended him. It comes at a time when many professionals are distancing themselves from so-called method acting, which often sees an actor stay in character even when the cameras aren’t rolling.
Making his first ever in-person talk show appearance, Strong went on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and enjoyed a lengthy conversation about acting.
“I don’t even know that staying in character is a way of describing what it is, if anything, I’d say it’s just sort of about concentration,” Strong told Colbert, after he was asked about his acting technique.
“I guess, if I have any way of working at all, it’s kind of the ‘whatever it takes’ method and you never know what it’s going to take. But for me, it always requires, I think, a certain quality of attention, which is more about negative space and sort of making yourself a blank slate than it is about trying to be something,” Strong explained, before bringing the conversation back around to his new movie, Armageddon Time.
In an expansive profile by The New Yorker in December 2021, Strong discussed his style of acting on sets, with Cox contributing his thoughts.
“I don’t know how popular the way I work is amongst our troupe,” Strong admitted.
“The result that Jeremy gets is always pretty tremendous,” Cox said. “I just worry about what he does to himself. I worry about the crises he puts himself through in order to prepare.”
The comments caused a stir at the time, which prompted Chastain to speak out and defend her friend.
“The profile that came out on him was incredibly one sided. Don’t believe everything you read folks. Snark sells but maybe its time we move beyond it,” she wrote on Twitter about her former colleague.
Ive known Jeremy Strong for 20yrs & worked with him on 2 films. Hes a lovely person. Very inspiring & passionate about his work. The profile that came out on him was incredibly one sided. Don’t believe everything you read folks. Snark sells but maybe its time we move beyond it.
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) December 8, 2021
Many actors still employ method acting, including Jarred Leto. The creators of the Apple TV+ show WeCrashed, Lee Eisenberg and Drew Crevello told Newsweek that they didn’t see Leto for four months, as he communicated as Adam Newman the entire time on set.
Many actors have spoken out against the practice now, including Jake Gyllenhaal, Will Poulter and Mads Mikkelsen.
Armageddon Time gets a limited release from October 28, before going nationwide on November 4.
The post Jeremy Strong Defends Method Acting After ‘Succession’ Co-Star’s Concern appeared first on Newsweek.
