Daniel Day-Lewis Addresses Method Acting Debate
Daniel Day-Lewis has denied Brian Cox's claim that Jeremy Strong is an "annoying" Method actor because of Day-Lewis’ influence. Recently, Day-Lewis told the U.K.’s Big Issue that Cox is partly responsible for involving him in an unwanted discussion about Method acting.
Brian Cox's Criticism of Method Acting
Cox has criticized Method acting in several interviews, often pointing to his Succession co-star Jeremy Strong as an example of why the style can be “fucking annoying.” He also speculated that Day-Lewis stopped acting at 55 due to burnout from intense Method acting, saying Day-Lewis “couldn’t go on doing that every day.”
“Listen, I worked with Brian Cox once and got somehow drawn into this handbags-at-dawn conflict inadvertently,” Day-Lewis told Big Issue (via The Telegraph).
“Brian is a very fine actor who’s done extraordinary work. As a result, he’s been given a soapbox… which he shows no sign of climbing down from. Any time he wants to talk about it, I’m easy to find.”
Disputing the Connection Between Strong and Day-Lewis
In a Variety interview, Cox suggested Jeremy Strong's Method acting style came from working as Day-Lewis’ assistant, implying Strong learned the approach from him. Day-Lewis strongly rejected this notion.
“If I thought during our work together I’d interfered with his working process, I’d be appalled,” Day-Lewis told Big Issue. “But I don’t think it was like that. So I don’t know where the fuck that came from.”
Summary
Daniel Day-Lewis distances himself from Brian Cox’s criticisms and rejects any responsibility for Jeremy Strong’s Method acting style or the ongoing debate surrounding it.