Daniel Day-Lewis Responds to Brian Cox’s Criticism of Method Acting
Daniel Day-Lewis addressed Brian Cox’s public critique of method acting after being unexpectedly drawn into the controversy. The three-time Oscar winner expressed surprise at Cox's harsh comments.
Day-Lewis on Working with Brian Cox
“Listen, I worked with Brian Cox once and got somehow drawn into this handbags-at-dawn conflict inadvertently,” Day-Lewis stated. He praised Cox as “a very fine actor who’s done extraordinary work.” Despite their differences, Day-Lewis offered an open invitation: “Any time he wants to talk about it, I’m easy to find.”
Clarifying His Position
Day-Lewis denied interfering with Cox’s process, saying,
“If I thought during our work together I’d interfered with his working process, I’d be appalled. But I don’t think it was like that. So I don’t know where the f–k that came from.”He also acknowledged Jeremy Strong’s talent but distanced himself from Strong’s method: “Jeremy Strong is a very fine actor, I don’t know how he goes about things, but I don’t feel responsible in any way for that.”
Brian Cox’s Criticism of Method Acting
Brian Cox initially criticized method acting in 2021, linking Strong’s portrayal of Kendall Roy on HBO’s Succession to Day-Lewis’ method style, which he described as a uniquely “American disease.” He reiterated his views in 2023, calling Strong “a very good actor” and noting that the rest of the cast was “all OK with this.”
Summary: Daniel Day-Lewis refutes Brian Cox’s harsh remarks on method acting, clarifying his own practice and defending fellow actor Jeremy Strong while respectfully addressing the criticism.
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