Daniel Day-Lewis Denies Brian Cox’s Claims About Jeremy Strong and Method Acting
Daniel Day-Lewis refuted Brian Cox’s suggestion that actor Jeremy Strong adopted his Method acting approach because of him. In a recent interview with the U.K.’s Big Issue, Day-Lewis explained that Cox’s frequent public remarks have unintentionally pulled him into the debate surrounding Method acting.
Brian Cox’s Criticism of Method Acting
Over the years, Brian Cox has repeatedly expressed frustration with Method acting, often using his “Succession” co-star Jeremy Strong as an example of why he finds the approach “fucking annoying.” Cox even speculated that Day-Lewis left acting at 55 due to burnout from immersing himself in his roles, saying he “couldn’t go on doing that every day.”
Day-Lewis Responds to Cox
“I worked with Brian Cox once and somehow got drawn into this handbags-at-dawn conflict inadvertently. 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.”
Day-Lewis’s tone stayed calm yet firm, distancing himself from the supposed link Cox drew between him and Strong’s acting habits.
Denial of Influence on Jeremy Strong
In a separate interview with Variety, Cox implied that Jeremy Strong’s adherence to Method acting came from time spent as Day-Lewis’s assistant and that he had “learned all that stuff from Dan.” Day-Lewis denied having any influence on Strong’s process.
“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 fuck that came from.”
Author’s Summary
Day-Lewis dismissed Cox’s claims, making clear that he never mentored Jeremy Strong in Method acting and expressing frustration at being dragged into the debate.