Daniel Day-Lewis Responds to Brian Cox's Criticism of Method Acting
Daniel Day-Lewis addressed Brian Cox’s outspoken criticism of method acting after being "inadvertently" involved in the dispute concerning Cox’s comments on the acting style. Speaking with Big Issue, the three-time Oscar winner expressed surprise at Cox’s strong opinions.
“Listen, I worked with Brian Cox once and got somehow drawn into this handbags-at-dawn conflict inadvertently,” Day-Lewis said. “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 added that if he had interfered with Cox’s working process, he would be shocked, but he does not believe that was the case. He continued,
“So I don’t know where the f–k that came from. 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 Critique of Method Acting
Brian Cox initially criticized method acting in 2021 when discussing his co-star Jeremy Strong’s portrayal of Kendall Roy on HBO’s Succession. Cox attributed Strong’s performance to Day-Lewis’ famous method acting style, describing it as a distinctly "American disease."
“He’s a very good actor,” Cox told the magazine in 2023. “And the rest of the ensemble is all OK with this.”
Summary
Daniel Day-Lewis denied any interference in Brian Cox’s work and distanced himself from Cox's critique of Jeremy Strong’s acting approach, suggesting the criticism was unexpected.
Author's Note
This exchange highlights the ongoing debate about method acting’s influence and the differing perspectives actors hold on its value and impact.