Method acting, known as the Method, is a range of rehearsal techniques, as formulated by a number of different theatre practitioners, that seeks to encourage sincere and expressive performances through identifying with, understanding, and experiencing a character's inner motivation and emotions.[2][3] These techniques are built on Stanislavski's system, developed by the Russian actor and director Konstantin Stanislavski and captured in his books An Actor Prepares, Building a Character, and Creating a Role.[4]
Among those who have contributed to the development of the Method, three teachers are associated with "having set the standard of its success", each emphasizing different aspects of the approach: Lee Strasberg (the psychological aspects), Stella Adler (the sociological aspects), and Sanford Meisner (the behavioral aspects).[5] The approach was first developed when they worked together at the Group Theatre in New York and later at the Actors Studio.[4] Notable method actors include Marlon Brando, Anne Bancroft, James Dean, Jared Leto, Heath Ledger, Tom Hardy, Joaquin Phoenix, Leonardo Dicaprio, Anne Hathaway, Hilary Swank, Jeremy Strong, Jodie Comer, Cillian Murphy, Dustin Hoffman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniel Day-Lewis, Robert De Niro, Christian Bale, Edward Norton, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, and Al Pacino.[6]
- ^ Blum (1984, 63) and Hayward (1996, 216).
- ^ "Method acting". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021.
- ^ "Method Acting". Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press.
- ^ a b Krasner (2000b, 130).
- ^ Krasner (2000b, 129).
- ^ Aritra Dey (July 3, 2022). "10 Famous Method Actors of Hollywood". The Cinemaholic.