Daniel Day-Lewis Addresses Brian Cox on Method Acting Debate
Daniel Day-Lewis expressed his feelings about being unintentionally pulled into a debate about Method acting, sparked by Brian Cox. In an interview with the U.K.'s Big Issue, Day-Lewis, 68, explained that the discussion began when Cox, 79, mentioned in a 2023 Variety interview that his Succession co-star Jeremy Strong had started to explore Method acting after spending time with Day-Lewis.
Day-Lewis Responds to Cox’s Comments
“Listen, I worked with Brian Cox once and got somehow drawn into this handbags-at-dawn conflict inadvertently,” Day-Lewis said while promoting his film Anemone. “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.”
Background on Their Relationship
Day-Lewis and Cox previously collaborated on the 1997 film The Boxer. Cox had earlier suggested that Day-Lewis' immersive approach to acting contributed to his extended break from the profession, and that Jeremy Strong, 46, absorbed elements of this style as Day-Lewis’ former assistant.
“Of course, Jeremy was Dan Day-Lewis’ assistant. So he’s learned all that stuff from Dan,” Cox stated.
Summary
Daniel Day-Lewis clarifies his stance on Method acting and indicates he welcomes open dialogue, distancing himself from the debate initiated by Brian Cox’s remarks.
Would you like the text to be adjusted for a more formal or conversational tone?