Daniel Day-Lewis distances himself from Jeremy Strong’s acting approach
During his break from acting, many speculated about Daniel Day-Lewis’s dedication to Method acting. Among them was actor Brian Cox, a known critic of the technique, who suggested that this intense commitment led Day-Lewis to early retirement.
Cox also remarked that his Succession co-star Jeremy Strong drew inspiration from Day-Lewis’s Method practice. Day-Lewis, however, rejected this notion and expressed frustration over the discussion.
“Listen, 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 told Big Issue magazine.
“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 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.”
Day-Lewis reaffirmed that Method acting is a personal choice, not a shared creed or system he promotes. He emphasized that each actor must find their own way into a role. Jeremy Strong himself has said that his approach is solitary and individual.
Author’s Summary
Daniel Day-Lewis firmly rejects claims that his Method acting influenced Jeremy Strong or led to creative conflicts with Brian Cox, stressing that each actor follows their own path.