Top 10 Method Actors Who Got Stuck in Character Long After

#10: Ryan Gosling

“Barbie” (2023)

Ken isn’t just a role Ryan Gosling can’t shake. It’s one he doesn’t want to let go of. Like a chicken-and-egg scenario, it’s unclear whether Ryan Gosling went irreversibly method to play Ken, or whether he’s been Ken this entire time and “Barbie” just brought it out of him. Gosling seems to think it was the latter, and he’s stated as such in interviews. He’s also been a vocal advocate of other men finding their own Ken-ergy, vehemently asserting that they are Ken-ough. Gosling has offered this incredible metaphor that explains what it’s like to suppress your Ken once he’s come out.

#9: Penn Badgley

“You” (2018-25)

Joe Goldberg of the Netflix series “You” has stuck with actor Penn Badgley, despite vocally hating his character. He’s been outspoken about the immense toll that playing the murderous stalker has had on him, sharing that the role has been a “deep psychological exploration.” In interviews, Badgley describes feeling conflicted and uncomfortable when embodying Joe, but also how he felt compelled to understand him to portray him. Truly, Joe is one of the most complex characters in recent history. Penn Badgley took on an enormous mental burden to play him.

#8: Al Pacino

“Serpico” (1973)

As a young actor, Pacino trained under Lee Strasberg, known as the father of method acting. Unsurprisingly, Pacino has utilized his training with Strasberg to wholly embody several of his iconic characters. For his role as a dramatized version of real-life NYPD detective Frank Serpico, Pacino began to really think of himself as a police officer. So much so that he pulled over a truck driver and attempted to arrest him. He later employed his method skills again for “Scent of a Woman,” deliberately unfocusing his eyes to simulate his character’s blindness. This had real but temporary effects on Pacino’s eyesight, but at least he didn’t bring anyone else into his method madness.

#7: Nicolas Cage

“Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” (2011)

Things got a little weird on the set of this “Ghost Rider” sequel when Nic Cage began employing his own brand of method acting he calls “Nouveau Shamanism.” This original technique involves using symbolic charms, dreams, and imagination experiments to uncover the “truth” behind the “lie” of acting. For “Ghost Rider,” Cage wore black contact lenses and painted his face in a voodoo-skeleton style mask that was later CGI-ed over. He also sewed ancient Egyptian artifacts into his costume and convinced himself they had magical properties. The result of all this work was a truly terrifying on-set persona that made Cage feel like he was, like his character, from another dimension. That’s just not something one can easily drop once the director yells “Cut!”

#6: Joaquin Phoenix

“I’m Still Here” (2010)

How do you let go of a character when the character you’re playing is yourself? For some time leading up to the release of “I’m Still Here,” Hollywood media was buzzing with news of Joaquin Phoenix’s apparent midlife crisis as he attempted to transition to a rap music career. Phoenix announced his retirement from acting in 2008, held real performances of his alleged music, and even staged an embarrassing public meltdown while promoting another project on “David Letterman.” Before the whole act was revealed to be a hoax for his mockumentary, Phoenix’s behavior nearly had devastating effects on his career. It was not something just any actor could get away with.

#5: Robert De Niro

“Cape Fear” (1991)

De Niro underwent a dramatic and costly physical transformation to play a released convict out for revenge in “Cape Fear.” He bulked up to look more physically intimidating, got inked with temporary but long-lasting vegetable dye tattoos, and even spent $5,000 to have his teeth filed down. The result was truly terrifying. De Niro’s menacing look fully enhanced his unhinged performance. After filming wrapped, it took some time for the actor to untangle himself from his character. De Niro even had to spend another $20,000 to restore his permanently altered teeth. That’s one way to take a bite out of a meaty role, I guess.

#4: Shia LaBeouf

“Fury” (2014)

“I found God doing ‘Fury,’” said this former Disney star of his role as Christian soldier Boyd “Bible” Swan. LaBeouf, who was raised in the Jewish faith, underwent a spiritual journey guided by Brad Pitt that led him to proclaim he had become a Christian man. That wasn’t all. LaBeouf also shocked his costars with his dedication to looking like a soldier in a real combat setting. He made cuts on his face, pulled out a tooth with pliers, and went days without bathing. Realistic? Maybe. Pleasant for others on set with him? Definitely not.

#3: Jim Carrey

“Man on the Moon” (1999)

In four months of filming this biopic of the late comedian Andy Kaufman, Jim Carrey reportedly never broke character. The actor fell so deeply into his role as Kaufman that for some time, Jim Carrey ceased to exist entirely. This was the subject of “Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond,” a 2017 documentary that revisits archival footage and Carrey’s own experience on the set of “Man on the Moon.” Carrey believed to some extent that he was truly possessed by the spirit of Andy Kaufman. Others agreed, even individuals who knew Kaufman personally. While this helped Carrey deliver a convincing performance, he expressed that it was quite difficult to regain his sense of self after the film wrapped.

#2: Austin Butler

“Elvis” (2022)

For this 2022 biopic of the King of Rock, Austin Butler spent three years preparing for the titular role. Throughout this time, he didn’t see his family and spent months on end without talking to anyone. The walls of his apartment were plastered with images of Elvis, studying Elvis’ voice and mannerisms for countless hours. Once he nailed the voice, he refused to drop it. Even on the phone with loved ones, Butler spoke in his Elvis voice. This habit caught the attention of many when Butler began appearing in interviews to promote the film, still sounding like Elvis long after filming ended. It got so bad, Butler had to hire a dialect coach to help him return to his normal voice.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Christian Bale, “The Machinist” (2004)

His Extreme Weight Loss for this Role Was Self-Described as “A Little Too Far”

Woody Harrelson, “Zombieland” (2009)

Pushed a Photographer He Allegedly Mistook for a Zombie

Val Kilmer, “The Doors” (1991)

Nailed Jim Morrison’s Mannerisms, But Needed Therapy to Let Go of the Role

Timothy Spall, “Mr. Turner” (2014)

Once Accidentally Stayed in Character While Ordering at a Bar

#1: Jared Leto

“Suicide Squad” (2016)

This actor’s off-screen antics on the set of “Suicide Squad” were well documented in the lead-up to this highly anticipated anti-hero film. Leto, in character as the Joker, sent his costars unsettling gifts like sex toys, a rat, and even a dead pig. Leto has claimed his actions were intended to enhance the atmosphere on set, creating an “element of surprise.” He certainly succeeded in disturbing his castmates, while also making them question his sanity. Some fans wondered if this was truly Leto as the Joker, or just a way to excuse outrageous behavior. Fellow “Suicide Squad” member Will Smith summed up the situation pretty well on the red carpet.

Do you think method acting improves performances, or is it just an excuse to act strangely on set? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!