Daniel Day-Lewis Responds to Brian Cox’s Comments on Method Acting
Daniel Day-Lewis has denied Brian Cox's suggestion that Jeremy Strong’s challenging Method acting style is influenced by Day-Lewis himself. Recently, Day-Lewis shared with the U.K.’s Big Issue that he was unintentionally pulled into the ongoing debate about Method acting due to Cox.
Brian Cox's Criticism of Method Acting
Brian Cox has expressed frustration with Method acting in several interviews, often pointing to his Succession co-star Jeremy Strong as an example. Cox described the acting style as “fucking annoying” and speculated that Day-Lewis retired from acting at 55 because of burnout linked to his intense commitment to Method acting, stating that Day-Lewis “couldn’t go on doing that every day.”
Day-Lewis Addresses the Debate
“Listen, I worked with Brian Cox once and got somehow 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 emphasized that he did not intend to get involved in the argument and respects Cox’s work, though he remains open to discussing the matter if Cox wishes.
Refuting the Link Between Jeremy Strong and Day-Lewis
In a Variety interview, Cox suggested Jeremy Strong’s Method acting may stem from being Day-Lewis’ assistant and learning from him. Day-Lewis firmly rejected this claim:
“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 the fuck that came from.”
He denies feeling any responsibility for Strong’s approach on set or how he acts.
Author’s Summary
Daniel Day-Lewis distances himself from Brian Cox’s criticism of Method acting and refutes the idea that he influenced Jeremy Strong’s intense acting style.