Jon Bernthal Calls Out Method Acting And Doesn't 'See Any Benefit In It'

Jon Bernthal has weighed in on the current debate around method acting and it seems he’s not a fan of how it's currently being used. 

Method acting refers to a technique in which an actor stays in character even when they’re not being filmed - it’s nothing new and is popular with stars including Jared Leto and Benedict Cumberbatch.

But it seems as though Punisher star Bernthal won’t be giving it a shot anytime soon. 

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter to talk about his upcoming show We Own This City, Bernthal was asked if he thought the use of the word ‘method’ had been ‘abused’ in recent years.

He replied: “Absolutely. And that’s why these conversations are difficult for me, honestly, because every actor has a process. 

Alamy

“Having studied in Moscow at the Moscow Art Theater, I guarantee you that making everybody call you by your character name and not showering for eight months was not what Stanislavski had in mind with the Method.”

He went on to say he did understand that actors may like ‘stay in proximity’ to the character - but added that he saw ‘no benefit’ in his We Own This City co-stars continuing to call him by his character’s name even when the cameras were off. 

Bernthal isn’t the first actor to recently speak out against the practice - Fantastic Beasts: The Secret of Dumbledore star Mads Mikkelsen shared his opinion earlier this month branding it ‘pretentious’. 

In an interview with GQ, he said: "Preparation, you can take into insanity. 

Warner Bros

"What if it's a s**t film — what do you think you achieved? Am I impressed that you didn't drop character? You should have dropped it from the beginning! How do you prepare for a serial killer? You gonna spend two years checking it out?"

Good point. 

He added: ​​"The media goes, 'Oh my god, he took it so seriously, therefore he must be fantastic; let's give him an award'. 

"Then that's the talk, and everybody knows about it, and it becomes a thing."

The comments come after Morbius director Daniel Espinosa said Leto was highly committed to accurately portraying the physical limitations of his character, Dr Michael Morbius.

Sony Pictures

According to the director, Leto would use a crutch to move around, despite being able-bodied, which sometimes held things up on set. 

While his approach to the role caused interruptions to production, Espinosa said that he fully ‘supported’ Leto’s choice. 

“Even though he's alive and strong, it has to be a difference. Hey, man, it’s people’s processes," he said.

“All of the actors believe in processes. And you, as director, you support whatever makes it as good as you can be."

Don’t let Jon Bernthal or Mads Mikkelsen hear you say that, mate.

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]