11 Actors Who Went Way Too Far To Get A Role

Method acting is a system in which actors attempt to inhabit the psyche of their character, sometimes for long periods, to facilitate realistic behavior under imaginary circumstances. These days, it isn’t a new technique but the idea of living the life of a character to give a truly honest performance has only gotten more popular in the last few decades.
With the blossoming of method acting in the film industry, actors losing themselves in their characters has become a common notion. Actors who take the technique a bit too far, not only push the limits of both themselves and those around them. Although it helps them win a variety of prestigious awards such as Oscar Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and BAFTA Awards, it makes actors almost go crazy while playing a role.
We've completed a list of actors who almost went crazy in their roles. Keep scrolling down to see them. These are the actors who went too far to get the role.

#1 Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant

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In “The Revenant”, Leonardo DiCaprio portrayed Hugh Glass, a tough frontiersman injured by a bear attack and abandoned by his crew to survive in the wilderness on his own. To perfectly fulfill the role, the actor decided to stick to a purely raw meat diet and sleep in real animal carcasses.

#2 Anne Hathaway – Les Miserables

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Anne Hathaway is known for being a phenomenal actress when playing different types of characters. Do you still remember her character, Fantine, in “Les Miserables”? Many were shocked when seeing her character. it is said that the actress got a bit obsessed with the role, deciding to shave her head and lose 10 kilos on a strict oatmeal-only diet.

#3 Adrien Brody – The Pianist

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Character Wladyslaw Szpilman is not easy to embody. Adrien Brody, who took on the role, went the extra mile to make it as realistic as possible. He lost 12 kilos, broke up with his girlfriend, and sold his property to make sure that he was miserable in real life. His effort rewarded him with an Oscar for Best Actor at age 29.

#4 Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn

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Her role as Marilyn Monroe in the 2011 movie “My Week With Marilyn” was praised by both critics and movie buffs. Williams wanted to get it just right, so she decided to tie a belt around her legs in order to pull off Monroe's famous walk. The actress spent weeks learning about Monroe’s life.

#5 Natalie Portman – Black Swan

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To portray Nina Sayers well, Natalie Portman explored the psychical state of a mentally disturbed ballet dancer and practiced ballet with a number of dance instructors in a very demanding program. Furthermore, she underwent a dramatic transformation when losing 20 pounds.

#6 Shia LaBeouf – Fury

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Because playing a dirty soldier in “Fury”, Shia LaBeouf didn’t bathe for a whole month. His co-workers had to endure terrible smells and pleaded with the actor to stay in a different room in between shoots.

#7 Ashton Kutcher – Jobs

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Ashton Kutcher tried to copy the notorious tech lord in every way he could, starting with his actual diet. However, eating solely fruit caused him to end up in the hospital because of severe vitamin deficiency and a reduction in bone density.

#8 Robert De Niro – Taxi Driver

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Robert De Niro had an outstanding performance in “Taxi Driver”. He got himself a fake and illegal taxi license so that he could drive people around New York and get some inspiration.

#9 Nicolas Cage – Ghost Rider

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While playing Johnny Blaze, Nicolas Cage refused to speak to any actors. He also donned Egyptian symbols to invoke spirits and wore make-up to try to make him look like a corpse. Although his actions freaked others out, his effort was undeniable.

#10 Jared Leto – Suicide Squad

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Jared Leto was determined to bring Joker into life by sending not only weird gifts but a video of him in character alongside a dead pig to his co-stars.

#11 Daniel Day-Lewis – My Left Foot

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Daniel Day-Lewis is regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. In “My Left Foot”, he portrayed a disabled hunchback. During the duration of filming, the actor remained in that position, leaving him with two broken ribs by the end of the production.