Daniel Day-Lewis, known for his dedication to method acting, pushed boundaries by refusing to leave his wheelchair on the set of My Left Foot.
In doing so, he even suffered two broken ribs, insisting on being spoon-fed by the crew to authentically portray real-life artist Christy Brown’s challenges.
Moreover, Daniel learned to paint using a knife held between his toes, mimicking Brown’s artistic struggles.
Hilary Swank transformed herself to embody a transgender man in Boys Don’t Cry, cutting her hair, binding her chest, altering her voice, and padding her clothing.
Despite winning an Oscar for the role, she later expressed that a trans actor would have been more suitable for the part.
Lady Gaga immersed herself in her character for House of Gucci, adopting Patrizia Reggiani’s persona for over a year.
She meticulously maintained an Italian accent for nine months, emphasizing her commitment to portraying the character authentically.
Will Smith delved deeply into his role in Emancipation, going as far as experiencing the weight of real chains around his neck to understand the brutality of slavery.
Smith’s dedication led him to a moment of panic when the prop master misplaced the key, leaving him momentarily trapped in the chains.
Jamie Foxx faced challenges while playing Ray Charles in the movie Ray, wearing prosthetic eyelids glued shut for hours during filming days.
He recounted initial panic attacks on set before adjusting to the discomfort of having his eyes sealed shut.
Leonardo DiCaprio underwent extreme physical challenges for his role in The Revenant, including sleeping inside an animal carcass, consuming raw bison meat, and enduring near-hypothermic conditions.
Despite these hardships, DiCaprio, a reputed vegetarian, committed fully to the demanding role.
Robert Pattinson took a bold approach to embody Salvador Dalí in Little Ashes, going as far as engaging in self-pleasure on set to capture the essence of the character authentically.
Pattinson justified his unconventional method, stating that faking such scenes would lack the needed realism.
Ashton Kutcher’s preparation for portraying Steve Jobs in Jobs led to serious health consequences, as he developed pancreatitis and required hospitalization multiple times.
Attempting to emulate Jobs’ fruitarian lifestyle, Kutcher’s extreme diet choices resulted in health complications.
Charlize Theron underwent a drastic physical transformation to play Aileen Wuornos in Monster, including wearing dentures, shaving her eyebrows, and gaining weight.
Theron aimed to portray the character realistically rather than creating a caricature of Wuornos.
Forest Whitaker’s portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland was so immersive that he remained in character off set, causing his family to cease communication with him.
Whitaker went as far as learning Swahili and adapting his diet to mirror Amin’s preferences.
Margot Robbie dedicated herself to mastering ice-skating for her role as Tonya Harding in I, Tonya, undergoing rigorous training routines that resulted in a herniated disk.
Robbie acknowledged the mental challenges of starting a new skill later in life but persevered through the demanding process.
Joaquin Phoenix’s commitment to his role as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line led him to disconnect from his personal life, fully immersing himself in the character.
Phoenix embraced the intense process of shedding his identity to embody Cash authentically throughout the filming period.
Jennifer Lopez’s preparation for portraying Selena Quintanilla in Selena involved deep emotional immersion, including sleeping in Quintanilla’s bed and spending time with her family.
Lopez sought to understand Quintanilla’s essence through extensive research and personal interactions.
Adrien Brody’s dedication to playing Wladyslaw Szpilman in The Pianist saw him making significant sacrifices, including selling his possessions and undergoing a drastic weight loss.
Brody’s commitment to fully experiencing the character’s journey led him to intense physical and emotional transformations.
Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour involved smoking Churchill’s favorite cigars extensively, resulting in nicotine poisoning.
Oldman recognized the integral role of cigars in defining Churchill’s persona and embraced the challenge, despite the health implications.
Colin Firth’s performance as George VI in The King’s Speech led to physical ailments, including headaches, nerve issues, and temporary speech impediments.
Firth shared his experience of embodying the character’s struggles, which extended beyond the film’s production.
Val Kilmer’s immersion in playing Jim Morrison in The Doors was so profound that he required therapy to disengage from the character after filming.
Fans and acquaintances often mistook Kilmer for Morrison, highlighting the depth of his commitment to the role.
Christian Bale’s preparation for portraying d–k Cheney in Vice involved physical training to resemble the former vice president, including using a specialized neck exercise machine.
Bale’s dedication extended to researching heart attack symptoms, ultimately saving a life on set due to his acquired knowledge.
