- Natalie Portman has spoken out on acting as a woman
- She says women can't afford to method act
- THIS is how Portman broke it down
Hollywood's elite have long been admired for their ability to transform into the characters they portray on the silver screen, but Oscar-winner Natalie Portman has just dropped a bombshell that's got Tinseltown buzzing! In a candid chat with the 'Wall Street Journal', the starlet declared method acting "a luxury that women can't afford," and boy, do we have the scoop!
Natalie has thoughts again
Portman, known for her riveting performances, has always been a powerhouse of talent. But when it comes to "living" her roles, she draws the line. "Imagine me demanding to be called 'Jackie Kennedy' around the clock," she quipped, referencing her acclaimed portrayal in "Jackie." It's a no-brainer for Portman – family and sanity come first!
"I’ve gotten very into roles, but I think it’s honestly a luxury that women can’t afford,"
In her latest flick, 'May December,' directed by the visionary Todd Haynes, Portman plays Elizabeth Berry, an actress delving into a character with a checkered history. While she's no stranger to hardcore prep – remember those brutal ballet sessions for 'Black Swan' and for 'Thor: Love and Thunder' where she spent 10 months training her physical endurance to better swing a hammer? – method acting is where she draws the line.
But don't men also have partners and families? For many actors, method acting has taken a huge toll on their mental health and it's not exactly made them pleasant to be around. Just ask Joaquin Phoenix after he starred in 'Joker'. The actor often talked about how his personal life began to be affected because of the role.
The result was an Oscar and one of the best performances of all time. But was it all male privilege?
It's not clear what Portman means by woman not being able to "afford" to method act, but in any case, method acting has been around for quite some time.
The acting technique, cooked up by Russian maestro Konstantin Stanislavski and spiced up by the legendary Lee Strasberg, pushes actors to the brink, using their own life experiences to craft their characters. The best of the best have said that method acting is the only way to do it.
"To live the character is to do it right," some traditionalists would say. While others argue that real talent as an actor is being able to switch the character on and off.
Whatever works for the camera, we say!
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Some, like Daniel Day-Lewis and Robert De Niro, swear by it, staying in character even when the cameras stop rolling.
Even Lady Gaga got in on the action, crediting method acting for her Golden Globe-nominated turn in "House of Gucci." But not everyone's on board the method train.
Brian Cox of 'Succession' fame has voiced concerns about the toll it takes, and Meryl Streep found herself in the depths of despair while embodying "Miranda Priestly" in 'The Devil Wears Prada.'
So, what's the verdict? Is method acting the secret sauce to Oscar gold, or is it a fast track to burnout city? Natalie Portman's take is clear – for her, it's a hard pass. And if it's good enough for Natalie, maybe it's time Hollywood takes note!
