Marlon Brando needs no introduction, but you might not know how the fabled actor physically tortured himself each night during the 1946 Broadway run of “Truckline Café”. The final scene depicts his character, a psychopath, emerging from an icy lake.
Brando had a stagehand dump an ice-cold bucket of water over his head as he ran up and down the stairs getting properly winded for the lake scene.
Kate Winslet Became a Prison Guard
There is more to Kate Winslet than diving ships and Shakespearean plays. In "The Reader" Winslet dove into a role of a prison camp guard, taking place in WWII Germany.
She annoyed her kids when she took on a German accent and kept using it off the set. She didn’t break character, not even when she read them bedtime stories. They said, “Mum, just be plain. Don’t do any funny stuff like voices.”
There Were Some Dark Moments
In the end, it was worth it. While the actress felt that the role took her to a dark place, she did end up grabbing an Oscar for it. She pulled off that accent with such professionalism, for a minute there she was thought to be a native German.
Kate said that it was like she'd escaped from a serious car accident and needed to understand what has just happened. She already earned her title of a fabulous actress, but after this appearance, she showed sides that weren't revealed before.
The Master of Method
He also spent a month bedridden at a VA hospital to convincingly portray an injured WWII lieutenant in "The Men". Brando is responsible for popularizing method acting. He was one of the NYC Actor’s Studio’s original students. One of Brando’s best examples of method acting is found in "A Streetcar Named Desire".
Marlon Brando didn't enjoy the technology the industry has these days and had to work much harder than the actors of the 21st century. He was for sure one of a kind.
Leto Can't Let Go
Known for his insane dedication to various roles, none of Jared Leto's characters seem like they're played by the same person. The ability to switch from one mode to another has made him a true phenomenon.
For "Dallas Buyer's Club", he lost thirty pounds, waxed his entire body, and arrived on set already in costume every day. For a later role, he upped his game as we were all in for another surprise.