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.
Marlon Brando Went Psycho
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.
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.
He Was Not Joking Around
As the Joker, Leto sent creepy gifts to his fellow actors, including a live rat to Margot Robbie. Leto outdid himself in "Requiem for a Dream". He lived homeless, wandering the streets of Brooklyn for a week, starving himself to lose weight and gain the appearance of an addict.
Additionally, he stayed abstinent for two months. Sometimes it pays off. Jared Leto won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a SAG for best supporting actor in "Dallas Buyer’s Club". When Leto sets his mind on something, he takes it all the way.
Day-Lewis Czeched in
As the only film star to win three Best Actor Oscars, Daniel Day-Lewis must have been doing something right. In "The Unbearable Lightness of Being", Lewis learned to speak Czech. All it required was a Czech accent, but he did it the hard way and learned the actual language.
And that wasn’t all. Oh, no. He felt a proper preparation of Hawkeye should include learning to fight with tomahawks and carrying a gun with him everywhere. For "The Crucible" he kept it real by living in a cabin without electricity or running water, just like they did in the 17th century. Rumor has it that the actor did not bathe for the entire shoot.