Daniel Day-Lewis Refuses Responsibility for Jeremy Strong
While Daniel Day-Lewis was on hiatus, significant discussion emerged around his approach to acting. Brian Cox, a known critic of Method acting, suggested that Day-Lewis’ intense dedication to Method acting led to his burnout and early retirement. Cox also lamented that Jeremy Strong, his co-star on Succession, emulated Day-Lewis’ Method techniques.
“Listen, I worked with Brian Cox once and got somehow drawn into this handbags-at-dawn conflict inadvertently. Brian is a very fine actor who’s done extraordinary work. As a result, he’s been given a soapbox… which he shows no sign of climbing down from. Any time he wants to talk about it, I’m easy to find,” Day-Lewis told Big Issue magazine, somewhat menacingly.
Day-Lewis dismissed the suggestion that he influenced Strong's acting style or process. He clarified that if he had interfered with Cox’s work, he would be appalled, but he believes that was not the case. Regarding Strong, Day-Lewis said,
“Jeremy Strong is a very fine actor, I don’t know how he goes about things, but I don’t feel responsible in any way for that.”
Additionally, Day-Lewis has emphasized that Method acting isn't a cult he has recruited others to join, nor does he believe it heavily shapes his co-workers. Strong himself agreed, stating,
“It’s a very solitary thing.”
Summary
Daniel Day-Lewis distances himself from responsibility for Jeremy Strong’s Method acting style, rejecting claims that he influenced or pressured others into adopting his approach.