--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hate the word \"method acting.\" It's…" description: "\"I hate the word \"method acting.\" It's just so silly. You hear people going, \"Yeah I'm a method actor.\" I'm like, \"So what happens if you're playing a p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/jeremy-irvine-13173_acting_i-hate-the-word-method-acting-it-s-just_1319875.jpg" --- # I hate the word "method acting." It's just so silly. You… ![“I hate the word "method acting." It's just so silly. You hear people going, "Yeah I'm a method actor." I'm like, "So what happens if you're playing a period film or something? You're in the Second World War. And what happens when your mom calls you on your phone? Do you go, 'Oh! What is this…” quote by Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/jeremy-irvine-13173_acting_i-hate-the-word-method-acting-it-s-just_1319875.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/jeremy-irvine-13173_acting_i-hate-the-word-method-acting-it-s-just_1319875.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/jeremy-irvine-13173_acting_i-hate-the-word-method-acting-it-s-just_1319875.jpg) > “I hate the word "method acting." It's just so silly. You hear people going, "Yeah I'm a method actor." I'm like, "So what happens if you're playing a period film or something? You're in the Second World War. And what happens when your mom calls you on your phone? Do you go, 'Oh! What is this strange talking brick device?'" No. It's stupid. But you do everything you can to get in that mindset.” [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker dismisses the term “method acting” as pretentious, arguing that acting should focus on the role rather than a label. **In simple terms:** Method acting is seen as unnecessary hype. Key Takeaway Focus on the character, not the label. Themes actingism authenticity craft Mood skeptical critical Type observational critical When to use this quote - stage performance - film set - improvisation - character study Key Concepts Acting technique identity performance Questions to Reflect On - Do labels hinder or help artistic expression? - How does audience perception affect acting choices? A Different Perspective The quote may overlook the benefits some actors find in deep immersion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-like/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Bricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bricks/) [Devices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devices/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [I hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-hate/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/method/) [Method acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/method-acting/) [Method actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/method-actor/) [Mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindset/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/periods/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Second world war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-world-war/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War of the worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-of-the-worlds/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) [Yeah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yeah/) [Your mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-mom/) ## Related quotes > [I've always done method acting. I'm a method actor, and I've done that for years. I never did acting and decided to take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-white/i-ve-always-done-method-acting-i-m-a-method-actor-and-i-ve-done-that/) [Jessica White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-white/) > [I consider myself a method singer, not a method actor. I applied method acting to singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bennett/i-consider-myself-a-method-singer-not-a-method-actor-i-applied-method/) [Tony Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bennett/) > [I never really thought I was a method actor or anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-list/i-never-really-thought-i-was-a-method-actor-or-anything-like-that/) [Peyton List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-list/) > [I collect old first and second World War artifacts and things. I'm a little secret history nerd. I've been lucky enough to do quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/i-collect-old-first-and-second-world-war-artifacts-and-things-i-m-a/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [When I was growing up, there was a man who gave me lessons and things. I'm very dyslexic so he used to give me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/when-i-was-growing-up-there-was-a-man-who-gave-me-lessons-and-things/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [I actually collect old First and Second World War memorabilia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/i-actually-collect-old-first-and-second-world-war-memorabilia/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [It's not a movie, no private screening This method acting, well, I call that living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/it-s-not-a-movie-no-private-screening-this-method-acting-well-i-call/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [In LA, too many people want to go the quickest route from A to B. Method acting offers them that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corin-nemec/in-la-too-many-people-want-to-go-the-quickest-route-from-a-to-b/) [Corin Nemec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corin-nemec/) > [“Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one. -- Stella Adler”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheana-ochoa/life-beats-down-and-crushes-the-soul-and-art-reminds-you-that-you/) [Sheana Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheana-ochoa/) > [At first it was a bit strange and daunting to have to wear a mask, but afterwards I came to enjoy it. In warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-butler/at-first-it-was-a-bit-strange-and-daunting-to-have-to-wear-a-mask-but/) [Gerard Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-butler/) > [You know, to an extent, Method acting feels occasionally lazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/you-know-to-an-extent-method-acting-feels-occasionally-lazy/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [Method acting is a label I don't really understand, because there's a method to everybody's acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dougray-scott/method-acting-is-a-label-i-don-t-really-understand-because-there-s-a/) [Dougray Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dougray-scott/) > [I don't want my work to be heavy. The challenge is to make it interesting and engaging, keeping in mind the need for method…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawazuddin-siddiqui/i-don-t-want-my-work-to-be-heavy-the-challenge-is-to-make-it/) [Nawazuddin Siddiqui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawazuddin-siddiqui/) > ['Whatever it takes' is my opinion of method acting and, indeed, any other kind of acting. Look at Brando and De Niro. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-holm/whatever-it-takes-is-my-opinion-of-method-acting-and-indeed-any-other/) [Ian Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-holm/) > [Juilliard is wonderful in that they don't pick just one way of working. They give you a palette. There is method acting. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-camargo/juilliard-is-wonderful-in-that-they-don-t-pick-just-one-way-of/) [Christian Camargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-camargo/) ## More by Jeremy Irvine > [I collect old first and second World War artifacts and things. I'm a little secret history nerd. I've been lucky enough to do quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/i-collect-old-first-and-second-world-war-artifacts-and-things-i-m-a/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [People expect your life to change completely. The main difference is I can get work now. I can do my hobby as a job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/people-expect-your-life-to-change-completely-the-main-difference-is-i/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [I like doing stuff with my friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/i-like-doing-stuff-with-my-friends/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [With a horror movie most of the actual jumps and scares are made in the edit. It's often not very scary on set and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/with-a-horror-movie-most-of-the-actual-jumps-and-scares-are-made-in/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [The only mistake guys can make is to try too hard with their appearance. There's something very unmanly about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/the-only-mistake-guys-can-make-is-to-try-too-hard-with-their/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [All actors have to change their name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/all-actors-have-to-change-their-name/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [The work my mum does, a lot of it is re-housing homeless people, that's a real job. I play make-believe and dressing up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/the-work-my-mum-does-a-lot-of-it-is-re-housing-homeless-people-that-s/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [I like being outdoors a lot, and I come from a small village that's fairly remote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/i-like-being-outdoors-a-lot-and-i-come-from-a-small-village-that-s/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [My bedroom's like an armoury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/my-bedroom-s-like-an-armoury/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [On the whole, British actors star in theater, and I think there's something quite grounding about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/on-the-whole-british-actors-star-in-theater-and-i-think-there-s/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [I always wonder whether I'll get treated differently with a different accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/i-always-wonder-whether-i-ll-get-treated-differently-with-a-different/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [I think camping is one of those things where if you're forced into it as a child, you'll probably hate it as an adult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/i-think-camping-is-one-of-those-things-where-if-you-re-forced-into-it/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [There's nothing nicer than coming back to your village, where people like my mum's friends take the mick out of me. I prefer that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/there-s-nothing-nicer-than-coming-back-to-your-village-where-people/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [I had a great drama teacher, and he sort of made out drama school as this incredibly difficult thing to get into: 6,000 people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/i-had-a-great-drama-teacher-and-he-sort-of-made-out-drama-school-as/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [It's not often that you get to read something that just feels very original for a star but also something that feels like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/it-s-not-often-that-you-get-to-read-something-that-just-feels-very/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) [Explore all 51 Jeremy Irvine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I hate the word \"method acting.\" It's just so silly. You hear people going, \"Yeah I'm a method actor.\" I'm like, \"So what happens if you're playing a period film or something? You're in the Second World War. And what happens when your mom calls you on your phone? Do you go, 'Oh! What is this strange talking brick device?'\" No. It's stupid. 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