Which are the biggest-ego actors on set?

I have no idea, OP.

DDL is a 'method' actor. They are almost always unbearable. Hoffman was famously awful to deal with on Tootsie.

All bow to your queen!

Method acting is the biggest scam sold to the American people since 1hour martinizing

Many MANY years ago I was a waiter at the opening night party for the Lincoln Center, Mike Nichols-directed production of "Waiting for Godot" starring Robin Williams and Steve Martin. It was incredible, as the production was the absolute sensation of the theater season, and half of Hollywood and all of Broadway seemed to be there. I had F. Murray Abraham at my table and was his VIP waiter all night.

We were serving pretty low budget champagne, just pouring it in glasses, and Mr. Abraham asked for the bottle. Sure, I set it down in an ice bucket. Seeing the unremarkable label he nicely asked if we could do a bit better. I figured I'd ask, but then just take a bottle of Veuve, and serve it. Why not? He was a big star and we were told to just say yes. As the evening wound down after another bottle or two of Veuve, Mr. Abraham handed me a ten spot (in 1988), and as I reached for it, he asked "Can you make change?". I was a bit stunned, so I just said, "No," and pocketed the ten dollar bill! The party was all paid for, there was no check to pay, and that rat-faced ass-munching Oscar winner was trying to give me a $5 tip!?

No. I can't make change.

I suppose it shouldn't have made me guffaw, but it did!

F Murray Abraham being utterly unbearable handing out the Best Actress Oscar to Geraldine Page. It's little wonder his post Amadeus film career died in a ditch.

What ever Daniel Day Lewis is doing, he's doing it right. One of the best if not the best Actor of our time.

Judi Dench supposedly doesn't like being called "Dame Judy," but Ben Kingsley supposedly INSISTS on being called "Sir Ben."

If true, who's the bigger queen?

F Murray Abraham is one of the nicest, low maintenance actors in the business. He started in the trenches of off-Broadway and earned his stripes long before his Amadeus Oscar win. He is admired and respected by his peers , and is especially generous with newer actors. Directors and playwrights love working with him. I met him in 1974 and he's still the same nice guy these many years later. So I call BS on those above quoting unnamed sources. He's gay friendly as well.

Dench prefers to be billed as 'Broad Hootie Trench'

Rodney Allen Rippey.

DDL is a good actor in the right role, he hardly works though because he has little range. Very overrated actor. He only did theater once and ran off stage in the middle of the play because he started to have hallucinations about his deceased father. The guy is nuts.

Not buying it R9

[quote] DDL is a good actor in the right role, he hardly works though because he has little range. Very overrated actor.

Yes, Mr. Abraham. We know your Oscar is worth more than all three of his,

F Murray Abrahams , 114 film and movie credits, 20 theater and Broadway credits

Daniel Day Lewis, 28 movie credits

Daniel Day Lewis - 3 Best Actor Oscars (more than any other male actor)

F Murray Abraham - 1 Best Actor Oscar (no other noms).

Really, excuse me. It's Dame Cunt to you.

The average joe blow doesn't know who F Murray Abraham is, his Oscar notwithstanding. Daniel Day-Lewis is a household name.

To be honest DDL only deserved the Oscar for There will be Blood. PTA always works with actors multiple times (because people like PSH, Julienne Moore, Philip Baker Hall or Melora Walters are very versatile and they can slip into various different characters), he never again asked DDL.

The average Joe has never heard of There Will Be Blood.

DDL is NOT a household name...

At best, maybe 1/3 of the people would say something like: 'didn't he play Lincoln on tv?'

Half of those would think they saw him in the one battling vampires

How do you know he never asked DDL again? Maybe he did and he turned him down. Or maybe the right role hasn't popped up yet. They both have very selective filmographies, and There Will Be Blood was less than ten years ago.

Even if they never work together again, Daniel Planview is one of the great characters in American cinema.

I am sure DDL wrecked his brains during that milkshake scene, he hit Paul Dano, who was scared shitless of his crazy ass, with a real bowling ball. He also insisted on hitting him for real and dragging him through the mud for real. DDL is an overblown egomaniac, in the link are some of the things he does to get into character.

Pedro Almodovar thinks Daniel Day Lewis can't do comedy

“I don’t debate his greatness but no matter how thin he is, Daniel Day-Lewis can’t manage to give the slightest sensation of lightness," Almodovar candidly stated. But surely, there must be someone who bucks the rule? Someone who managed to get the highest dramatic training, yet could still be effortlessly light and funny? Well, there is: “Marilyn Monroe is still the exception. Adopted by the Strasbergs, she managed to overcome the weight of the Method.”

[quote]Daniel Day Lewis - 3 Best Actor Oscars (more than any other male actor)

And two were absolutely undeserved.

Christian Bale

Jennifer Lopez

Bruce Willis

Katherine Heigl

Isn't Mandy Patinkin supposed to be very difficult to work with?

There Will Be Blood was crap!

I'd rather DDL act like bastard and make a phenomenal film than dial it in like some A-list actors do.

Leave me out of this.

We've read about Betty Buckley's legendary cuntiness in other threads.

Charlize Theron seems like a real bitch but I can't verify it; only via her stank face.

Alex Pettyfer went from hot to cold in one second, reportedly due to his douchiness.

That tumblr is a riot. My personal favourite, The Crucible antics.

Vin Diesel owns this thread.

During Alice, Linda Lavin was no picnic.

Joyce DeWitt

Mary Wickes

Oh god, Vin Diesel is a pain in the ass.

Christian Bale

Hey, y'all!

I've heard that about Vin Diesel, which is funny because where does that queen get his ego from.

He got lucky with the Fast and Furious franchise which made him rich, but he has little talent.

He has a good voice though. Noticeable in The Boiler Room, which was a decent flick.

Faye Dunaway owns this thread.

I'd like to have sex.

Don't forget me!

If DDL is so meticulous about preparing for his roles, one wonders what kind of "methods" he pursued for one of his breakout roles, in "My Beautiful Launderette," in which he plays a hot gay thug. There is a sequence of him fucking his "Paki' boyfriend.

Wonder what other "practices" he pursued for this role?

The mind reels....

Brian Dennehy

Lorraine Bracco!

Horrid person, talentless actress who got lucky

Bea Arthur on Golden Girls.

I've thought about that R43. I wouldn't be the least surprised if he had sex with a guy in order to prepare for the role. It would be the DDL thing to do.

Why R45? She was brilliant on The Sopranos. What has she done that's so bad?

Klaus Kinski owns this thread.

Klaus is adored in Germany (supposedly). He always scared the living hell out of me.

R19 - After There Will Be Blood which of the two features films PTA directed would you suggest he would have used DDL?

Me too, R50. But part of me also wants him to fuck me like an animal.

Also, R2, I heard that if the crew had bad news, Dustin Hoffman would be much nicer if her were dressed as Dorothy as opposed to being dressed as Michael. I always found that tidbit funny.

No one on this thread has any idea of how difficult DDL is or is not. Method acting is a method- it does not imply assholism.

These threads can be so idiotic.

[quote]Isn't Mandy Patinkin supposed to be very difficult to work with?

Homeland must be a hoot with both Patinkin and F Murray Abraham doing scenes together.

WTF are you talking about R54? His "method" acting makes him an asshole to the people who have to work with.

On "My Left Foot" he made the freakin crew members carry him around and feed him. He insisted on hitting Paul Dano with real bowling balls for "There Will be Blood". He forced all the crew members to only address him as "Mr. President" on the set of Lincoln.

Sure he gives great performances, but he is an annoying asshole to have to work with.

He certainly made himself useful on The Crucible. Might have caught a few STDs while he was at it.

Method acting is entirely interior and psychological. It has nothing to do with living in a seventeenth-century house or not bathing when you're filming The Crucible or being called "Mr.President" when you're playing Lincoln.

Were you on the set working with him R56, to know this?

From what I have heard over the years, among the big stars, Bruce Willis is the asshole on set.

Richard Dreyfuss was a nightmare due to his drugging. His career nosedived after starring in four 1970s blockbusters. He made a comeback with Mr Holland's Opus, but his career has been relatively low key. Compare to guys like Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda, who remained box office draws until they were very old.

Second that about Bruce Willis. I've heard the same from different sources. I'll chalk that up to insecurity.

I never understood why Richard Dreyfuss didn't have a bigger career, I found him so cute when I was young. Now reading R61's post...

What are you talking about R59? These stories aren't DL legends. Google them, they are well known and reported on. DDL is pretty famous for his "method" antics.

I honestly don't even get what you are arguing about

DDL is one of those people who take "realism" to the point of fetishism. Sean Penn is another who has been known to do it too, though I don't think to the degree that DDL has.

I don't think that it means their performances are really any better then those of people who don't do all this stuff. It's really an obsessive way to make themselves believe that they're being more "authentic" than other actors. For all of his preparation for AGE OF INNOCENCE, it's a pity it didn't include creating some chemistry with Pfeiffer. Their scenes of passion are lukewarm at best (granted, she's partly at fault).

"He only did theater once and ran off stage in the middle of the play because he started to have hallucinations about his deceased father."

That was HAMLET at the National Theater, and his last stage appearance. But he did other theater before that time, including taking over the lead in the stage version of ANOTHER COUNTRY from Rupert Everett (who repeated his role on film). Everett admitted in one of his bios that DDL got better reviews in the role than he did. But that HAMLET incident finished his stage career, and I recall reading something on DL where he was having trouble with the role anyway so I wonder if his "breakdown" was really a way to escape and avoid judgement.

Whenever a new film with Daniel Day-Lewis comes out, we get a full summary in the press about his preparation for the role. It's like his publicist wants us all to know how hard he works, the thought being that actors who don't go to his lengths are somehow lesser beings. With all these constant reminders of his "method", it's no wonder he has 3 Oscars. He does know how to play to game.

Tom Baker (Doctor Who).

FUCK FUCK FUCKITY FUCKING FUCK.

Patty-Lou Pone.

Paul McGowan doesn't count.

DDL's publicist certainly knows how to play the gain. Same as M's. Barrel of laughs when they both won the same year. DDL was right, they should have traded roles.

71 posts and no mention of little old me yet?

Holy shit, the *game. Damn autocorrect?? I don't even know anymore.

R31 Charlize was really nasty to everyone on the set of A Million Ways To Die In the West. Of course if I were in a Seth MacFarlane movie, I'd be pissed off, too.

Klaus was always crazy as a loon but I don't think he fucked boys.

DDL may be a pain but I loved him as Lincoln and I loved him in my Beautiful Launderette.

On daytime soaps, it's Eric Braeden.

R77 I second that.

R77 - Sorry but daytime belongs to Tony Geary.

R74, I heard that Theron was particularly nasty to Amanda Sigfred (?), who seems harmless to me. I bet that is why MacFarlane put her in Ted2, no that he was doing her any favors.

Kel O'Neill? Are you sure it wasn't Con O'Neill, OP?

[quote] Lorraine Bracco! Horrid person, talentless actress who got lucky

Let's talk about your mother.

[quote]But that HAMLET incident finished his stage career, and I recall reading something on DL where he was having trouble with the role anyway so I wonder if his "breakdown" was really a way to escape and avoid judgement.

Running off the stage during a performance is so beyond unforgivable, like it's like the first rule of theater. I mean, unless you're near death...

IIRC, his leaving Hamlet gave Ian Charleson the role - even though he was suffering from AIDS. He got wonderful reviews and died not long after.

[quote]Who are the biggest-ego actors on set?

[quote]Which actors have the biggest egos on set?

Gave you two choices but fixed it for you.

DDL is not that great of an actor, sure he was impressive in There Will Be Blood, but I always assumed his own personality was very close to Plainview and it was just a good fit. He isn't versatile, he can't do comedy or physical comedy, his performance is Lincoln was OK but not outstanding. Sally Field was way more believable than DDL. Quite frankly he is a bloated asshole who thinks way too much of himself.

You're an idiot R56

Klausk K. fucked his daughter for 14 years.

This guy loved the stage so much, he died on it.

DDL can't do comedy. I always found him excruciating in Room With a View.

Most comedians can do drama well. Comedy is much more difficult to pull off. My greatest admiration always goes to comic actors.

There are great tragedy actors, men and women, but that is all they can do.

R90 I agree completely. I can' t wrap my head over the fact that comedies are considered less importand and artistic than drama, because they are way more difficult to pull off. And yes, comedy actors are usually at least decent if not great in drama (probably because they find it easier given their background in comedy), while finding purely dramatic actors who are good in comedy is really difficult.

I also agree with the general idea that DDL is vastly overrated and that his success is mostly due to the great pr campaigns about his "craft" than actual talent. I can' t stand method actors in general, and I think the fascination some people have for them is simply because their approach is a source of morbid curiosity, but it doesn' t necessarily mean that it' s better or even good. DDL' s movies bore me to death, and his on-screen interactions with the other actors is a big part of why they do. When I watch a movie, I want to feel something for the characters, and I want to see chemistry/hate/rage/passion, whatever, between them. DDL is not capable of doing that. He might be fine with showing emotions when it comes to his character, but if that is the only thing he can do, he is not a good actor. Christian Bale and Jared Leto are in the same category of him, and are way overrated as well. Also bitchy on set according to rumours.

Christian Bale is a terrible actor. He is not even an actor, as far as I'm concerned.

[quote]DDL can't do comedy. I always found him excruciating in Room With a View.

If you are an actor who is good in both comedy and drama you have a much wider expressive range. DDL is not one of them, his dramatic performances are very stiff and mechanical, he is also not very agile physically. His Left Foot performance was an exercise is constipation.

I always think it's funny that no one ever talks about his preparation for Nine.

I thought DDL was funny in Stars and Bars

I saw STARS AND BARS and felt DDL was a big hole in the middle of the film. It's role that needed someone like Michael Palin who can do "everyman funny".

Julianna "cuntface" Margulies owns this thread.

I think I've read quite a lot about DDL and I cannot say I have read that he is difficult to work with because he is a method actor. nor when I just did a search on the Internet did I come across anything to confirm his being difficult on a set. Thus I think it mostly DL BS. And when I've seen him interviewed, he is unusually modest, quiet, humble and private. He does not remotely strike me as the Olivier type- who was difficult although not a method actor at all.

R97, I bet you think you are funny.

"And when I've seen him interviewed, he is unusually modest, quiet, humble and private."

Well, certainly private. But there's not an actor alive with his kind of reputation who is truly "humble". Highly acclaimed actors are good at faking modesty and humility. I'd agree that it's unlikely that he's "difficult" to work with, as his obsessive preparation is considered part of what he brings to the table. But I also agree with a few others that he seems to act by himself much of the time.

Not only comes he across a self-important, most of the things he says don't make much sense. The way PTA looks at him explains why he never worked with him again.

I watched that clip @ R101, Ugh. Daniella Day is so far up his own ass, I'm surprised Charlie Rose wasn't using a flashlight and a can of Glade to interview him. But his sickening self-seriousness does inspire parody, which is always a good thing. And he did not build that house used in The Crucible, that's just bullshit. Maybe he once put together a doghouse he bought from Walmart and the legend grew from those fumblings. After Boogie Nights, Paul Thomas Anderson movies have artsy fartsy-ed into Terrence Malick territory, endless fields of pretentiousness. Come back to the five and dime, Paulie Thom, Paulie Thom.

On Graham Norton Friday night Maggie Smith confirmed what was said about Ben Kingsley up thread. When asked if she used "Dame" on set she replied: "No, you mustn't use it professionally. Unless you're Sir Kingsley Ben."

^^Or maybe it was "Sir Bensley King"

OMG. I need to see that clip of Maggie Smith. Love her.

Second R105's motion.

The Kingsley remark happens around the 36:00 mark...

PTA is a bit of a charlatan himself. Perhaps a case of you can't bullshit a bullshitter.

Superficial, mannered, self-serious. You could be talking about either of them.

Kirk Douglas Burt Lancaster Rex Harrison DDL Christian Bale Faye Dunaway Most method actors and actresses who whine like little children when they screw up a take.

Connie Needham, hands down. Tyrannical and out of control. So scary.

R111 America's tv sweetheart has has a very difficult life. How are you doimg today?

They did talk about the Daniel's method acting for Nine. It is pretty hilarious, given that it flopped.

[quote]DDL's publicist certainly knows how to play the gain. Same as M's. Barrel of laughs when they both won the same year. DDL was right, they should have traded roles.

M and DDL have never won Oscars on the same years. Maybe you're thinking of when she won in 2011 and then presented him his historic third Oscar the following year?

M: KRAMER VS. KRAMER (1979), SOPHIE'S CHOICE (1982), The Iron Lady (2011)

DDL: MY LEFT FOOT (1989), THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007), LINCOLN (2012)

If Daniel Day Lewis was in a wheelchair the whole time, why did the crew have to carry him around the set? Why couldn't they just wheel him around? Isn't that what wheelchairs are for?

I haven't seen There will be Blood. What happens with a bowling ball?

R116 here:

Meh. I'm doing okay, R112. I'm sick about Garry Shandling's death. Just sick. Plus Haywood Nelson has been texting me all day. Taunting me because I lost the role of Wonder Woman in the new BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN. The part was almost mine. You better believe Scorcese and Nicole Kidman are behind this. They hate me and want to see me fail.

[quote]From what I have heard over the years, among the big stars, Bruce Willis is the asshole on set.

He was always nice to me.

[quote]Charlize was really nasty to everyone on the set of A Million Ways To Die In the West. Of course if I were in a Seth MacFarlane movie, I'd be pissed off, too.

Seth was the weak link in that movie. He. Can. Not. Act. He miscast himself and put Liam Neeson in a supporting role when Neeson would have been better in the lead.

For those posting that PTA and DDL deserve each other, you should google the relationship between Klaus Kinski and Werner Herzog.

Talk about co-dependency by two A+-list assholes. I believe everything they say about how batshit crazy Kinski was, although I never met him. I have been in Herzog's presence, and can say with certainty that any shit Kinski dished out, Herzog deserved (although I'm sure the same can't be said for Kinski's poor abused daughter). Two narcissistic, pretentious pricks.

Herzog also reportedly abused Christian Bale on the set of that movie they made a few years ago about some soldier surviving in the jungle, but then Bale is a bona-fide masochist, so that probably worked out very well for them.

According to Genie Francis (and who would be in a better position to comment, even if it was a veiled comment?), Geary had an ego that wouldn't quit.

R122 quit what?

The image of Daniel Day-Lewis being carried around the set by disgruntled crew members had me giggling for days.

R124 how come?

Someone is really PRESSED and is bumping all these similar threads.....

I'm sure even the nicest actors and actresses have egos the size of the grand canyon. I don't know how you couldn't.

[quote]The image of Daniel Day-Lewis being carried around the set by disgruntled crew members had me giggling for days.

I have no doubt he will make the same rather unusual demands during his upcoming Vegas residency.

[quote]R122 quit what?

Quit talking with its mouth full, Rose!

Gene Hackman was notorious for giving directors a hard time. Russell Crowe, of all people, commented on this when they did The Quick and the Dead. He asked would you rather have someone nice who gave a competent performance or someone difficult who gave a great performance.

DDL did a second film with Paul Thomas Anderson - Phantom Thread.