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When we talk about dedication to a particular role, method acting often springs to the forefront as an emblem of an actor’s commitment to embodying a character, and who better to exemplify this than Andrew Garfield?
But what happens when this technique, sometimes polarizing among thespians, is taken to new heights in preparation for a role under the keen eye of a storied director?The Amazing Spider-Manstar, 40, not only embraced method acting but transformed its contours to perfectly fit the ‘spiritual’ demands of his character in Martin Scorsese’sSilence.
After his Spider-Man chapter concluded, Garfield was handpicked by Scorsese, and his journey into the skin of a Jesuit missionary began. Few actors dive as deeply as Garfield did, spending a good amount of time in rigorous preparation, engaging with the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, and “training” with Father James Martin to walk in the path of Jesuit trainees.
Silence: Inside Andrew Garfield’s Method Acting Process for his Martin Scorsese Collaboration
Though Andrew Garfielddidn’t get to completehisSpider-Mantrilogy, his exit gave birth to one of his best performances inMartin Scorsese’s film, where the actor showed off his method acting skills.
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The actor landed a challenging role as a Jesuit missionary in a 2016 epic historical drama, in which he needed to completely engross himself in the Jesuit community, reading their writings and even finishing St. Ignatius Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises.In an interview withTHR, Garfield, who was then starring inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2, addressed how he prepared for the role inSilence:
It was incredibly nerve-racking.
Garfield’s commitment to the role was apparent both on and off-screen, with the actor going to great lengths to truly embody the character of a 17th-century Jesuit priest (Sebastião Rodrigues). From meeting with a priest for spiritual guidance to spending time in a Jesuit retreat in Wales,The Amazing Spider-Manactor’s dedication to his work is truly worthy of note.
He further explained:
It’s almost like a 12-step program. In fact, it’s the basis for a lot of 12-step programs, a longform meditation and prayer spent imagining the life of Christ, story by story, gospel by gospel, and sitting with his teachings, sitting with him as he discovers who he is in the wilderness, and really meditating upon his life and even crucifixion.
Method acting is clearly more than just a technique for Garfield; it is a way for him to fully comprehend and reflect the characters he portrays.
Andrew Garfield’s Journey to ‘Spiritual’ Enlightenment forSilence
Method acting has long been a hot topic in Tinseltown, with some praising the dedication and authenticity it brings to a performance, while others chide it as pretentious or unnecessary. However, as we have previously discussed extensively,Andrew Garfieldis one of the actors who has undeniably made a name for himself as a method actor.
Garfield claimed to have fasted and been celibate for six months in order to prepare for Sebastião Rodrigues’ role. The actor confessed on theWTF podcast with Mark Maronpodcast (viaTHR):
I had an incredibly spiritual experience. I did a bunch of spiritual practices every day, I created new rituals for myself. I was celibate for six months, and fasting a lot, because me and Adam had to lose a bunch of weight anyway. It was very cool, man. I had some pretty wild, trippy experiences from starving myself of s*x and food at that time.
Furthermore, as the actor further explained, there are many “misconceptions” about method acting as
People are still acting in that way, and it’s not about being an a**hole to everyone on set.
Well, despite these positive reviews,Silence’s box office performance was lackluster, earning only $22 million against its $50 million budget (Box Office Mojo).However, take note that the movie,helmed by Martin Scorsesehas an 83% approval rating onRotten Tomatoes.
“I was really emotionally moved by what they said to me”: Andrew Garfield Started Crying After Reading the Script For The Amazing Spider-Man 2
But we do hope that Garfield does not have to go through such extreme measures to prepare for his future roles. And maybe he will get to suit up as Spider-Man once again if fans wish it hard enough!
Silenceis available to rent on Apple TV.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
