While filming “American Psycho,” Chloë Sevigny found Christian Bale’s method acting to be rather unnerving.
In a recent discussion with Vanity Fair, Sevigny, 49, alongside Josh Lucas, reflected on their experiences with Bale, 50, who portrayed the film’s serial killer Patrick Bateman, and his intense approach to the character for the 2000 thriller.
Sevigny commented, “I’m usually gregarious and silly and goofy, which the public might not see, and I tried to respect Bale’s intense process, but it was challenging for me.”
She added, “I shut down around people who take themselves too seriously, even though I’m serious about my work and love acting.”
Bale’s method left Sevigny feeling extremely intimidated and seeking more social interaction to feel at ease.
She noted her confusion and intimidation toward method acting, a concept she hadn’t fully grasped, saying, “I was like, ‘What even is this approach?’”
In “American Psycho,” Sevigny took on the role of Bateman’s secretary, with Lucas playing a colleague, alongside cast members that included Justin Theroux, Reese Witherspoon, Willem Dafoe, and Jared Leto.
Despite Bale’s unusual process, Lucas recalls initially misjudging Bale’s performance as inauthentic, only to later recognize it as “brilliant.”
Now, Sevigny has a deep admiration for Bale and his ability to maintain his method without letting it become a disruptive force.
Sevigny expressed curiosity about Bale’s journey from child to adult acting and his non-traditional path to embracing method acting.
Although Bale’s “American Psycho” performance earned high praise, the film surprisingly received no Oscar nominations.
In an interview with Movie Maker, Bale revealed that his castmates were wary of his acting during filming until the release of the movie, which shifted their perspective on his performance.
FAQs About Method Acting and the ‘American Psycho’ Film
- What is method acting?
- Method acting is a technique used by actors to create in themselves the thoughts and emotions of their characters in order to develop lifelike performances. It often involves actors immersing themselves deeply into their characters’ psyches.
- Why was Chloë Sevigny intimidated by Christian Bale’s method acting?
- Sevigny was intimidated because Bale’s method acting made him less social and more intense on set, which was contrary to her nature and made her feel uneasy.
- Did Christian Bale’s method acting negatively impact his relationships with cast members on ‘American Psycho’?
- Initially, it seems that Bale’s intense method acting led his castmates to question his acting skills and made for a challenging working environment, as they were unsure about his performance until seeing the finished film.
- Was ‘American Psycho’ successful despite not receiving any Oscar nominations?
- Yes, ‘American Psycho’ has become a cult classic and Bale’s performance as Patrick Bateman is often cited as one of his best roles.
- How did Christian Bale transition from a child actor to using method acting?
- Bale’s transition to method acting isn’t well-documented, but as Chloë Sevigny noted, it’s an intriguing aspect of his career given his background starting as a child actor without a formal method acting education.