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Kristen Stewart Calls Acting 'Unmasculine,' Critiques Method Posturing in New NYT Interview

Follow-up coverage examines her gender critique through the lens of Method acting’s history, noting many prominent women have used immersive techniques.

Overview

  • In a New York Times interview, Kristen Stewart described performance as inherently vulnerable, calling acting “quite embarrassing and unmasculine” and “inherently submissive.”
  • She argued some male actors use Method-like rituals to counter that vulnerability, saying men in Hollywood are often “aggrandized for retaining self.”
  • Referencing Marlon Brando’s infamous “Krypton” pronunciation as recounted via Sean Penn, she said a woman taking similar liberties would be treated differently.
  • She recalled asking a peer about female Method actors and said he replied that “actresses are crazy,” a characterization she rejected in the moment.
  • The Guardian contextualized Method as rooted in Stanislavski and noted notable female practitioners, while Variety and the Independent reported and expanded on her remarks.