10 Actors Who Only Gave Great Performances Because They Got Drunk

8. Michael Pena - Fury

David Ayer's chaotic WWII movie Fury, about a tank crew ravaged both physically and psychologically by war, wouldn't seem like the most apt place for an actor to go method by drinking for his art, and - obviously - it'd be even less safe to let the actor driving the tank get himself hammered for real. Clearly, Michael Pena was having none of it. Perhaps inspired by his Fury co-star Shia LaBeouf's exploits on Lawless (during the shoot of which LaBeouf drank real moonshine, scaring Mia Wasikowska almost to the point of quitting), Pena by his own admittance sneaked Jack Daniel's onto set and got himself good and drunk for real. The result on-screen is one notably harrowing drunk scene in which Pena's character breaks down after downing an anonymous bottle of European grog. It's the most emotionally affecting moment in Fury, and probably the best piece of acting by Pena to date.
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Contributor

Lover of film, writer of words, pretentious beyond belief. Thinks Scorsese and Kubrick are the kings of cinema, but PT Anderson and David Fincher are the dashing young princes. Follow Brogan on twitter if you can take shameless self-promotion: @BroganMorris1