12 Actors Who Immersed Themselves Too Far In Movie Scenes

12. Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood

There is no actor more famous (or infamous) for using The Method than Daniel Day-Lewis. The British actor spent time in jail for In the Name of the Father, didn't bathe for The Crucible, and boxed professional fighters for The Boxer. And for his Academy Award-winning performance as the oil merchant, Daniel Plainview, in There Will Be Blood, he spent nearly the entire production in character.

Although the reports that his intensity encouraged an actor to quit the production are unfounded, there is no question DDL went too far. Paul Dano, who played Eli, confessed he genuinely thought he might die while filming because he could never predict what his co-star was going to do. In certain scenes, the three-time Oscar winner would smack Dano unscripted or earlier than he was meant to so his reaction would be more authentic.

While filming the climax, Dano admitted he was "scared for my life" while Day-Lewis hurled real bowling balls and pins at him full-force. Dano is a talented performer but little acting was required for this scene. All the terror on his face during the final moment was 100% genuine.