The best actors often infuse their characters with facets of their own personalities. Sure, that can lead to better performances overall – but it can also lead to emotionally draining scenes and, in some cases, identity crises for actors who dove a little too deep into their characters.
The Get Down might have fallen victim to its own massive budget and co-creator Baz Luhrmann’s busy schedule, but the show’s portrayal of the birth of hip-hop – and its depiction of a mythical New York City – was a delight while it lasted. The show’s intense commitment to world-building was also reflected in the actors, who practiced choreography on set in a reconstructed Queens neighborhood, and even involved some of the actors wearing period-appropriate underwear.
As series lead Ezekiel Brown, actor Justice Smith committed to the role with gusto for the long hours of filming. Unfortunately, that dedication to craft ended up taking an emotional toll on the young actor when his method acting techniques started to erase the distinction between himself and the character he was playing. Smith told Vulture:
“The lines get blurred and you’re like, ‘What is me and what is the character? Am I really like this or is that just him?’ My biggest fear was, ‘What if I don’t come back? What if I don’t return to who I am?'”
#GameOfThrones #BreakingBad #JessicaJones
Justice Smith in The Get Down | 0:18
Dean Norris in Breaking Bad | 1:21
Laverne Cox in Orange Is the New Black | 2:35
Jack Gleeson in Game of Thrones | 3:34
Krysten Ritter in Jessica Jones | 4:27