Actor Austin Butler Credits Laura Dern, Tom Hardy for Recovery After Method Acting Collapse

Austin Butler has openly discussed the intense toll that method acting took on him, especially during his three-year immersion to portray Elvis Presley, which resulted in hospitalization due to his body shutting down. Reflecting on this experience, Butler shared that he once believed his craft required a tortured process, leading him to come out broken, but he has since learned to integrate and metabolize the darker parts of himself more healthily. Influential figures such as Laura Dern and Tom Hardy have provided Butler with crucial guidance; Dern helped him see that exploring difficult roles can be therapeutic without destroying his life, while Hardy inspired him to adopt physical routines like exercise and cold showers to decompress and improve sleep. Butler has consciously shifted towards balancing intensity with discipline, incorporating these healthier habits while working on projects like Darren Aronofsky’s thriller "Caught Stealing" and the crime film "Enemies." Co-star Jeremy Allen White noted Butler's pursuit of stability alongside his commitment to doing his best work. Overall, Butler's journey reflects a move away from the extremes of method acting toward a more sustainable and integrated approach to his craft.