David Harbour Slams Method Acting and Shares His Unique Approach
David Harbour takes aim at method acting, calling it both silly and risky, and opens up about his acting journey beyond Stranger Things, including his thoughts on Daniel Day-Lewis and his upcoming projects.
Think fast: can you name a single project David Harbour has starred in besides Stranger Things? If you’re drawing a blank or vaguely recall him as a tough Santa in a holiday action flick—yes, that was Violent Night in 2022—you’re not alone. Stranger Things has become such a cultural phenomenon that Harbour is almost inseparable from his role as Chief Jim Hopper. His performance is so spot-on, it’s tough to picture him as anyone else. But his career stretches far beyond the Upside Down, with a resume packed with diverse roles.
Beyond Hawkins: Harbour’s Expansive Career
Harbour has spent over two decades in television and theater, often taking on characters with much more depth than just throwing punches. He earned a Tony nomination in 2005 for his work in the Broadway classic Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, a play about middle-class couples unraveling over drinks. He’s also tackled major Shakespearean roles and appeared in countless TV shows. Still, action seems to follow him—he played the Red Guardian in Marvel’s Thunderbolts, a film that slipped under the radar this year, possibly due to superhero fatigue or its similarities to Suicide Squad. He even donned the horns for the 2019 Hellboy reboot, a move that landed him a Golden Raspberry nomination.
Harbour’s Take on Acting: No Room for Method
Despite his impressive credentials, Harbour doesn’t buy into the idea that acting requires total immersion or method techniques. Reflecting on his early days, he shared,
“When I was younger – it’s so embarrassing – but I remember playing that famous Scottish King (Hamlet) and being like, ‘I’m gonna kill a cat’ or something: ‘I’m gonna go murder something to know what it feels like to murder.’ I didn’t actually do it, obviously. Not only is that stuff silly, it’s dangerous, and it actually doesn’t produce good work.”
Even the legendary Daniel Day-Lewis, known for his intense commitment to roles, doesn’t sway Harbour. He admitted,
“He’s an extraordinary actor who I’m captivated and fascinated by. (But) when he explains his process, it sounds like nonsense to me.”
It’s safe to say you won’t find these two swapping stories over drinks about their time playing Hamlet, especially since Day-Lewis famously left the stage mid-performance in 1989, overwhelmed by the role’s emotional weight.
What’s Next for Harbour
Right now, Harbour is everywhere. With the final season of Stranger Things on the horizon, he’s also set to appear in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, joining a star-studded cast. And for fans of his action-packed holiday movie, there’s more to look forward to—Violent Night 2 is officially in the works.