Andrew Garfield’s Quest for Holy Fasting: A Real-Life Drama
When an Actor First Tells the Truth…
Andrew Garfield recently opened up about a mega method‑acting experiment that had him day‑dreaming in the 1700s while refusing to eat or even talk to the opposite sex. He was preparing for his role as a 17th‑century Jesuit priest in Silence, the 2016 film by Martin Scorsese.
Six Months of Celibacy & Fasting on a Mission
- Six months of celibacy – he says he literally “starved himself of sex.”
- Frequent fasts that left him feeling “wild” and “trippy.”
- Daily spiritual practices and new rituals that felt oddly like a medieval monastery.
All of this earned him a 2017 Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his portrayal of Sebastião Rodrigues.
One Year of Doctrinal Deep‑Dive
Andrew spent a full year learning about Catholicism with Jesuit writer Father James Martin (61) for Silence. He “absorbed the real life of a priest” so he could bring his character to life on screen.
Method Acting or Just Extreme Embrace?
In a chat with Podcast host Marc Maron, he cleared up the big myth: Method acting isn’t about becoming a total emotional wreck for everyone on set. He said:
“It’s more about living truthfully under imagined circumstances while still treating the crew with kindness and being human. You can “drop” it or stay in it as needed.”
The Pay‑off of Extreme Hollywood
But Garfield now hints that those dramatic sacrifices have taken a toll. He announced a break from Hollywood in a recent interview with Variety, saying he needs some “ordinary” life moments.
“I’m taking a little break. I’m going to rest for a bit,” he admits.
So if you’re looking for next way to get paid: maybe start fasting? Or keep it to the shooting schedule. Andrew Garfield has shown just how deep film drama can really go.
