Austin Butler credits Laura Dern for helping him see acting in a new light, details explored

The BAFTA and Golden Globe-winning actor Austin Butler has made a significant mark in the industry with his earnest performances. By the age of 34, he is already one of the most successful stars in Hollywood.

Whilst we have witnessed his remarkable performances, we also must know about the grueling process the actor went through in making them. Ultimately, the demanding process of method acting took a heavy toll on his body. As a result, Butler, as an artist, made a transition in his process.

In an interview with Men's Health, the actor reveals:

“For a long time, I felt that it had to be a tortured process and I would come out the other side broken."

However, Austin Butler was fortunate enough to meet people in the industry like Laura Dern, who helped him gain a new and better perspective on acting. From then on, the Eddington actor began to reflect and change his ways in which both the performance, his life, and his body would find a peaceful balance and care.

Keep reading to find out how Laura Dern helped Austin Butler evolve in his acting process.

"We felt like kindred spirits", says Austin Butler about Laura Dern

While speaking to Men's Health, Austin Butler opened up about several things regarding his life. In the interview, the actor talked in detail about how he viewed acting before, and how it has changed now.

In the interview, Butler revealed how his tedious work process had gravely impacted his health. He could not sleep well and experienced burnout. The exhaustion was to such an extent that he had even gone through temporary blindness as well. That is when the actor realized that he needed to take a few steps back, unwind, and find ways in which he could be kinder to his body.

That is when Austin Butler interacted with his pals in the industry, that has helped him switch his perspective about acting. One of such people is Laura Dern, who helped Butler immensely in making his process better. In the interview, the Elvis actor mentions that he found a warm connection with the veteran actor. In fact, he also found a deep connection between her and his late mother as well. Austin Butler says:

“It was like the whole room just quieted, and we connected on a soul level. We felt like kindred spirits…my mom was even told that she looked like Laura Dern, and so as soon as I see her, it’s like: She looks like my actual mom.”

The actor also spoke about how Laura Dern helped him in his healing journey, where he learnt that he can deliver sincere and truthful performances while taking care of his body. Adding:

“She’s helping me more and more to see that you can come out the other side, and maybe bits of you have healed, and synthesized, and metabolized. It can be therapeutic, in a way.”

It is delightful to know that Austin Butler has found a way to put himself and his body first, in a world where hustle culture and burnout are unfortunately considered to be signs of strength. One can certainly put their best work forward, whilst being kind and considerate towards their body and wellbeing. As Butler says in the interview:

“You don’t have to destroy the light.”

Method acting is an approach to acting where an actor uses their own lived experiences to create and prepare a particular character, both physically, emotionally, and mentally. Whilst many actors have incorporated this method into their practice, one must also be careful regarding its safety as well as its physical and psychological impact.