The Odd Warm-Ups Stars Swear By
When it comes to preparing for a role, actors can get pretty creative—and sometimes downright strange. For many, slipping into character isn’t as simple as memorizing lines and hitting their marks. They need warm-ups or even full-blown rituals that help them transform before the cameras roll. Let’s dive into some of the strangest rituals famous actors rely on before filming.
Nicolas Cage – A Bizarre Animal Diet
Cage once admitted that his ritual before certain roles was diet-based: he would only eat animals that had “dignified” mating rituals, like fish and certain birds. Chickens? Too promiscuous. It may sound eccentric, but Cage insists it helped him “channel” the right energy and align his performance with the deeper instincts of his chosen characters.
nicolas genin, Wikimedia Commons
Matthew McConaughey – Chest Thumping
In The Wolf of Wall Street, McConaughey famously thumps his chest and hums in a low tone. That wasn’t in the script—it was his own personal warm-up. Leonardo DiCaprio noticed the odd ritual, loved the rhythm, and insisted they keep it in the film. The bizarre moment turned into an iconic cinematic detail.
Paramount Pictures, The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Johnny Depp – Talking To His Costumes
Depp has said he “talks” to his costumes before filming, especially when playing eccentric characters like Jack Sparrow. It’s part superstition, part ritual: he treats his wardrobe as an extension of his character’s spirit. For him, the process creates a dialogue with the role before stepping onto set.
Walt Disney Pictures, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Daniel Day-Lewis – Staying In Character 24/7
Known as the ultimate method actor, Day-Lewis doesn’t just prepare before filming—he never stops. On the set of My Left Foot, he stayed in a wheelchair for the entire shoot, forcing crew members to carry him around. This extreme ritual wasn’t about a quick warm-up; it was a complete transformation that blurred the line between actor and character.
Jared Leto – Sending “Gifts”
When preparing for Suicide Squad, Leto went all in. His way of getting into character? Sending his co-stars disturbing “gifts” like dead pigs, bullets, and even a live rat. He claimed it helped him embody the Joker’s chaotic energy. While the cast wasn’t thrilled, Leto defended the practice as necessary for authenticity.
Warner Bros. Pictures, Suicide Squad (2016)
Meryl Streep – Singing In Her Trailer
Before big emotional scenes, Streep reportedly hums or sings to herself. This simple ritual loosens her voice, centers her breathing, and eases her into whatever emotional state she needs for the character. Co-stars have said they’ve heard her warming up quietly, almost like an opera singer preparing backstage.
Margot Robbie – Shots Of Whiskey
Before her first raunchy scene in The Wolf of Wall Street, Robbie admitted she needed “liquid courage”. Taking a shot of whiskey became a small but memorable ritual that helped her relax and perform. She later joked it was less about method acting and more about calming stage fright.
Paramount Pictures, The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Anthony Hopkins – Memorizing Obsessively
Hopkins reportedly memorizes his lines up to 200 times before filming. His ritual isn’t flashy but it’s intense; he rehearses until the words feel second nature, freeing him to focus fully on performance. Co-stars say his precision on set feels effortless, but it’s actually the result of relentless discipline.
David Livingston, Getty Images
Emma Stone – Dance Breaks
Stone loves using music and quick dances in her trailer to loosen up. She claims it shakes off nerves and helps her get playful, which comes across in her performances. Whether it’s a silly shimmy or a full-blown groove, her ritual keeps the mood light and fun.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Heath Ledger – Locking Himself Away
Before filming The Dark Knight, Ledger’s ritual involved locking himself in a hotel room for weeks. He filled notebooks with Joker thoughts, practiced the laugh endlessly, and even experimented with facial tics. The intense isolation gave his performance a haunting authenticity that still resonates today.
Warner Bros. Pictures, The Dark Knight (2008)
Robert Pattinson – Gagging Before Scenes
Pattinson has admitted that sometimes he makes himself gag before emotional scenes. Why? He says the physical discomfort “frees” him from self-consciousness and helps him appear raw on screen. It’s unconventional, but he swears it keeps his performances unpredictable.
Harald Krichel, Wikimedia Commons
Shia LaBeouf – Pain Endurance
LaBeouf takes ritual prep to extremes. For Fury, he cut his own face and refused to bathe for weeks. His ritual is all about creating real discomfort so that it translates authentically on screen. The physical toll, he believes, makes the performance more visceral.
Sony Pictures Releasing, Fury (2014)
Anne Hathaway – Meditation And Screaming
Hathaway mixes calm and chaos. Before intense scenes, she meditates quietly—then follows it with a scream or vocal outburst. It’s her way of cleansing nerves and diving into extremes. Castmates say it’s startling, but it clearly works for her.
Harald Krichel, Wikimedia Commons
Tom Cruise – Push-Ups Everywhere
Cruise is famous for doing push-ups or sprints right before filming. His warm-up ritual pumps adrenaline into his system, giving his scenes a heightened energy that matches his action-star persona. Crew members often see him drop down mid-conversation to crank out a set.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Cate Blanchett – Smelling Scents
Blanchett uses aromatherapy oils and scents as part of her ritual. She says certain smells unlock different emotions, helping her access the right state of mind for a scene. The ritual adds a sensory dimension to her preparation process.
Harald Krichel, Wikimedia Commons
Jim Carrey – Talking To The Moon
Carrey leans spiritual. He’s spoken about talking to the moon or using visualization rituals before shooting, especially for emotionally heavy roles. His ritual centers on connecting with something bigger than himself, grounding his otherwise wild creative energy.
Dustin Hoffman – Endless Pacing
Before shooting, Hoffman is known to pace frantically, mumbling lines under his breath. The ritual looks like nervous energy, but it’s how he sharpens his focus before stepping into character. Directors sometimes have to call him back to set because he gets so lost in it.
Natalie Portman – Ballet Warm-Ups
Even when she’s not playing a ballerina, Portman uses ballet stretches and breathing exercises as a pre-filming ritual. She says it grounds her body and reminds her of discipline. The practice connects her to years of structured training and discipline.
Harald Krichel, Wikimedia Commons
Jack Nicholson – Improvised Monologues
Nicholson often improvises strange rants or monologues before a take. These warm-ups let him loosen up, but they also give his directors and co-stars a glimpse into his unpredictable genius. It’s part ritual, part performance art in itself.
Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images
Leonardo DiCaprio – Ice-Cold Dunk
To jolt himself into high-alert, DiCaprio has been known to dunk his face in ice water before filming. The shock gives him energy, clarity, and a rush of focus. He claims it’s especially effective before high-stakes, emotional scenes.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin, Getty Images
Christian Bale – Voice Experiments
Bale often experiments with different voices and accents in private before he films, sometimes muttering to himself in corners of the set. This warm-up ritual lets him “test drive” different deliveries until he locks into one that feels organic, even if it unsettles those nearby.
Viola Davis – Emotional Journaling
Davis is known for writing emotional journals for her characters before filming. She spends time jotting down her character’s inner life, fears, and secret memories. This ritual deepens her empathy and allows her to react truthfully in scenes.
Joaquin Phoenix – Physical Distortion
Phoenix has a habit of contorting his body or walking in odd patterns before filming. He says it unlocks new ways of inhabiting a role. For Joker, he reportedly played with hunched postures until he found the perfect unsettling movement.
Warner Bros. Pictures, Joker (2019)
Ryan Gosling – Quiet Humming
Gosling has admitted that he hums quietly to himself before certain scenes. The sound calms his nerves and helps him settle into rhythm. Crew members have described it as strange but soothing, like he’s tuning his emotions the way a musician tunes an instrument.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Al Pacino – Whispered Monologues
Pacino has been spotted whispering intense monologues to himself before stepping in front of the camera. These private rehearsals are like ritual incantations, gradually building volume and intensity until he’s fully immersed in character energy.
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