“Have you ever heard of a female actor that was method?” Kristen Stewart remarked last year, suggesting that method acting is often seen as the domain of a certain kind of man, free from caregiving duties or the need to be likable. But what is accessible to all actors—without resorting to extreme measures like tooth extraction, taking psychedelics, or insisting on being fed on set—is method dressing. This involves promoting a film by wearing outfits inspired by their character.
Everyone seems to be embracing it, especially in recent months with premieres for Wicked: For Good and now Wuthering Heights. Why? It’s a low-risk way to show extra support for the film (implying they enjoyed it so much they’re staying in character) and to generate media buzz and excited TikTok reactions. It can also be a playful nod—or even a gift—to fans. Some actors (or their stylists) incorporate subtle fashion cues and hidden accessories that only dedicated fans and fashion enthusiasts will notice. Regardless, it’s everywhere. But who are the Daniel Day-Lewises and Robert De Niros of promotional tour fashion?
Margot Robbie – Wuthering Heights
The undisputed queen of method dressing, along with her stylist Andrew Mukamal, has excelled with a high-gothic wardrobe for Wuthering Heights that requires a close reading of the 1847 novel to fully appreciate. Her outfits feature plenty of red (a recurring theme in the film; Kate Bush might approve), a snakeskin motif referencing Heathcliff’s line “I’d rather be hugged by a snake,” and a replica of Elizabeth Taylor’s heart-shaped Taj Mahal necklace (another nod to Heathcliff: “I have not broken your heart—you have broken it”). The most extravagant expression came at last week’s London premiere, where Robbie wore a Dilara Findikoglu dress made from (fake) hair, accessorized with a copy of Charlotte Brontë’s amethyst mourning bracelet, which contained (real) hair from her deceased sisters, Emily and Anne.
Margot Robbie – Barbie
Robbie has been method dressing for years, noted for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in 2019, Babylon in 2022, and most famously, Barbie. For the 2023 press tour, she and Mukamal created looks—complete with hairstyles and accessories—that directly referenced specific Barbie dolls, including a black sequined sheath with a frill (“Solo in the Spotlight Barbie”), a psychedelic mini (“Totally Hair Barbie”), pink polka dots (“Pink and Fabulous Barbie”), and even a black-and-white striped outfit honoring the original doll.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
The two stars of Wicked are exceptionally disciplined method dressers when promoting the franchise, sticking to a palette of Glinda pink for Grande and black or green (reflecting Elphaba’s skin tone) for Erivo. Grande often goes further: at the 2024 LA premiere, her Thom Browne pink gingham dress and Swarovski-crystal-encrusted pumps directly echoed Judy Garland’s wide-skirted blue and white dress and sparkling red slippers, while in Sydney, her Vivienne Westwood pink gown closely resembled the dress Billie Burke, the original 1939 Glinda, wore in The Wizard of Oz. Inspired by the stars’ dedication, the supporting cast has joined in: Jeff Goldblum has worn various wizardly whimsies, and Colman Domingo appeared at the For Good premiere in a faux fur coat mimicking his Cowardly Lion character’s pelt.
Zendaya – Challengers / DuneTimothée Chalamet and Zendaya, the latter in a metallic robot suit, at the premiere of Dune: Part Two*. Photograph: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures
For Luca Guadagnino’s sexy tennis film Challengers, Zendaya arrived on the red carpet in a Wimbledon-green Loewe sparkly shift dress, which was also printed with a film still of a player serving a ball. During the promotional tour, her stylist Law Roach dressed her in a series of “tennis-core” looks: short, white, and green outfits, and even shoes with tennis ball heels. Zendaya often dresses thematically: she wore a silky red ringmaster jacket while promoting The Greatest Showman in 2017, and her wardrobe for the Dune: Part Two tour ranged from “space desert warrior” clothing like her character Chani would wear to a full metallic Mugler robot suit.
Alexander Skarsgård
Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling promoting the film Pillion. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
While promoting his “gay biker dom-com” Pillion, Skarsgård seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself in what Vogue called “kinky method” dressing: leather and fetish details, most notably thigh-high black shiny boots and a T-shirt with a boot-licking motif at Cannes. That said, he might have worn such items even if he weren’t promoting a BDSM biker movie—the infamous tiny shorts he wore on Lorraine weren’t method dressing; just Skarsgård having fun.
Jenna Ortega
Ortega dressed in ghostly white. Photograph: StillMoving.Net/Shutterstock
Ortega seems to joyfully embrace a spooky goth aesthetic when promoting her Addams Family spin-off Wednesday, appearing in shredded black leather, Victorian ghost-white outfits, and even a green Simone Rocha ghoul bodysuit. For Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, she went further by wearing a near-exact Thom Browne replica of Winona Ryder’s character Lydia Deetz’s outfit from the original 1988 film—a schoolgirl-style plaid midi skirt, white shirt, and cardigan.
Jacob Elordi
Jacob Elordi in his Frankenstein’s monster top. Photograph: NBC/Todd Owyoung/Getty Images
Robbie’s co-star Elordi hasn’t matched her dedicated efforts in promoting Wuthering Heights (this Yorkshirewoman is still annoyed by his comment that the sexiest thing about the county is “rocks”). For Frankenstein, however, he did wear a Christopher Kane jumper featuring the monster’s face on the Jimmy Fallon show; GQ also argued, somewhat tenuously, that his silky, sober suits channeled the original Victor Frankenstein (“a quiet, privileged, obsessive student who made disastrous choices in expensive clothes”).
Timothée Chalamet
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner in their his ‘n’ hers orange combo. Photograph: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
An enthusiastically eccentric dresser on the promotional circuit, Chalamet promoted Wonka in various thematic outfits, including a lavender Prada suit with white platform boots, Tom Ford ruby velour, an Oompa Loompa hoodie, and Wonka-inspired Nike Dunks he designed himself.
In his lavender suit. Photograph: Warner Brothers/Getty Images for Warner Brothers
His promotional looks for Marty Supreme have been overwhelmingly, relentlessly orange, paying homage to his character’s preference for orange ping-pong balls over white ones. This included the eye-searing his ‘n’ hers Chrome Hearts orange outfits he and Kylie Jenner wore in December, which prompted one Redditor to comment: “I have now confirmed there is such a thing as too much orange.” It’s a commitment to his craft that Marlon Brando could only have dreamt of.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Method Dressing Actors Embodying Roles on the Red Carpet
Q1 What is Method Dressing
A Method dressing is when an actor continues to embody their characters style attitude or aesthetic offscreen particularly at public events like red carpets Its an extension of method acting through fashion
Q2 Why do actors do this
A Primarily for promotion and immersion It generates buzz for their project deepens their connection to the role for the press and fans and creates a memorable cohesive brand for the films campaign
Q3 Isnt that just wearing a costume
A Not exactly Its more nuanced than a full costume It involves using contemporary fashion styling and attitude to suggest the characters essence making it feel like a natural elevated extension of their performance
Q4 Can you give me a classic example
A A famous example is Jared Leto during Suicide Squad He sent bizarre gifts to costars as The Joker and showed up to premieres with green hair painted nails and a flamboyant unsettling style that mirrored the characters chaos
Q5 Who are some other notable actors known for method dressing
A Beyond Leto notable examples include
Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn
Robert Pattinson for The Batman
Zendaya for Dune and Euphoria
Austin Butler for Elvis
Lady Gaga for House of Gucci
Colin Farrell for The Batman
