The Reader was one of the best films to come out in the year 2008 and that was largely due to Kate Winslet’s superb acting. Playing the role of a Nazi concentration camp guard, the actress spoke of the serious emotional toll it took her, saying that it took her months to truly rid herself of the character.
This is just why she is considered one of the greats today. The actress even compared the feeling of escaping a serious car accident when describing how she felt leaving that character behind.
Halle Berry – Jungle Fever
Halle Berry doesn't shy away from digging deep. And that certainly shows in "Jungle Fever" where she played a street worker and addict. The actress didn't shower for two weeks and would often visit institutions for people struggling with addiction.
The actress underwent a total transformation revealing her amazing acting chops. The actress went on to repeat that in future films.
Jamie Foxx – Ray
To accurately represent both his idol Ray Charles, as well as the blind community, Jamie Foxx wanted to make a lasting impression on folks. What did he do? He wore prosthetic eyelids for half the day, every day, and stayed completely in character.
He even had people guiding him around between takes. His methods certainly worked because that year the Academy Award for Best Actor went to him.
Margot Robbie – I, Tonya
It was no easy feat playing the troubled ice skater Tonya Harding and actress Margot Robbie was not messing around when she took on this role. The Australian beauty trained rigorously for 5 months every day for 4 hours daily. By the end of it, she was a pretty fantastic ice-skater.
While she may not have been good enough to nail the triple axel, she did manage to bag an Oscar. So at least that.
Robert Pattinson – Good Time
Robert Pattinson shot to international fame as Edward Cullen in the "Twilight" series, but he gained real respect as an actor when he played a thief in the film "Good Time." Pattinson went completely unnoticed when he started working at a car wash and took subways in New York City in order to prepare for the role.
He even moved into a basement apartment in Harlem. The actor never opened his curtains, barely changed their sheets, and wore and slept in the same clothes for months. It certainly shows on screen!