David Harbour Calls This Famous Acting Technique 'Dangerous Nonsense'
Most people know him as the sheriff from Hawkins, but David Harbour's career is far more extensive than one hit show. The acclaimed actor has some surprisingly blunt thoughts on his profession, challenging a long-held tradition in Hollywood that many A-listers swear by.
It's tough for many to picture David Harbour as anyone but Chief Jim Hopper. If you were asked to name another one of his roles, you might struggle for a moment before recalling something like the 2022 holiday action flick Violent Night, where he played a brawling Santa Claus. It's hardly his fault; Stranger Things became such a global phenomenon that he's become inseparable from the Hawkins, Indiana police chief. He embodies the character so well that, like many of his co-stars, it's hard to see him as anyone else. But his career spans much more than just trips to the Upside Down.
Beyond the Badge
For instance, he's spent a good amount of time in the superhero world. He earned praise for his portrayal of the 'Red Guardian' in the Marvel movie Thunderbolts, a film that flew somewhat under the radar this year, perhaps due to superhero fatigue or a premise that felt a bit too close to Suicide Squad. He also took on the titular role in the 2019 Hellboy reboot, a project that didn't quite land with audiences and even earned him a Golden Raspberry nomination. Given his imposing stature and general presence, Harbour often finds himself cast in, or perhaps drawn to, parts that involve a lot of physical confrontation, a trend that's clear when looking over his body of work.
A Stage-Hardened Actor
However, his career over the last two decades in television and theater reveals a much wider range. Many of his roles have been far more sensitive than the cigar-chomping tough guys he's known for. Back in 2005, he received a Tony award nomination for his performance in the Broadway play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, a classic drama about dysfunctional couples. He has also tackled several major Shakespearean productions throughout the years, in addition to numerous guest spots on TV.
His eventual star-making turn on Stranger Things would earn him a Golden Globe for ‘Best Supporting Actor’, solidifying his credentials. Harbour is clearly an actor with serious skills and the background to speak about his craft with authority. Yet, he doesn't buy into the idea that acting must be an overly serious endeavor requiring total immersion.
Dismissing the Method
He explained his perspective to GQ: “When I was younger – it’s so embarrassing – but I remember playing that famous Scottish King (Hamlet) and being like, ‘I’m gonna kill a cat’ or something: ‘I’m gonna go murder something to know what it feels like to murder.’ I didn’t actually do it, obviously. Not only is that stuff silly, it’s dangerous, and it actually doesn’t produce good work.”
Even the legacy of a three-time ‘Best Actor’ Oscar winner can't change his mind. When the conversation turned to Daniel Day-Lewis, known for his intense commitment to his roles, Harbour remarked: “He’s an extraordinary actor who I’m captivated and fascinated by. (But) when he explains his process, it sounds like nonsense to me.” It seems unlikely the two will be grabbing a beer to debate their approaches to Hamlet anytime soon, especially since Day-Lewis famously abandoned the stage for good after a 1989 performance where he was overcome during the ghost scene.
Harbour, meanwhile, is right in the middle of a busy period. He's currently involved with the fifth and final season of Stranger Things and is slated to appear in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday movie alongside what feels like half of Hollywood. And for those who enjoyed his holiday action film, there's more good news: Violent Night 2 is officially in the works.