Daniel Day-Lewis is "a little cross" with stars who have given Method actors a reputation for "behaving like a lunatic in an extreme fashion"

He told The New York Times newspaper: "I don't really like thinking of acting in terms of craft at all. Of course, there are techniques you can learn, and I know that the Method has become an easy target these days.

"I'm a little cross these days to hear all kinds of people gobbling off and saying things like 'gone full Method,' which I think is meant to imply that a person's behaving like a lunatic in an extreme fashion."

He added: "Everyone tends to focus on the less important details of the work, and those details always seem to involve some sort of self-flagellation or an experience that imposes upon oneself a severe discomfort or mental instability.

"But of course, in the life of an actor, it has to principally be about the internal work."

It comes after Day-Lewis previously admitted he made a "fool" of himself by announcing his retirement.

The 68-year-old actor confirmed he would be stepping away from the movie business back in 2017, before recently reversing his decision to star in Anemone, the first film directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis.

The actor - who co-wrote the script with his son - said at the New York Film Festival: "I made a f****** fool of myself by announcing that I was going to stop working, and probably a bigger fool of myself coming back.

"But to deny myself the possibility of working with Ronan just to stand on my pride, I think that would've been probably a worse decision than just, well, I said that, so I'm sticking to it."

Despite this, the Oscar-winning star admitted he's never felt truly comfortable working in Hollywood, suggesting he struggles to cope with the pressures of fame and success.

He explained: "I had long periods where I thought I'm not well suited. The work was always very precious to me - it was like food and drink.

"But I think I have it in common with a lot of actors, that I'm very ill suited for the life around it ... the public aspect of it."