Shia LaBeouf's year of bad behaviour

Shia LeBeouf has taken method acting to new levels. Photo / Getty

Shia LaBeouf apparently has a method to his madness.

The actor has blamed his recent extreme antics on method acting - a technique where actors try to create the thoughts and feelings of their characters in themselves.

The 28-year-old has certainly come a long way from his days as a child star on Nickelodeon's Even Stevens and as the kid in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.

He was launched into fame with Transformers, but in recent years has been pursuing more serious onscreen fare.

But with his method acting approach, this has led to some rather extreme personal choices.

Although, there could also be something darker afoot.

LaBeouf's spokesperson Melissa Kates said in a statement in August that some of his recent actions are symptoms of a larger health problem, with the actor receiving voluntary treatment for alcohol addiction.

Here's a look at five of LaBeouf's antics of the past year:

HE PULLED OUT A TOOTH

LaBeouf reportedly got his tooth pulled out to believeably play tank gunner Boyd 'Bible' Swan in World War II drama Fury. He also has said he didn't shower for four months after making a pact with co-star Brad Pitt.

HE CUT HIS FACE OPEN

Fury actor Logan Lerman told British GQ how they were in make-up and LaBeouf was having cuts put on his face. "And Shia was like, 'No, it doesn't look real.' Then he walks out into the hallway and says, 'Hey man, wanna see something fun? Check this out...' and he takes out a knife and cuts his face. For the whole movie he kept opening these cuts on his face. That's all real."

HE GOT FIRED FROM BROADWAY

LaBeouf was fired from Broadway play Orphans after clashing with the leading man Alec Baldwin, and admits he might have taken his approach to playing a street-smart kidnapper a little too far.

"I was sleeping in the park... At the time, I was out of my mind," LaBeouf told Interview magazine.

"My whole goal was to intimidate the f*** out of Baldwin. That was the role. And it wasn't going to be fake. I wanted him to be scared... so I went about doing that for three weeks of rehearsal."

HE GOT ARRESTED ON BROADWAY

In June, police arrested and charged the actor for disorderly conduct, criminal trespass and harassment at a Broadway production of Cabaret. He has since appeared on Jimmy Kimmel, where he comically explained the incident was part of a drunken night that involved a flight back from Ireland, watching a World Cup game, "a lot of whiskey", trying to calm down a homeless Marine, groping Alan Cumming at the Cabaret performance, and finally landing himself in police custody, where he managed to make matters worse.

WORE A PAPER BAG ON HIS HEAD

In February, at the Berlin Film Festival premiere of Lars von Trier's controversial film Nymphomaniac, Volume I, LaBeouf turned up to the red carpet wearing a paper bag on his head with the words "I am not famous anymore" written in large black letters - a phrase he also spammed his Twitter account with.

Earlier that day, he walked out of a press conference after responding to just one question, about appearing in a film with so many sex scenes:

"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much," he said.

* Fury releases in cinemas this Thursday.

-AAP