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Jared Leto lived as Joker on 'Suicide Squad' set

"He was all in on the Joker," co-star Will Smith revealed.

By Annie Martin
Jared Leto at the Academy Awards on Feb. 22, 2015. The actor reportedly stayed in character as the Joker on the 'Suicide Squad' set. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
1 of 5 | Jared Leto at the Academy Awards on Feb. 22, 2015. The actor reportedly stayed in character as the Joker on the 'Suicide Squad' set. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

LONDON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Jared Leto stayed in character as the Joker on the Suicide Squad set.

The 43-year-old actor's co-star, Will Smith, revealed as much in an interview with Zane Lowe on Beats 1 this week. In addition to physically transforming himself for the role, Leto was reportedly so immersed in playing the villain he didn't get to know the other actors.

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"I've never actually met Jared Leto," Smith told Lowe. "Worked together for six months and we've never exchanged a word outside of 'Action!' and 'Cut!' I literally have not met him yet. So, the first time I see him will be, 'Hey, Jared. What's up?' He was all in on the Joker."

Adam Beach, who portrays Slipknot, previously told E! News the actor sent gross gifts worthy of the Joker to his co-stars. Leto presented Smith with bullets, Margot Robbie with a love letter and live rat and the cast with a dead hog and video of him in character.

Suicide Squad wasn't Leto's first foray into method acting -- the star kept in character for Dallas Buyers Club, and earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance. Late actor Heath Ledger also dedicated himself to the Joker while filming The Dark Knight.

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Smith and Robbie will play Deadshot and Harley Quinn, respectively, in the forthcoming movie, which opens in theaters Aug. 5, 2016. Joel Kinnaman also stars as Rick Flag, with Jai Courtney as Boomerang, Cara Delevingne as Enchantress and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller.

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