Felicity Jones has admitted she puts herself in "a slightly suicidal, depressed state" by drinking a load of red wine to prepare for crying scenes.
The star of Theory Of Everything has been nominated this year for a Best Actress Academy Award, and practices weeping on demand whilst standing in front of a mirror.
Joking that drinking a lot of alcohol the night before does the trick, she says it makes her feel sad on the day of filming.
Speaking on last night's episode of Conan, she explained: "Weeks before you're trying to practice and you're looking in the mirror and you're trying to stare because the ideal situation is to get that single tear that rolls down the face.
"I just resorted to the night before just drinking loads of red wine because then the next day you're sort of in a slightly suicidal depressed state. For some reason red wine has this effect."
Whilst those unusual tactics help her on-screen, she doesn't recommend younger actors take her advice.
"It's perfect for doing really emotional scenes which I wouldn't recommend to young actors. It's probably not the best method."
Despite mastering that art, Felicity insists she prefers a movie script if the female role isn't just made up of the woman crying and kissing throughout the entire flick.
"It's usually with women in female parts. It's like, she cries, she kisses him, she cries, she kisses him. One of those movies.
"If it doesn't just have those two moves then you know it's got a great script and you want to do it."
UK readers can catch 'Conan' at 11pm Mon-Thurs, on truTV (freeview channel 68).
Tagged in Felicity Jones