Daniel Day-Lewis

About

Daniel Day-Lewis is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of his generation, celebrated for his commitment to roles and his remarkable ability to immerse himself fully into his characters. Born on April 29, 1957, in London, England, Day-Lewis has achieved widespread acclaim and has received numerous awards throughout his career, including three Academy Awards for Best Actor. Known for his method acting approach, he remains an enigmatic figure in Hollywood, often stepping away from the limelight to fully dedicate himself to his craft.

Before Fame

Day-Lewis was born into a family with strong artistic roots. His father, Cecil Day-Lewis, was the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, and his mother, Jill Balcon, was an actress. His early influences and experiences strongly shaped his future career in acting. He attended the Sevenoaks School in Kent, where he displayed a natural talent for performance, and later trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. His first significant film role came in 1984 with “The Bounty,” which led to his breakout role in “My Beautiful Laundrette” (1985).

Trivia

Daniel Day-Lewis is known for his intense method acting. He fully immerses himself into every role, often staying in character for the entire duration of filming. For his role in "My Left Foot" (1989), where he portrayed Christy Brown, a man with cerebral palsy, he remained in a wheelchair off-camera, leading to two broken ribs from extended hunched-over positioning. For "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992), he learned to live off the land, hunting and fishing in the wild. Despite his critical acclaim and success, Day-Lewis announced his retirement from acting in 2017 after his final performance in "Phantom Thread."

Family Life

Day-Lewis has led a relatively private personal life compared to other actors of his stature. He married Rebecca Miller, a writer and director, in 1996. The couple has two sons, Ronan and Cashel. Daniel also has an older son, Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis, from a previous relationship with the French actress Isabelle Adjani. He spends a significant portion of his time away from Hollywood, living a quiet life in rural County Wicklow, Ireland. He is known for his love of woodworking and often spends his leisure time crafting furniture.

Associated With

Throughout his illustrious career, Day-Lewis has worked with numerous prominent artists and filmmakers. He is particularly noted for his collaborations with director Martin Scorsese, with whom he worked on “Gangs of New York” (2002), and Paul Thomas Anderson, who directed him in “There Will Be Blood” (2007) and "Phantom Thread" (2017). He is also known for his portrayal of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed film "Lincoln" (2012), a role that earned him his third Academy Award for Best Actor. Day-Lewis's performances have left an indelible mark on cinema, earning him a reputation as a transformative and highly dedicated actor.

In closing, Daniel Day-Lewis’s unparalleled commitment to his roles and his extraordinary body of work have left an enduring legacy in the world of film. Despite his retirement from acting, his influence and the power of his performances continue to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.