Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the most talented actors of his generation. He is a three-time Oscar winner whose name became synonymous with Method Acting, a practice that requires performers to inhabit their characters in the pursuit of authenticity. They use their physical, mental and emotional self to channel and and bring their characters to life.
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Day-Lewis takes this process to the extreme oftentimes completely losing himself and living as the persona he is tasked with portraying at all times. His process resulted in some of the most brilliant performances captured on film such as Gangs of New York, There will be Blood and My Left Foot.
Why did Daniel Day-Lewis retire?
Daniel Day-Lewis' last movie was Phantom Thread after which he announced his second retirement. He retired once before in 1997 and moved to Florence, Italy to pursue his interest in shoes and apprenticed as a shoe maker with Stefano Bemer. He would later come back after being offered the role of Bill the Butcher on Gangs of New York in 2002. Even then Day-Lewis had begun feeling the drawbacks of his commitment to acting which is why he stepped away. In 2017, the same thing happened once again as he announced his retirement to W Magazine saying:
I knew it was uncharacteristic to put out a statement. But I did want to draw a line. I didn’t want to get sucked back into another project. All my life, I’ve mouthed off about how I should stop acting, and I don’t know why it was different this time, but the impulse to quit took root in me, and that became a compulsion. It was something I had to do.
If Day-Lewis’ first retirement is any indication, it might mean that the door is never completely shut for acting. One can never predict anything when an artist carries such a complicated relationship with their craft. But cinephiles will await for any sign that we may receive more from such a generational talent.
Day-Lewis meets directors Steven Spielberg and Jim Sheridan
This past Wednesday, 3 January, Day-Lewis was spotted leaving a meeting with Steven Spielberg and Jim Sheridan, two iconic directors that were each behind pictures for which he won an Oscar. Both acclaimed directors have projects in development. This led many to hope that this implies his involvement in a new project but nothing has been confirmed.
What is Daniel Day-Lewis up to?
Daniel Day-Lewis is a multifaceted individual. Before his foray into acting he aspired to become a craftsman and was torn between being cabinetmaker and an actor at the time according to W. With each project, Day-Lewis would learn a skill or a trade; he mastered throwing knives for Gangs of New York, he built a kitchen table while preparing for The Ballad of Jack & Rose and he learned sewing for Phantom Thread. He went as far as recreating an iconic Balenciaga dress by hand which his wife eventually wore.
Day-Lewis is somewhat revered in the fashion world; in the rare times he makes a public appearance, his outfits are always discussed and talked about by fashion publications; most notably GQ who have dubbed him a ‘Fit God’.
There were even rumours that Day-Lewis would eventually become a fashion designer which was brought up during his W Magazine interview. His answer: ‘Who knows’.
Day-Lewis, while reclusive, shows immense passion and deep commitment for a wide array of disciplines and processes and trades so it is quite easy to imagine him pursuing the whims of his curiosity on a daily basis and never running out of ways to fill his time.
Read more:
⋙ Then and now: From Judi Dench to Ian McKellen, this is what these iconic actors looked like
⋙ Harry Potter: Alan Rickman, Helen McCrory, and other actors who have passed away
Sources:
W: Exclusive: Daniel Day-Lewis Opens Up About Giving Up Acting After Phantom Thread
Collider: Why Daniel Day-Lewis Quit Acting the First Time, and Why He Came Back
Daily Mail: Is Daniel Day-Lewis being pulled out of retirement? Reclusive actor seen leaving meeting with directors Steven Spielberg and Jim Sheridan who each led him to Oscar glory
