Info about Daniel Day-Lewis

Date of Birth: April 29, 1957

Place of Birth: London, England

Height: 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)

Breakthrough Role: My Left Foot (1989) – Won Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Christy Brown, an artist with cerebral palsy

Curiosities:

He is the only actor to win three Academy Awards for Best Actor (My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, Lincoln). He is known for his extreme method acting—while filming Gangs of New York, he refused to wear modern clothing, caught pneumonia, and had to be convinced to take antibiotics.

Photos of Daniel Day-Lewis

Biography of Daniel Day-Lewis

Early Life & Education

Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis was born on April 29, 1957, in London, England, to poet Cecil Day-Lewis and actress Jill Balcon. Growing up in a wealthy yet artistic household, he was introduced to literature, film, and theater at a young age. However, he was a rebellious youth, often getting into trouble.

He attended the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where he trained in acting. His early love for craftsmanship and physical labor would later influence his immersive acting style.

Career Beginnings & Breakthrough

Day-Lewis started with small roles in films like Gandhi (1982) but gained attention for My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) and A Room with a View (1985). His breakthrough came in 1989 with My Left Foot, where he played Christy Brown, a writer and painter with cerebral palsy. His intense method acting, staying in character even off-screen and refusing to leave his wheelchair, won him his first Academy Award for Best Actor.

Rise to Stardom

Over the next decades, Day-Lewis solidified his reputation as one of the greatest actors of all time, starring in:

The Last of the Mohicans (1992) – Trained as a real survivalist for months
In the Name of the Father (1993) – Played a wrongly convicted Irish prisoner, losing significant weight
Gangs of New York (2002) – Portrayed Bill the Butcher, never breaking character and even sharpening real knives on set
There Will Be Blood (2007) – Won his second Best Actor Oscar, delivering one of cinema’s most powerful performances
Lincoln (2012) – Won his third Best Actor Oscar, staying in character for the entire shoot, even texting cast members as Abraham Lincoln

His dedication to method acting and long gaps between films made every performance legendary.

Later Career & Retirement

In 2017, Day-Lewis announced his retirement from acting after starring in Phantom Thread. He remains largely private, spending his time in rural Ireland, focusing on craftsmanship and shoemaking—a skill he once trained for in Italy.

Personal Life

He is married to Rebecca Miller, daughter of playwright Arthur Miller, and they have two children. He values privacy, often avoiding Hollywood events and preferring a quiet life.

Interesting Facts

He once worked as an apprentice shoemaker in Florence, Italy.
He turned down roles in The Lord of the Rings and Batman Begins because he dislikes blockbuster films.

Daniel Day-Lewis is widely considered one of the greatest actors of all time, known for his unmatched dedication and transformative performances.