Daniel Day-Lewis Biography

Known as one of the most selective actors in the industry (sometimes only starring in four films in 10 years), Day-Lewis is considered one of the greatest actors of his generation. His devotion to each of his roles is measured by his meticulous research, and he will very often remain in character — accents, too — throughout the entire shooting schedule. Such a method of acting takes him away from his wife and kids, of course, which is why he's reluctant to accept film work. In fact, while the actor lived in Florence, Italy, working as a shoe cobbler, he was lured back to New York "on false pretenses" by Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, the director and co-star that ultimately persuaded Day-Lewis to accept his Oscar-nominated role in 2002's Gangs of New York. This nomination would come nine years after his second nod for 1993's In the Name of the Father and his win for 1989's My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown.


1. During the filming of Gangs of New York, he would listen to Eminem to get into an angry frame of mind best fitting for Bill the Butcher; during lunch breaks, he'd sharpen his knives.
2. He turned down the role of Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy several times.
3. Following 1997's The Boxer, he underwent semi-retirement and returned to his old passion of woodworking, which led to apprenticing as a shoemaker.
4. In 1996, while working on the film version of the play The Crucible, he visited the home of playwright Arthur Miller where he was introduced to the writer's daughter (and future wife), Rebecca Miller.
5. During 1992's The Last of the Mohicans, he built a canoe, learned to track and skin animals and perfected the use of a 12-pound flintlock gun, which he took everywhere he went, even to a Christmas dinner.


"I suppose I have a highly developed capacity for self-delusion, so it's no problem for me to believe I'm somebody else."


Wife: Rebecca Miller, writer/director/actress, daughter of playwright Arthur Miller, married Nov. 13, 1996
Sons: Gabriel-Kane Adjani, born April 9, 1995; Ronan Cal Day-Lewis, born June 14, 1998; Cashel Blake Day-Lewis, born May 2002


2008: Academy Award: Best Actor, There Will Be Blood; Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama), There Will Be Blood

2003: Academy Award nomination: Best Actor, Gangs of New York; Golden Globe nomination: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama), Gangs of New York

1998: Golden Globe nomination: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama), The Boxer

1994: Academy Award nomination: Best Actor, In the Name of the Father; Golden Globe nomination: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama), In the Name of the Father

1990: Academy Award: Best Actor, My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown; Golden Globe nomination: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama), My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown


There Will Be Blood - (2007) - Actor
The Ballad of Jack and Rose - (2005) - Actor
Gangs of New York - (2002) - Actor
The Boxer - (1997) - Actor
The Crucible - (1996) - Actor
View all films


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