Daniel Day-Lewis

“I have a strange relationship with time. I’m not aware of it passing.”

Daniel Day-Lewis winning his three Best Actor Oscars.
My Left Foot - 1989
There Will Be Blood - 2007
Lincoln - 2013

One of my favourite actors is Daniel Day-Lewis. It is impossible for me to stress how much I respect him for how he breaks all the rules associated with being an actor. Day-Lewis was repeatedly offered the role of Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (most probably offered millions of dollars) and repeatedly turned it down. Most people would see this as a ridiculously uneducated move on Day-Lewis’ part, but not me. For me, Day-Lewis is so inspiring because he doesn’t care about money or pressure from studios. He plays parts he cares about, often taking years preparing or years deciding on them. Day-Lewis is so respected amongst other actors because of his total dedication to his roles. His hard core method approach is something that allows him to delve deeper than perhaps anyone ever has into characters. His preparation for his role in The Boxer was deemed so great by his trainer that after filming had wrapped the trainer commented that Day-Lewis could have easily turned to a boxing career. To totally immerse himself into the spirit and soul of another person is something that maybe only Day-Lewis and few others has ever been able to do convincing enough for me to respect them for it.

Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance in There Will Be Blood is one of the greatest performances ever given by an actor. Day-Lewis had changed every single detail about himself for this character. His voice, facial movements, body movements, body posture, interaction and orientation with others, eye movement and head movements were as though you were literally seeing a real life person called Daniel Plainview. You forgot this character was a fictional being, and saw them as a real life human. To capture this total definitive life force is something so many actors have failed. Even when seeing some Oscar winning performances, I get distracted by the fact I know I am watching an actor play a role. In There Will Be Blood you get so invested in the main character that you forget about all the cameramen and producers trying to make a critically and financially successful film. You are focused on Daniel Plainview. This is the same for most, if not all of Day-Lewis’ other roles.

Unlike most Day-Lewis fans I hope he takes a very long break now Lincoln is finished. The secret to having fantastic roles is waiting for the right one to come up. Day-Lewis knows that after winning three best actors, directors are going to yet again be clambering over each other to have him in their films. But he needs to wait just like he always has, wait for another incredible role to arrive that he can really get stuck into. He doesn’t care about what they offer him; all he cares about is his own satisfaction from playing roles he loves. The support we give him is merely an added bonus.

Follow my Twitter! - https://twitter.com/MaxKnowsFilms