Daniel Day-Lewis: A Master Of Method Acting

How Much Does Daniel Day-Lewis Have in the Bank?

Alright, let’s talk about the man who has been called one of the greatest actors to ever grace the screen. Daniel Day-Lewis has a net worth of $40 million, and trust me, he’s earned every penny of it. The guy’s a legend, known for his intense commitment to method acting and his incredibly selective choice of roles. Even though he’s only starred in a relatively small number of films, his impact on the world of cinema is nothing short of monumental.

Day-Lewis didn’t just stumble into fame. He started out on the stage and in British television, eventually transitioning to film. His big break came in 1985 with “My Beautiful Laundrette” and “A Room with a View.” From there, he went on to earn international acclaim for his role in “My Left Foot” (1989), which netted him his first Academy Award for Best Actor. Over the years, he’s delivered unforgettable performances in a wide range of roles, including “The Last of the Mohicans,” “In the Name of the Father,” and “Gangs of New York.”

He’s not just a one-hit wonder, either. Day-Lewis picked up two more Best Actor Oscars for “There Will Be Blood” (2007) and “Lincoln” (2012), making him the only male actor to ever win three Academy Awards in that category. And when he announced his retirement in 2017 after his final film, “Phantom Thread,” it felt like the end of an era. But, hey, you can’t blame the guy for stepping away while he’s on top. He’s left behind a legacy that’s as solid as they come.

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From London to Stardom: The Early Years

Daniel Day-Lewis was born on April 29, 1957, in Kensington, London, England. His acting career started early, thanks to his mom, Jill Balcon, who was an actress herself. His dad, Cecil Day-Lewis, was born in Ireland, which gave Daniel dual British and Irish citizenship. Now, growing up in such a creative family, it’s no surprise that Day-Lewis found his way to the stage. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. At the age of 11, he was sent to boarding school, and after a couple of years, he transferred to another school where his sister was studying.

Unfortunately, in 1972, tragedy struck when his father passed away from pancreatic cancer. This was a tough blow, but it didn’t stop Day-Lewis from pursuing his passion for acting. By the time he was a teenager, he was already performing in plays by some of the biggest names in theater history, including Shakespeare, Marlowe, and Farquhar. He eventually landed at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, which was the perfect place for him to refine his craft and learn how to bring complex characters to life on stage.

Building His Craft: The Early Career

Day-Lewis’s first big screen role came when he was just 13 years old in the movie “Sunday, Bloody Sunday” (1971). That was just the beginning. He continued to hone his skills on the stage, playing roles in plays by the masters of theater. His hard work paid off when he was accepted into the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where he learned how to really dive deep into his characters. He wasn’t just acting; he was living the roles.

Throughout the 1980s, Day-Lewis worked in theater and television, taking on smaller roles in shows like “Frost in May” and “How Many Miles to Babylon?” In 1982, he even had a small part in “Gandhi.” Later that year, he scored his big theater break when he stepped into the lead role in “Another Country.” By 1984, Day-Lewis had joined the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company, where he played iconic roles in “Romeo and Juliet” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Breaking Through: The Rise to Stardom

Day-Lewis started to get noticed by a wider audience in the mid-1980s with his performances in “My Beautiful Laundrette” (1985) and “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” (1988). In “My Beautiful Laundrette,” he played a young English man in a groundbreaking interracial relationship with a Pakistani man. This film not only showcased his talent but also landed him on the British Film Institute’s list of the 100 greatest British films of the 20th century, ranking at #50.

He gained even more attention in 1985 with his role in “A Room with a View.” But it was his portrayal of Christy Brown in “My Left Foot” (1989) that really set him apart. To prepare for the role, Day-Lewis visited a clinic in Dublin to study patients with cerebral palsy, ensuring that he could authentically portray the character. This dedication to his craft earned him numerous awards, including his first Academy Award for Best Actor.

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Day-Lewis didn’t stop there. He took on the role of Nathaniel Poe in “The Last of the Mohicans” (1992), where his method acting was on full display. He trained rigorously, learning how to live off the land just like his character. In 1996, he starred in the film adaptation of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” followed by “The Boxer,” where he once again immersed himself in the role by attending professional boxing matches and training sessions. After this, he took a break from acting, moving to Florence to focus on woodworking and shoemaking.

Back in the Spotlight: The Later Years

When Day-Lewis returned to acting in 2002, he did so with a bang. He starred in “Gangs of New York,” directed by Martin Scorsese and co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio. His performance was nothing short of spectacular. Then came 2007, and with it, “There Will Be Blood,” which might just be his most famous role to date. His portrayal of Daniel Plainview was so powerful that he walked away with another Oscar for Best Actor. Critics and audiences alike were blown away.

Next up was Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” in 2012. Day-Lewis spent an entire year preparing for the role, devouring over 100 books about Lincoln and working closely with the makeup team to get the physical appearance just right. He even spoke in Lincoln’s accent throughout the entire shoot, asking the British crew not to chat with him so he wouldn’t slip back into his native accent. His performance was, once again, met with glowing reviews. After “Lincoln,” Day-Lewis announced another hiatus, living quietly in Ireland for five years before returning to the screen in 2017’s “Phantom Thread.”

Awards Galore: The Accolades

Day-Lewis has been showered with accolades throughout his career. He’s won three Oscars for Best Actor—for “My Left Foot” (1989), “There Will Be Blood” (2007), and “Lincoln” (2012). He’s also received nominations for “In the Name of the Father” (1993), “Gangs of New York” (2002), and “Phantom Thread” (2017). He’s the first male actor to ever win three Oscars for lead roles. He’s also picked up two Golden Globes for Best Actor and has been nominated for six in total.

In 2012, he was honored with the BAFTA Britannia Award for Excellence in Film. That same month, Time magazine featured him as “The World’s Greatest Actor.” It’s hard to argue with that title when you look at the body of work he’s created.

Behind the Scenes: The Personal Life

Despite his larger-than-life presence on screen, Daniel Day-Lewis is known for being incredibly private about his personal life. He dated actress Isabelle Adjani for six years, and they had a son, Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis, who was born in 1995 after their relationship ended. The following year, while working on “The Crucible,” Day-Lewis met Rebecca Miller, the daughter of playwright Arthur Miller. They hit it off and were married in 1996. The couple has two sons, Ronan Cal Day-Lewis and Cashel Blake Day-Lewis. They split their time between homes in Ireland and Manhattan, keeping their family life out of the public eye as much as possible.