Daniel Day-Lewis is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of his generation, known for his immersive method acting and ability to completely transform into his roles. He first gained recognition in the 1980s with films like My Beautiful Laundrette and A Room with a View, before earning international acclaim, and his first Academy Award, for My Left Foot in 1989.
Over the years, Day-Lewis built a remarkable filmography with standout performances in Gangs of New York, There Will Be Blood, and Lincoln. His work in the latter two films earned him additional Oscars, making him the only actor to win three Academy Awards for Best Actor.
In 2017, Day-Lewis announced he was stepping away from acting following the release of Phantom Thread, maintaining the private lifestyle he has long been known for. “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,” he told W magazine five months after the news. “It was something I had to do.”
However, he has since returned to the screen with the upcoming film Anemone, marking a rare comeback after years out of the spotlight.
Click through the gallery to see Daniel Day-Lewis’ best photos throughout the years.
