Daniel Day-Lewis

Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the finest actors of his generation—as well as one of the most selective. Born in London, the son of actress Jill Balcon and the Irish Poet Laureate Cecil Day-Lewis, and grandson of legendary head of Ealing Studios, Sir Michael Balcon, Daniel Day-Lewis made his debut in SUNDAY, BLOODY SUNDAY at the age of 14, as a vandal. It was, he recalled, “heaven”—vandalizing expensive cars parked outside his local church, and being paid £2 for his trouble!

After experience with the National Youth Theatre, he joined the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He had a small role—as a thug—in Richard Attenborough’s GANDHI, before his breakthrough stage performance, taking over the lead in ANOTHER COUNTRY. Later he appeared in THE BOUNTY with Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins.

Two very different views of the actor confirmed his growing versatility—Stephen Frears’ film MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE that opened simultaneously with A ROOM WITH A VIEW as the effete fiancé to Helena Bonham Carter’s character. In the late 1980s Day-Lewis starred in Philip Kaufman’s film of Milan Kundera’s novel THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING with Lena Olin and Juliette Binoche.

Then came his first Academy Award® nomination and win for his role as Christy Brown in Jim Sheridan’s film MY LEFT FOOT. He returned to the cinema in the early 1990s in THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, and then by contrast, Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of Edith Wharton’s THE AGE OF INNOCENCE, with Winona Ryder and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Next he played Gerry Conlon, victim of a cruel miscarriage of British justice, in Jim Sheridan’s IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER. He was nominated for an Oscar® for his work in the film. Then he starred in the film version of Arthur Miller’s play THE CRUCIBLE opposite Winona Ryder, followed by Jim Sheridan’s THE BOXER.

He returned to film with Martin Scorsese’s GANGS OF NEW YOR as Bill the Butcher. He was nominated for his third Oscar® for his performance. Then Day-Lewis made THE BALLAD OF JACK AND ROSE, with his wife, director Rebecca Miller, daughter of playwright Arthur Miller.

Day-Lewis starred in THERE WILL BE BLOOD for Director Paul Thomas Anderson. Based on Upton Sinclair’s novel Oil!, Day-Lewis’ performance earned Day-Lewis his second Academy Award®.

GUIDO CONTINI FILMS