Career Timeline of Daniel Day-Lewis: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Daniel Day-Lewis built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Sir Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis, a highly acclaimed English actor, is widely considered one of the greatest in cinematic history. He boasts an impressive collection of awards, including three Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. His contributions to drama were officially recognized in 2014 when he was knighted.
20 hours ago : Daniel Day-Lewis's Retirement: Exploring the reasons behind his 8-year absence from Hollywood.
Daniel Day-Lewis's retirement from acting stemmed from an 'overwhelming sense of sadness' after his last film. This led to an 8-year absence from Hollywood, leaving fans and the industry wondering about his future.
1981: Another Country Premiered
In late 1981, Another Country premiered, and in late 1982 Daniel Day-Lewis had his big theatre break when he took over the lead.
1982: Small Part in Gandhi
In 1982, Daniel Day-Lewis had a small part in the film Gandhi as Colin, a South African street thug.
1984: Supporting role in The Bounty
In 1984, Daniel Day-Lewis had a supporting film role in The Bounty.
1985: Breakthrough Performances
In 1985, Daniel Day-Lewis earned acclaim for his breakthrough performances in My Beautiful Laundrette and A Room with a View.
1985: Public Notice with A Room with a View
In 1985, Daniel Day-Lewis gained further public notice with A Room with a View.
1985: Critically Acclaimed Performance in My Beautiful Laundrette
In 1985, Daniel Day-Lewis gave his first critically acclaimed performance in My Beautiful Laundrette.
1987: Starred in The Unbearable Lightness of Being
In 1987, Daniel Day-Lewis starred in The Unbearable Lightness of Being, solidifying his leading man status.
1988: Starred in The Unbearable Lightness of Being
In 1988, Daniel Day-Lewis starred in The Unbearable Lightness of Being, gaining further acclaim.
1989: Performance in My Left Foot
In 1989, Daniel Day-Lewis gave his performance as Christy Brown in Jim Sheridan's My Left Foot. It won him numerous awards, including the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor.
1989: Return to Stage and Breakdown
In 1989, Daniel Day-Lewis returned to the stage in Hamlet at the National Theatre, London, but collapsed during a performance, leading him to never perform on stage again.
1989: Academy Award for My Left Foot
In 1989, Daniel Day-Lewis won his first Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in My Left Foot.
1989: Left Stage During Hamlet Performance
In 1989, while playing the title role in Hamlet at the National Theatre in London, Daniel Day-Lewis left the stage midway through a performance after breaking down during a scene. This marked his last appearance on stage.
1992: Starred in The Last of the Mohicans
In 1992, Daniel Day-Lewis starred in the American film The Last of the Mohicans, based on a novel by James Fenimore Cooper, undergoing rigorous character research.
1993: Starred in The Age of Innocence
In 1993, Daniel Day-Lewis starred in Martin Scorsese's adaptation of The Age of Innocence, alongside Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder, immersing himself in the role through period clothing and behavior.
1993: Oscar Nomination for In the Name of the Father
In 1993, Daniel Day-Lewis was nominated for an Oscar for his role in In the Name of the Father.
1994: Co-starred in In The Name of the Father
In 1994, Daniel Day-Lewis co-starred with Pete Postlethwaite, whom he understudied in theatre, in the film In the Name of the Father.
1996: Starred in The Crucible and met Rebecca Miller
In 1996, Daniel Day-Lewis starred in The Crucible, during which he met his future wife, Rebecca Miller.
1996: Starred in The Crucible
In 1996, Daniel Day-Lewis starred in the film The Crucible.
1997: Starred in The Boxer and first retirement
In 1997, Daniel Day-Lewis starred in The Boxer and retired from acting to become an apprentice shoe-maker in Italy.
1997: Training for The Boxer
In 1997, Daniel Day-Lewis trained for weeks with Barry McGuigan for The Boxer, becoming proficient enough to potentially turn professional.
1998: Selective Acting Career
Since 1998, Daniel Day-Lewis, known for his method acting, starred in only six films, often with as many as five years between roles, which represents a selective career.
2000: Return to Acting
In 2000, Daniel Day-Lewis ended his first retirement and returned to acting.
2002: Oscar Nomination for Gangs of New York
In 2002, Daniel Day-Lewis received an Oscar nomination for his performance in Gangs of New York.
2002: Gangs of New York Release
In 2002, Daniel Day-Lewis starred in Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York" as William 'Bill the Butcher' Cutting. The film divided critics, but Day-Lewis's performance received widespread acclaim, earning him his third Oscar nomination and second BAFTA Award.
2007: There Will Be Blood Release
In 2007, Daniel Day-Lewis starred in "There Will Be Blood". He received widespread critical acclaim and won the Academy Award for Best Actor, BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role. During his acceptance speech, Day-Lewis dedicated his SAG award to Heath Ledger.
2007: Academy Award for There Will Be Blood
In 2007, Daniel Day-Lewis won his second Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in There Will Be Blood.
October 2011: Filming of Lincoln began
In October 2011, filming began in Richmond, Virginia, for Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln", in which Day-Lewis portrayed Abraham Lincoln. Day-Lewis prepared for the role for a year and spoke in Lincoln's voice throughout the entire shoot.
2011: Ambassador for The Lir Academy
In 2011, Day-Lewis became an Ambassador for The Lir Academy, a new drama school at Trinity College Dublin.
2012: Donation to the University of Oxford
In 2012, Daniel Day-Lewis donated papers belonging to his father, Cecil Day-Lewis, to the University of Oxford.
2012: Academy Award for Lincoln
In 2012, Daniel Day-Lewis won his third Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lincoln.
January 2013: Golden Globe Award for Lincoln
On January 14, 2013, at the 70th Golden Globe Awards, Day-Lewis won his second Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance in "Lincoln".
2015: Honorary President of the Poetry Archive
In 2015, Day-Lewis became the honorary president of the Poetry Archive.
June 2017: Retirement Announcement
Prior to the release of "Phantom Thread", in June 2017, Daniel Day-Lewis announced his retirement from acting.
2017: Patron of the Wilfred Owen Association
In 2017, Daniel Day-Lewis became a patron of the Wilfred Owen Association.
2017: Starring in Phantom Thread
In 2017, Daniel Day-Lewis starred in Paul Thomas Anderson's historical drama "Phantom Thread". His performance was met with widespread acclaim from critics, and he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
2017: Oscar Nomination for Phantom Thread and Second Retirement
In 2017, Daniel Day-Lewis was Oscar-nominated for Phantom Thread and announced his second retirement from acting.
October 2024: Return to Acting
On October 1, 2024, it was announced that Daniel Day-Lewis would return to acting after a seven-year absence. He is set to star in "Anemone", the first film directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis, with whom Daniel co-wrote the script.
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