Early Life and Education of Daniel Day-Lewis: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Daniel Day-Lewis. A timeline of key moments.

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.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1904: Birth of Cecil Day-Lewis

In 1904, Cecil Day-Lewis, Daniel Day-Lewis's father, was born.

1925: Birth of Jill Balcon

In 1925, Jill Balcon, Daniel Day-Lewis's mother, was born.

1953: Birth of Tamasin Day-Lewis

In 1953, Tamasin Day-Lewis, Daniel Day-Lewis's sister, was born.

April 1957: Daniel Day-Lewis Born

In April 1957, Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis was born in Kensington, London, to Cecil Day-Lewis and Jill Balcon.

1968: Sent to Sevenoaks School

In 1968, Daniel Day-Lewis was sent to Sevenoaks School in Kent as a boarder due to his wild behavior.

1968: Father Appointed Poet Laureate

In 1968, Daniel Day-Lewis's father was appointed Poet Laureate.

1972: Family Stay at Lemmons and Father's Death

In 1972, the Day-Lewis family stayed at Lemmons due to his father's pancreatic cancer, and his father died there in May of that year.

1975: Left Bedales School

In 1975, Daniel Day-Lewis left Bedales School and needed to make a career choice.

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.

1993: Dual Citizenship

Since 1993, Daniel Day-Lewis has held dual British and Irish citizenship.

1995: Son's Birth After Relationship Ended

In 1995, Daniel Day-Lewis's son was born in New York City a few months after his six-year relationship with French actress Isabelle Adjani ended.

November 1996: Marriage to Rebecca Miller

On November 13, 1996, Daniel Day-Lewis married Rebecca Miller after meeting her while working on the film version of "The Crucible".

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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.

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1997: Annamoe Home

Since 1997, Daniel Day-Lewis has maintained his home in Annamoe, Ireland.

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.

2005: Visit to Gaza Strip

In 2005, Daniel Day-Lewis visited the Gaza Strip with Médecins Sans Frontières and criticized the occupation as "a state of apartheid".

2008: Academy Award and Knighthood Joke

In 2008, Daniel Day-Lewis, upon receiving the Academy Award for Best Actor from Helen Mirren, joked about receiving a knighthood.

2009: Mother's Death

In 2009, Daniel Day-Lewis's mother, Jill Balcon, who was a vice-president of the Wilfred Owen Association, died.

2010: Honorary Doctorate

In 2010, Day-Lewis received an honorary doctorate in letters from the University of Bristol.

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.

November 2014: Knighthood Investiture

On November 14, 2014, Daniel Day-Lewis was knighted by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, at Buckingham Palace.

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.

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November 2017: Reasons for Retirement

In a November 2017 interview, Daniel Day-Lewis explained his reasons for retiring from acting, stating that he needed to believe in the value of what he was doing.

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.

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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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