Daniel Day-Lewis's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Daniel Day-Lewis.

Sir Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis is a highly acclaimed English actor, widely regarded as one of cinema's greatest. He has received numerous awards, including three Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. His contributions to drama were recognized in 2014 when he was knighted.

Sections (4)

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

1968: Cecil Day-Lewis appointed Poet Laureate

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

1985: Breakthrough performances in My Beautiful Laundrette and A Room with a View

In 1985, Day-Lewis earned acclaim for his breakthrough performances in My Beautiful Laundrette and A Room with a View.

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1985: Critically acclaimed performance in My Beautiful Laundrette

In 1985, Day-Lewis gave his first critically acclaimed performance in the film My Beautiful Laundrette, playing a young gay English man.

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1988: Acclaim for The Unbearable Lightness of Being

In 1988, Day-Lewis earned acclaim for his performance in The Unbearable Lightness of Being.

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1989: Academy Award for My Left Foot

In 1989, Daniel Day-Lewis earned an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Christy Brown in My Left Foot.

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1993: Oscar nomination for In the Name of the Father

In 1993, Day-Lewis was Oscar-nominated for In the Name of the Father.

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2002: Starring in Gangs of New York

In 2002, Daniel Day-Lewis starred in "Gangs of New York" as William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting, directed by Martin Scorsese. He prepared for the role by learning knife-throwing from circus performers and stayed in character throughout filming, even when diagnosed with pneumonia. The film received mixed reviews, but Day-Lewis was praised for his performance, earning him his third Oscar nomination and second BAFTA Award.

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2002: Oscar nomination for Gangs of New York

In 2002, Day-Lewis was Oscar-nominated for Gangs of New York.

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2007: Academy Award for There Will Be Blood

In 2007, Daniel Day-Lewis earned an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as an oil tycoon in There Will Be Blood.

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2007: Starring in There Will Be Blood

In 2007, Daniel Day-Lewis starred in "There Will Be Blood", Paul Thomas Anderson's loose film adaptation of Upton Sinclair's novel Oil!. The film was critically acclaimed and Day-Lewis received numerous awards for his performance, including the Academy Award for Best Actor, which he dedicated to Heath Ledger.

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2008: Academy Award Win

In 2008, after receiving the Academy Award for Best Actor from Helen Mirren, Daniel Day-Lewis knelt before her, and she tapped him on each shoulder with the Oscar statuette, to which he quipped about never getting a knighthood.

2009: Starring in Nine

In 2009, Daniel Day-Lewis starred in Rob Marshall's musical adaptation "Nine" as film director Guido Contini. He received nominations for the Golden Globe Award and the Satellite Award for Best Actor.

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2010: Honorary Doctorate

In 2010, Daniel Day-Lewis received an honorary doctorate in letters from the University of Bristol, due to his attendance of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in his youth.

November 2012: Receiving the BAFTA Britannia Award for Excellence in Film

In November 2012, Daniel Day-Lewis received the BAFTA Britannia Award for Excellence in Film. The same month, he featured on the cover of Time magazine as the "World's Greatest Actor".

2012: Academy Award for Lincoln

In 2012, Daniel Day-Lewis earned an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln.

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January 2013: Winning Golden Globe Award for Best Actor

On January 14, 2013, at the 70th Golden Globe Awards, Daniel Day-Lewis won his second Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role in "Lincoln".

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2013: Debate About Day-Lewis's Standing Among Great Actors

In 2013, following his third Oscar win for "Lincoln", there was much debate about Daniel Day-Lewis's standing among the greatest actors in film history.

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November 2014: Knighthood

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

2014: Knighthood for services to drama

In 2014, Daniel Day-Lewis received a knighthood for his services to drama.

2014: Receiving Knighthood

In 2014, Daniel Day-Lewis received a knighthood for services to drama, adding to his numerous accolades throughout his career.

2017: Oscar nomination for Phantom Thread and second retirement

In 2017, Day-Lewis was Oscar-nominated for Phantom Thread. He also retired from acting for the second time.

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2017: Starring in Phantom Thread

In 2017, after a five-year hiatus, Daniel Day-Lewis starred in Paul Thomas Anderson's historical drama "Phantom Thread", playing an obsessive dressmaker. The film was met with widespread acclaim, and Day-Lewis was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

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