To the joy of his fans across the world, three-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis is making a return to the world of cinema, after being away for seven years. The Lincoln star is ending his retirement to headline his son, Ronan Day-Lewis’, directorial debut – Anemone.
The legendary actor – who has also been honoured with four BAFTA Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and two Golden Globe Awards – was last seen in the 2017 romantic period drama film Phantom Thread. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the movie also starred Vicky Krieps and Lesley Manville. Since then, the 67-year-old British actor has largely kept away from the limelight. While more details about Anemone are awaited, the story is said to “explore the intricate relationships between fathers, sons and brothers, and the dynamics of familial bonds”. Daniel has written the screenplay along with Ronan. The movie will also feature actors Sean Bean, Samantha Morton, Samuel Bottomley and Safia Oakley-Green in the lead. Pictures of the team shooting in Manchester were recently circulated on social media.
While we wait for Anemone to hit the cinemas, The Movie Mail recommends the iconic Daniel Day-Lewis’ 10 must-watch movies…
A Room with a View (1985)
Based on EM Forster’s 1908 novel of the same name, director James Ivory’s A Room with a View is an iconic romance film, featuring Daniel Day-Lewis as Cecil Vyse. The movie also stars Helena Bonham Carter, Maggie Smith, Denholm Elliott, Judi Dench and Simon Callow.
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
Daniel Day-Lewis (as Johnny) and Gordon Warnecke (as Omar) headline filmmaker Stephen Frears’ romantic comedy-drama film My Beautiful Laundrette. Set in Thatcher-era London, the movie’s screenplay is written by Hanif Kureishi. My Beautiful Laundrette is counted among the 50th greatest British films of the 20th century.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
Adapted from Milan Kundera’s popular 1984 novel of the same name, The Unbearable Lightness of Being is a 1988 romantic drama film, helmed by Philip Kaufman. The plot revolves around the Prague Spring, with Daniel Day-Lewis (as Tomas), Juliette Binoche (as Tereza) and Lena Olin (as Sabina) in the lead.
My Left Foot (1989)
Daniel Day-Lewis won his first Oscar for playing the titular character in Jim Sheridan’s first directorial My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown. An Irish man born with cerebral palsy, Christy could only move his left foot. Released in 1989, it’s a biographical comedy-drama film, adapted by Jim and Shane Connaughton from Christy Brown’s 1954 memoir.
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Co-written and directed by Michael Mann, the 1992 epic historical drama film The Last of the Mohicans is inspired by James Fenimore Cooper’s 1826 novel of the same name and its 1936 film adaptation. Set in 1757 during the French and Indian War, the movie features Daniel Day-Lewis as Nathaniel ‘Hawkeye’ Poe, while it also stars Madeleine Stowe and Jodhi May.
The Age of Innocence (1993)
Daniel Day-Lewis plays Newland Archer, a rich New York society attorney, in Martin Scorsese’s historical romantic drama film The Age of Innocence. Adapted from Edith Wharton’s 1920 novel of the same name, the 1993 flick also stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder and Miriam Margolyes. The screenplay is written by Martin and Miriam Margolyes.
Gangs of New York (2002)
Daniel Day-Lewis plays the Oscar-nominated role of William ‘Bill the Butcher’ Cutting, while Leonardo DiCaprio plays ‘Amsterdam’ Vallon and Cameron Diaz is Jenny Everdeane in Martin Scorsese-directed Gangs of New York. The 2002 epic historical drama movie is based on Herbert Asbury’s 1927 book of the same name. The screenplay is written by Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian and Kenneth Lonergan.
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Daniel Day-Lewis won his second Academy Award for his performance as Daniel Plainview, a silver miner turned oilman, in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2007 American epic period drama film There Will Be Blood. The story is inspired by Upton Sinclair’s 1927 novel Oil!. The movie also stars Paul Dano, Kevin J O’Connor, Ciarán Hinds and Dillon Freasier.
Lincoln (2012)
Easily one of his most remarkable performances, Steven Spielberg directed biographical historical drama Lincoln won Daniel Day-Lewis his third Oscar. The actor plays United States President Abraham Lincoln in the 2012 movie, which also features Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook and Tommy Lee Jones.
Phantom Thread (2017)
Yet another Oscar-nominated performance by Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread marks the last movie he did before taking retirement from acting in 2017. Helmed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the romantic period drama film features Vicky Krieps as Alma Elson, the muse of haute couture dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock, played by Daniel. The story is set in 1950s London.
