From Anonymous Extra to Oscar Powerhouse
Fifty-four years ago, a young Daniel Day-Lewis made his first steps onto the big screen as an uncredited extra in Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971), at just 13 or 14 years old. At the time of its release, this feature caused quite a stir and went on to snag four Academy Award nominations. Way down on the cast list—so down you’d need a magnifying glass—you’ll find the embryonic beginnings of Day-Lewis’s storied career. With no significant professional training under his belt, he landed a tiny walk-on role. This fleeting appearance might have seemed like a blip, but in reality, it marked the starting point of a journey that would go far, far beyond the background.
Stepping Into the Spotlight
After this first brush with the screen, Daniel Day-Lewis made a conscious decision to dedicate himself to the theatre, embarking on formal acting training. He eventually returned to the film industry in the 1980s, this time with much meatier roles to sink his teeth into. If you dig through his early screen credits, you’ll spot notable films like Gandhi (1982) and The Bounty (1984). Still, it was in 1985—with movies like My Beautiful Laundrette and A Room with a View—that critics genuinely began to take notice. Already his performances showed remarkable range, and his all-in dedication to every character started to draw serious attention. Even then, it was clear: here was someone who didn’t just play roles, but lived them.
The Making of a Legend
Across the years and decades, Daniel Day-Lewis built a reputation as a demanding actor, respected for his utter commitment to every role. Thanks to this all-embracing approach, he has won three Oscars for Best Actor—My Left Foot (1989), There Will Be Blood (2007), and Lincoln (2012)—an unmatched record in Academy Award history. He’s also received nominations for In the Name of the Father (1993), Gangs of New York (2002), and Phantom Thread (2017).
- For My Left Foot, Day-Lewis famously spent the entire filming process living in a wheelchair, blurring the line between actor and character. That’s commitment (and some sore muscles) for you.
- Portraying the miserly and ruthless Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood, he delivered a performance of such rare intensity that critics reached near-universal agreement—he was simply outstanding.
- Finally, in Lincoln, his ability to embody both the empathy and gravitas of the American president netted him his third Oscar.
This run of awards and acclaimed performances only bolsters the argument that he is, for many, the best actor of his generation—and, just maybe, the best living one.
“Today, he is considered by many as one of the greatest actors of all time—if not the greatest still alive.”
An Enduring Myth and a Highly-Anticipated Return
But it’s not just about the trophies on his shelf. Day-Lewis’s legendary status also springs from his method: staying in character on set, spending months preparing for roles, and steeping himself in historical contexts. This almost mythical dedication cements his place in cinema history as an unrivaled craftsman.
In 2017, he announced his retirement after Phantom Thread, leaving cinephiles everywhere clutching their popcorn in despair. Yet, in 2024, anticipation has surged once again, as he returns to the screen in the feature film Anemone, directed and co-written by his own son, Ronan Day-Lewis. The prospect of seeing him perform again electrifies both admiring fans and film specialists worldwide.
And so, the story of his humble beginnings—as an uncredited extra in a movie that scored four Oscar nominations—now feeds into the near-universal consensus: Daniel Day-Lewis’s career and choices have more than earned him the title of “greatest actor in the world,” in the eyes of his admirers and cinema experts alike.
