At the height of his fame, after winning his third Oscar, and at an age when he still had much to offer, the charming actor said – ENOUGH!
English-Irish actor Daniel Day-Lewis who turned 67th this year – but how, where, and with whom remains a mystery. He has worked hard to maintain his status as one of the most elusive figures in the world of celebrities.
The three-time Oscar winner – for My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, and Lincoln (with three additional nominations) – has always guarded his privacy, claiming that his life is “a lifelong study in avoidance.”
Though his formal residence is listed in New York, he has spent many years enjoying time in Annamoe, a small Irish village where he owns a home. He lives there with his wife, Rebecca Miller, the daughter of legendary playwright Arthur Miller. The couple has been married since 1996 and has two sons.
Day-Lewis also has an older son from a previous relationship with renowned French actress Isabelle Adjani. However, very little is known about his life today, as he retired from acting at the peak of his career.
Why did Daniel Day-Lewis retire from acting?
After portraying Abraham Lincoln and tying with Jack Nicholson and Walter Brennan for the most Oscars won by an actor, Daniel Day-Lewis filmed just one more movie before deciding to step away from acting entirely.
His final film was Phantom Thread, released in 2017. Shortly after its completion, his publicist announced that Day-Lewis had officially retired, marking the end of his extraordinary career.
“I knew it was unusual to make such a statement,” Daniel Day-Lewis said. “But I wanted to draw a line. I didn’t want to come back with a new project. My whole life, I’ve talked about how I should stop acting, but I don’t know why it felt different this time. The urge to quit became deeply rooted within me, and it turned into something I had to do. It wasn’t a choice—it was a necessity.”
Reflecting on his final film, Phantom Thread, Day-Lewis shared with W Magazine: “Before we started filming, I didn’t know I would stop acting. Director Paul Thomas Anderson and I laughed a lot before the shoot began. But then we stopped, overcome by a profound sense of sadness.”
“I want to explore the world in a different way,” Day-Lewis said at the time. “I’m not sure exactly which direction I’ll take, but I don’t plan to stay idle. I’m not afraid of silence.”
Known as one of the most dedicated actors in the industry, Day-Lewis is famous for his method acting, staying in character not just on set but also in his private life. This approach earned him acclaim, but it also underscored the intensity he brought to his craft.
Since his retirement, he has rarely appeared in public. However, he made an exception some time ago to attend the National Board of Review awards in support of director Martin Scorsese, with whom he worked on Gangs of New York.
Aside from that, Daniel Day-Lewis is mostly seen in paparazzi photos, captured during his peaceful walks or spending time with his family in Manhattan.
