The actor Daniel Day-Lewis called “undoubtedly” one of the most promising talents in the world
If you were to search for the greatest actors of all time, a pretty steadfast list of names would be sent back to you. The usual names would be Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Olivia Colman, Denzel Washington, and, of course, Daniel Day-Lewis. The Irishman has been such a stalwart among this list that it is easy to forget how little he actually decides to step in front of the camera these days.
Before 2017’s Phantom Thread, his previous picture was 2012 hit Lincoln, and his next movie, yet to be confirmed, will see another five-year gap between films as he joins the cast of his son’s film Anemone. This kind of choosy behaviour ensures two things: firstly, that your hit rate has less of a chance of being diluted by bad movies and, secondly, that when you do return to the screen, audiences and critics alike are positively gasping to see you.
That’s not to downplay Day-Lewis’ ability. He is a commanding performer, one that demands your attention. His position as one of the true greats of the craft is not simply a clever algorithmic concoction but a triumph of his dedication to making movies and playing the roles laid out for him. Few people are as committed to honing their skills as Day-Lewis.
It’s an attitude he brings to everything he does. Whether that is escaping the world of Hollywood to become a shoemaker in Italy or becoming a stand-in editor for the lifestyle magazine Port. During his stint with the latter, Day-Lewis collected a broad range of actors and movies that shaped his career thus far.
Among the names were likely candidates such as Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Richard Burton and Orson Welles. More obscure was the inclusion of Montgomery Clift, a troubled Hollywood star that Day-Lewis described as “an extraordinary actor… Not because he covered a big range, but because he was different.”
But there was another star, a younger actor, whom Day-Lewis was left suitably impressed by: his co-star in There Will Be Blood — a movie most would consider among his greatest– the wonderful Paul Dano. Day-Lewis made a special mention of the actor when speaking to Chicago Movie Mag.
“We never really spoke, and we never met socially during that time because the work led us in different directions,” this is typical of most ventures by Day-Lewis. His dedication to his role usually ensures that he stays in character for the entirety of filming, something Dano also connected with. “He understood implicitly, as I did, that it was important to keep that distance between us,” explained the veteran actor.
However, the two would cool their animosity after filming, as Day-Lewis explained: “But we got to know each other a little bit after that, and I like him so much as a man—which always helps—but as an actor, I think he’s undoubtedly one of the most promising young actors working at the moment.”
There is likely no higher acclaim for an actor like Dano. The younger performer has become a reliably brilliant actor whenever given a chance, and with more roles following this gigantic moment, there’s a good chance that Dano could end his career equally as revered as Day-Lewis — he certainly seems to think so.
