Daniel Day-Lewis Pokes Fun at Clint Eastwood's Empty Chair Routine
Daniel Day Lewis
Now that the election's finished we thought Eastwooding was over. But Daniel Day-Lewis proved us wrong.
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According to The Hollywood Reporter, the method actor tried his hand at the trend Wednesday at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts' Britannia Awards. Day-Lewis' applause while accepting the Stanley Kubrick Award reportedly paled in comparison to the reaction he got when he spoofed Clint Eastwood's infamous "empty chair" speech at the Republican National Convention.
"Please excuse me if I'm a little bit groggy," the Lincoln star said. "I was up 'til probably 2 in the morning last night watching CNN." Day-Lewis then shifted into in an exaggeratedly thankful tone, adding, "I have to say that I'm so extremely grateful and glad that — taking time out of his very busy schedule — the recently re-elected president of this country has made it here." The actor then gestured to an empty chair next to him, prompting the crowd to erupt in applause.
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But Day-Lewis' parody wasn't meant as an attack on Eastwood or the Republican Party. "I love Clint Eastwood," he said. "This is no satirical comment on his politics or anything else. But I have to say, when I saw him talking to a chair in front of a room full of strangers, I thought, 'I've got to try that.' That's a challenge. I didn't pull it off quite as well as him, but anyhow, I've got some way to go."
Day-Lewis is notorious for his dedication to method acting. So we have to wonder if he's out there right now practicing transcendental meditation and talking to empty chairs in a gritty American accent until he perfects the joke. One can only hope.