Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Daniel Day-Lewis Biography

Birth Name:Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis

Birth Place:Greenwich, London, England, United Kingdom

Profession Actor, Writer, Producer, Soundtrack, Music department

Fast Facts

Is the first person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor three times
Born to poet Cecil Day-Lewis and actress Jill Balcon
Got married to writer Rebecca Miller in 1996
Started acting to cope with his years of being bullied by local children
Quote: "Life comes first․ What I see in the characters, I first try to see in life․"
Quote: "The work itself is never anything but pure pleasure, but there's an awful lot of peripheral stuff that I find it hard to be surrounded by․ I like things to be swift, because the energy you have is concentrated and can be fleeting․"
Much like his method acting roles, he often delves into extreme habits to connect with his characters, some of which include making learning to speak Czech, spending an entire film shoot in a wheelchair and building a canoe
Was in contention to portray the role of Vincent Vega in "Pulp Fiction․"
Was offered the lead role in "Philadelphia," but turned it down

Awards

1986NBR Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1986NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1987NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1989BSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
1989European Film Award-European Actor of the Year: nominated
1989LAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
1989Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special Mention-: winner
1989Best Actor-: winner
1989NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
1990Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
1990BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
1990BSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
1990CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
1990Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actor: winner
1990Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1990ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: winner
1990NSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
1993ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1993BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
1993BSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
1993Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actor: winner
1993ALFS Award-British Actor of the Year: winner
1993LAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
1993NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1994Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1994BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
1994CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
1994David-Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero): nominated
1994Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1994NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1996ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
1996NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1998Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2002ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2002ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2002BSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002Golden Schmoes-Best Actor of the Year: winner
2002KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2002Sierra Award-Best Actor: winner
2002LAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2002NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2002NYFCO Award-Best Actor: winner
2002SDFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2002Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Actor: winner
2002SEFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2002TFCA Award-Best Performance, Male: nominated
2002UFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2002VVFP Award-Best Performance: nominated
2002WAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2003Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2003Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2003BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2003COFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2003CFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2003Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: winner
2003DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2003FFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2003Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: winner
2003Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2003INOCA-Best Actor: nominated
2003IOMA-Best Actor (Miglior attore protagonista): winner
2003MTV Movie Award-Best Villain: nominated
2003OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2003OFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2003PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2003Golden Aries-Best Foreign Actor: winner
2003Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: winner
2003VFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2004Empire Award-Best Actor: nominated
2005Best Actor-: winner
2007EDA Award-Best Actor: winner
2007AFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2007ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2007BSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2007CFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2007DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2007DFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2007FFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2007Golden Schmoes-Best Actor of the Year: winner
2007ICP Award-Best Lead Performance: winner
2007KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2007Sierra Award-Best Actor: winner
2007LAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2007NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2007NYFCO Award-Best Actor: winner
2007PFCS Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2007SDFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2007SEFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2007SLFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2007UFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2007VVFP Award-Best Actor: winner
2007WFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2008Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2008Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2008BAFTA Film Award-Best Leading Actor: winner
2008COFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2008Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: winner
2008Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: winner
2008DFCC-Best Actor: winner
2008Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2008Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: winner
2008Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
2008HFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2008ICS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2008INOCA-Best Actor: winner
2008IFTA Award-Best International Actor: winner
2008IOMA-Best Actor (Miglior attore protagonista): winner
2008ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: winner
2008NSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
2008NTFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2008OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2008OFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2008Desert Palm Achievement Award-: winner
2008VFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2009Empire Award-Best Actor: nominated
2009IOFCP Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2009Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
2009Special Achievement Award-Best Ensemble, Motion Picture: winner
2009WAFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2010Felix-Best Actor: winner
2010Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
2010Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2010Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor of the Decade: winner
2010Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
2010IOFCP Award-Best Actor of the Decade: nominated
2012ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2012ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2012ACCA-Best Actor of the Decade: winner
2012BFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2012BFCC Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2012BOFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2012BSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
2012CFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2012DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2012DFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2012FFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2012Golden Schmoes-Best Actor of the Year: winner
2012IGN Award-Best Movie Actor: winner
2012IFJA Award-Best Actor: winner
2012ICP Award-Best Lead Performance: nominated
2012IOFCP Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2012KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2012Sierra Award-Best Actor: winner
2012NFCS Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
2012NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2012NYFCO Award-Best Actor: winner
2012OFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2012PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2012SDFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2012Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2012SEFCA Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2012SEFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2012SLFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2012TFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012UFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012VVFP Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012WAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2012WFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2013AACTA International Award-Best Actor: winner
2013Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013Movies for Grownups Award-Best Grownup Love Story: nominated
2013Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2013Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2013Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2013EDA Award-Best Actor: winner
2013BAFTA Film Award-Best Leading Actor: winner
2013COFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2013COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2013Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: winner
2013DFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2013Dorian Award-Film Performance of the Year - Actor: winner
2013DFCC-Best Actor: nominated
2013Empire Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013GAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2013Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: winner
2013Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2013Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
2013HFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2013ICS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013INOCA-Best Actor: nominated
2013IFC Award-Best Actor: winner
2013IFTA Award-Best International Actor: winner
2013IOMA-Best Actor (Miglior attore protagonista): nominated
2013ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
2013ALFS Award-British Actor of the Year: nominated
2013MTV Movie Award-Best Male Performance: nominated
2013NSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
2013NCFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013NTFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2013OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2013OFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2013VFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2014Felix-Best Actor: nominated
2014Cinema Bloggers Award-Best Actor - International Competition: winner
2014CCOP-Best Actor (Melhor Actor): winner
2014Días de Cine Award-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
2017ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2017CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2017DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2017DFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2017ICP Award-Best Lead Actor: nominated
2017PFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2017PCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2017SFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2017SLFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2017TFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2017VFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2017VVFP Award-Best Lead Performance: nominated
2017WAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2018AACTA International Award-Best Lead Actor: nominated
2018Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
2018Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2018BAFTA Film Award-Best Leading Actor: nominated
2018Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
2018DFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2018DFCC-Best Actor: nominated
2018Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: nominated
2018Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2018ICS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2018INOCA-Best Actor: nominated
2018ALFS Award-British/Irish Actor of the Year: nominated
2018ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
2018NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2018OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2018Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2019Critics Award-Best Foreign Actor (Melhor Ator Estrangeiro): winner
2020Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor of the Decade: nominated
2022OFTA Film Hall of Fame-Character: winner