Daniel Day Lewis has won the Academy Award for Best Leading Actor for his phenomenal performance in Spielberg’s Lincoln. DDL was widely expected to take home the statue after sweeping the awards season this year. It’s not like he campaigned for it, I didn’t notice any press he did except for 60 Minutes, where he talked about inhabiting his character and being sad to leave the great statesman’s point of view. With Daniel, his acting seems like a compulsion and a dedication mixed up with enormous ability. He’s a notorious method actor, and the result is unparalleled.
Daniel is now one of only six actors to earn three or more acting Oscars during their career. (He last took home an Oscar in 2008 for There Will Be Blood. His first was in 1990 for My Left Foot.) During his acceptance speech, DDL was as witty and plain spoken as we’ve come to expect from him. I love his speeches, he can weave a story and tell topical jokes instead of just listing off names or giving rehearsed lines. Or maybe he does rehearse his speeches and they sound like he’s making them up on the spot, he’s that good. Here’s some of what he said:
I really don’t know how any of this happened. I do know that I’ve received so much more than my fair share of good fortune in my life, and I’m so grateful to the Academy…
It’s a strange thing because three years ago, before we decided to do a straight swatch, I had actually been committed to play Margaret Thatcher and Meryl was Steven’s first choice for Lincoln. I’d like to see that version.
Steven didn’t have to persuade me to do Lincoln, but I had to persuade him that perhaps if I was going to do it, that Lincoln shouldn’t be a musical…
Since we got married 16 years ago my wife Rebecca’s lived with some very strange men… luckily she’s the versatile one in the family, she’s been the perfect companion for all of them.
Daniel then gave his thanks as only he can, and he even thanked the “mysterious mind, body and spirit of Abrahama Lincoln.” He’s so awesome, and his speech made it worth it for me to stay up this late. He told better jokes on the spot than the Oscar writers could come up with in weeks. (I mean it’s not bad, but it’s long. I always forget how long it is.) Congratulations to DDL! I have to admit that I was rooting for Hugh Jackman to take it home, but I do think the right actor won this year.
Daniel Day Lewis is shown at the BAFTA Awards with his daughter niece, Charissa Shearer, on 2-10-13. (Thanks Maureen for the update!) Credit: FameFlynet
He amazes me. Such an incredible actor, no one really comes close to him. And so likable and charming and sweet.
Way to go DDL! loved the shout out to his wife, so sweet.
I loved what he said about his wife…and Meryl Streep….what an unexpected sense of humor, from a charming man….Jaquem Phoenix take note…this is how a real actor does it.
I know. His speech was great. The Academy can’t fake the funk when it comes to DDL. They have to get it right otherwise all hell is going to break loose. There’s no denying his talent. He “drinks” all the “milkshakes” lol!
Very sweet praise of his wife.
I agree. I have loved this man for years. Any person that can play the British upperclass fop (Room With A View)and a crazy, gay commoner (My Beautiful Launderette) in the same year and be believable is really, really good. AND be sexy as all get out in Last of the Mohicans. Yowza!!
He does give good, surpisingly funny and loving speeches (and shame on Affleck for being insensitive–works on the marriage–what the?)
I love that he won….but I’ll be honest and say that I was also rooting for Joaquin.
But DDL is amazing. Back in September last year, I read an interview with him in TIME. He said that he wasn’t a good actor because he was so method, it was because he didn’t think he was good enough to do it any other way…keeping up the character.
It was so not dramatic how Merryl Stip just smoothly announced that the oscar goes to DDL. lol. Like there wasn’t even a second of pause. Like She thinks it isn’t even debatable. ahahah
That was what I thought, she was like “Of course!”
my husband asked if she even opened the envelope lol. he thinks she just announced it, cause who else would win?
I loved his speech. The words to his wife were touching. He’s an amazing actor and a very unique personality.
DDL is great but I really was rooting for Bradley Cooper – I knew he wasn’t going to win but I was so pleasantly surprised with his acting in SLP. He made that movie.
same here. But I think that time for Bradley will come when he’s got even more great acting under his belt and a wife…
What does him having a wife have to do with his acting abilities?
Bradley was great in SLP. JLaw kinda stole his thunder but this was the first movie I’ve seen with Bradley where I forgot I was watching BCoop, and just totally got lost in his character. I’ve never liked him in a movie until SLP.
I personally think that DDL and Meryl should just remove their names from consideration from this point on. They’ve both won multiple times and they need to make space for others.
I was rooting for BCoop too. Don’t get me wrong, I was REALLY excited that JLaw won (she’s my favorite ctress!) but I still think BCoop was even better than her in SLP, so he should’ve won too!
SLP and booth leads were not that impressive. It was simply the mediocre feel good movie of the year pushed by Weinstein. But Coooper should have won because the Oscars is hardly about acting anymore. They’ll get 1 or 2 right and sell the rest.
He’s great and deserved it. Did anyone else think that Meryl was acting a bit loopy and reading the prompter kind of weirdly?
I have been a fan of DDL since Gangs of NY and I’ve seen almost all of his films. He is brilliant. I loved seeing him win tonight, he was so truly humbled and touched. His speech was perfection. I think he is a gorgeous, gorgeous man.
He is so funny backstage. They asked if he was out of character yet. He said he thinks so, but he might slip back into character and if he does, maybe someone could perform the Heimlich maneuver on him. He has an adorable sense of humor.
What an effortless speech. Funny and very heartfelt. Congrats to him.
Thought DDL should have won another award just for that acceptance speech! Compare and contrast the smooth and affectionate shout out he gave his wife with Ben A who seemed to thank his wife for “working hard on their marriage” (or did I hear wrong?) Every year I ask myself why I watch the whole broadcast. It just seemed like there were only two high points: Blah blah blah blah blah Adele singing, blah blah blah blah DDL speaking. Even the dresses were all pale and boring.
DDL is also the only actor to win three Oscars in the lead acting category. That in itself is pretty
damn impressive.
Good heavens, does he have a deviated septum? His nose looks really off. Glad he won, but he needs a doctor!
I dont recall he has any daughter?
I thought his firs child is a son, with Isabela Andjani. Then he has two more sons with Rebecca Miller
Correct. DDL has three sons, but no daughters.
You’re right, he only has sons. I believe that is his niece.
DDL should win more awards just for the speeches he gives. I have seen all of his award speeches and he makes it a point to talk beyond himself, and the usual thank you a, b, c list. He’s so clam, composed and zen.
Love him, but I was kinda rooting for Joaquin to win it lol
He is an excelent actor so happy he won.
I LOVE THIS MAN!
Everytime DDL gets nominated, the other actors can just kiss their chance goodbye
Everytime DDL gets nominated, the other actors can just kiss their chance goodbye.
swoon
Well deserved win, and a fantastic speech.
Congrats to Daniel. He definitely deserved it. He’s just AMAZING.
BTW- That’s not his daughter in the pic above (he has 3 boys). That’s his niece Charissa Shearer.
I don’t know why anyone else bothered to show up. Or why they even bothered to nominate anyone else for Best Actor.
DDL is such an amazing actor. It’s always strange for me to hear him speak in his real accent and voice. I “know” he is British and sounds quite polished, but he inhabits his American characters so well that I forget it.
Daniel Day-Lewis is Irish. He mentions, every now and then, that it somewhat annoys him when people get it wrong.
DDL is both British AND Irish. He was born and raised in London and only took up Irish citizenship after living there for several years as an adult, but he never renounced his British citizenship. He also very obviously has an upper-class English accent, with no trace of an Irish accent at all.
my prediction came true i knew DDL was going to win his third oscar last night . told you all.
wonderful actor, and he just seems like a nice, quiet guy. no rumors, no scandal, no DUIs, rehab, etc. also he is hot as hell.
DDL is the best actor of his generation! Been his fan since ‘ Incredible Lightness of Being’ and he really deserved all his Oscars.I think he was robbed in ‘In the Name of the Father’ but 3 is not bad at all lol 🙂
Well deserved
Just read a post Oscar interview that he is taking an extended break. I knew it was coming but it does not hurt any less.
But DDL is always on an ‘extended break’ in the sense that he only takes on a role every few years, and then only if he is offered a script which meets his high standards. So he’ll be back, and I somehow doubt this is the last time he’ll be holding a statuette in his hand either.
And on a superficial note, he’s looking better than he has in years. What a ridiculously beautiful man.
He is unbelievably handsome and talented!
Unfortunately, I had to go to sleep and did not see his speech.
Brilliant actor. Brilliant, handsome man.
He deserved it. He’s awesome!!!!
Noooooooooooooooooooooo Hugh!!! I really wanted him to take that Oscar….sighh
Can I just say, if DDL and Meryl Streep made a movie together, I would DIE…and watch it 23083298 times.