Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the most talented actors of his generation, as evidenced by his three Oscar wins. He became the first actor to accomplish that feat in 2013 when he won his third Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln. The other two awards went to the films My Left Foot in 1989 and There Will Be Blood in 2007.
If you include his BAFTA awards, Golden Globe wins, and other accomplishments, the list will grow considerably. However, a lot of his movie fans are unaware that Day-Lewis actually began his career on the stage.
His theatrical performances have been seen on prestigious stages throughout Britain and Europe, including his time spent at the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, the Bristol Old Vic, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
However, the method actor was only with the renowned, Royal Shakespeare Company for a brief time. Even though he was given the opportunity to work there for the rest of his life, he pledged never to return.
But what made him do that?
Why Did Daniel Day-Lewis Retire From The Royal Shakespeare Company?
Daniel Day-Lewis started out on stage, as is the case with many actors, and quickly became well-known there. The 66-year-old actor shifted between theater and film for the majority of the 1980s.
He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and during his time, Day-Lewis gave a number of astounding Shakespearean performances that stunned both audiences and critics. His portrayal of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet demonstrated his capacity to intensely convey both youthful passion and tragedy.
The Age of Innocence actor did not have to wait long before he was performing on the RSC’s stage, a prestigious organization known for developing some of the best theatrical talents in the world.
Because of his commitment to his roles, meticulous preparation, and willingness to completely inhabit each character’s world, Day-Lewis was given the chance to work at RSC for the remaining part of his career. But he turned it down.
The Academy Award winner decided against pursuing a career in theater because he could not stand performing in front of rude kids who would continuously giggle. Day-Lewis allegedly said, as reported by Contact Music:
“If they’re not throwing stones at other people’s windows, they’re going to see Romeo And Juliet. You walk on stage and you had to wait for 10 minutes for them to stop laughing before you could even get a word out.”
He further recalled:
“I said, ‘Here’s the thing, I’m gonna be unemployed when I leave this room and I don’t know how long I’m going to be unemployed for, but, for however long it is, I would rather be unemployed than work with any of you people. Strangely enough, I haven’t been invited back to the Royal Shakespeare Company since that time. They thought I was mad.”
However, Day-Lewis’ involvement with the Royal Shakespeare Company solidified his status as an actor.
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When And Why Did Daniel Day-Lewis Quit Acting in Films?
Daniel Day-Lewis is often hailed as the best actor of his generation, and he consistently leaves viewers wanting more. In 2017, after his final appearance in Phantom Thread, the actor announced his retirement from the industry.
The acclaimed actor made the announcement that he would be leaving acting in 2017, just about five months before the release of Phantom Thread. It was clear from his statement that he was “immensely grateful to all his collaborators and audiences over the many years.”
Additionally, he stated that it was “a private decision” and that he would not elaborate.
But a few months after making the declaration, he opened up to W Magazine about his choice to give acting a rest. During the interview, Day-Lewis struggled to pinpoint the exact reason he stopped acting but spoke of losing interest in his profession. He said:
“If an audience believes it, that should be good enough for me. But lately, it isn’t.”
For those who do not know, he previously quit acting between 1997 and 2000 to work as an apprentice shoemaker in Italy. Even though he started acting again, he once again declared his retirement in 2017.
Watch his last film, Phantom Thread, available to stream on Netflix.
Source- Contact Music
