Daniel Day-Lewis has decided to step back into the spotlight after eight years away from acting. The three-time Oscar winner, now 68, revealed that his return comes with a deeply personal project: starring in Anemone, a new film written and directed by his son Ronan.
The actor, who last appeared in 2017’s Phantom Thread, admitted to Rolling Stone that he had mixed feelings about working again. He confessed to having “certain reservations about being back in the public world” but said Ronan encouraged him. In fact, his son made it clear he would not move forward with the project unless his father joined him.
A Family Story On Screen
Anemone draws directly from the father-son bond shared by Daniel Day-Lewis and Ronan. The film explores family ties, generational conflicts, and the complex relationships between fathers, sons, and brothers. Day-Lewis said the idea of collaborating with Ronan brought him joy after years of what he called “residual sadness” from leaving acting behind.
According to People, he explained that while he loved the craft, he grew weary of the industry around it. “It was just kind of a low-level fear, [an] anxiety about re-engaging with the business of filmmaking,” he shared. Still, the chance to create something intimate with his son reignited his passion. “Working with Ro, that furnace just lit up. And it was, from beginning to end, just pure joy,” Day-Lewis said.
Looking Back At A Legendary Career
This is not the first time Daniel Day-Lewis has stepped away. He first announced his retirement in 1997 after making The Boxer, but returned five years later for Gangs of New York. That role earned him one of his many Oscar nominations. Over his career, he has become the only actor to win three Academy Awards for Best Actor, thanks to My Left Foot (1989), There Will Be Blood (2007), and Lincoln (2012).
Day-Lewis admits that as he gets older, it takes longer to reconnect with the passion that drives his work. But this time, the inspiration came from family. With Anemone opening in select theaters on Oct. 3 and expanding nationwide on Oct. 10, audiences will soon see Daniel Day-Lewis return to the screen, where he has made history so many times before.