Daniel Day-Lewis never breaks character once given a role and has nearly died because of it!
Among actors, there are few who rival either the talent or eccentricities of Daniel Day-Lewis. He has received countless awards for his portrayals for films such as “There Will Be Blood” and “Gangs of New York.” However, most people haven’t heard of his stranger side.
To capture the true essence of what it means to be a character, Daniel Day-Lewis decided during the filming of “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” that he would never break character. He played a Czech surgeon, and for the entirety of filming he refused to speak English or act as himself. This has resulted in some strange situations. While filming, “My Left Foot,” Day-Lewis played a severely paralyzed character confined to a wheelchair.
The crew on the film absolutely hated him because they were forced to move him around the set, over cameras and wires, all while he could walk perfectly fine. He is so committed to his roles, that when he was dropped and broke two ribs, he still refused to break character!
While playing a rich aristocrat from the 19th century, he wore a top hat, cane, and cape around New York for two months! During “Gangs of New York” Day-Lewis refused to wear modern clothing. This resulted in him catching pneumonia from the harsh winter. He then refused to see a doctor because it was not in keeping with the times!
It was only after nearly dying that he was finally convinced to seek medical attention. Regardless of his antics, there is no denying the greatness in Daniel Day-Lewis’ work, and there is no doubt that he will continue to stun audiences around the globe.
