How many of Daniel Day-Lewis' best films have you seen?

Method Masterpieces! Daniel Day-Lewis’ Top Five Films

Daniel Day-Lewis is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of his generation, known for his intense method approach and remarkable transformations on screen.

As he celebrates his 69th birthday today, here is a look at five of his best films.

5. My Left Foot (1989)

Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Christy Brown, an Irish artist and writer born with cerebral palsy who learns to express himself using only his left foot.

His deeply immersive performance earned him his first Academy Award for Best Actor and established him as a transformative talent.

4. Gangs of New York (2002)

Day-Lewis delivers a ferocious turn as Bill “The Butcher” Cutting in Martin Scorsese’s historical crime epic set in 19th-century New York.

Though he didn’t win, his performance earned an Academy Award nomination and remains one of his most iconic roles.

3. Lincoln (2012)

Directed by Steven Spielberg, this historical drama sees Day-Lewis portray U.S. President Abraham Lincoln during the final months of the Civil War.

His nuanced and humanising performance earned him a third Academy Award, making him the first actor to win three Best Actor Oscars.

2. Phantom Thread (2017)

In one of his later roles, Day-Lewis plays Reynolds Woodcock, a meticulous fashion designer navigating love and control in 1950s London.

The performance earned him another Oscar nomination and provided a fittingly complex performance to an equally complex character.

1. There Will Be Blood (2007)

In Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic drama, Day-Lewis plays ruthless oilman Daniel Plainview, whose ambition consumes everything around him.

His towering, intense performance won him his second Oscar and is often cited as one of the greatest in film history.