Daniel Day-Lewis has always been an iconic actor in every movie that he has appeared in. Starring in Martin Scorsese’s 2002 film Gangs of New York, the actor portrayed the role of Bill the Butcher and was praised worldwide for his wild acting.
Pulling him from his three-year absence from Hollywood, Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio shared the screen in the 2002 film. Being a remarkable actor, Daniel Day-Lewis revealed that he had to channel his anger onto the character of Bill the Butcher and the result is purely exceptional!
When Daniel Day-Lewis Channeled His Anger Onto Bill The Butcher
The journey of Day-Lewis has been remarkable, to say the least. Taking frequent breaks from Hollywood until his retirement in 2017, the actor has a plethora of iconic roles and awards to his name.
After a three-year absence from Hollywood, the actor was picked up to portray the role of Bill the Butcher in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York. To prepare for his role, Day-Lewis revealed to Issuu that his mental and physical health took a toll. Stating that he channeled his anger from his own street fights and football charades, the result was a wild character brimming with anger!
“Of course, I had to prepare, so I just went mad and remembered the halcyon days of fighting on the terraces at the Den, memories that stood me in good stead as Bill the Butcher. He was a bit of a punk and a marvellous character and a joy to be ‒ although not so good for my physical or mental health.”
As the years went by, the actor started taking frequent breaks from Hollywood. In 2017, Daniel Day-Lewis confirmed in an interview that he was indeed retiring. Although a clear reason was not stated, the statement seemed like Day-Lewis’ mental health seemed to have taken a toll on him.
Why Daniel Day-Lewis Retired From Hollywood
Being an incredible actor, the world was shocked when Daniel Day-Lewis finally announced his retirement. Although his last film, Phantom Thread, was quite a success, the actor revealed in a 2017 interview with W Magazine that he did not want another project.
“Before making the film, I didn’t know I was going to stop acting. But it’s settled on me, and it’s just there…I dread to use the overused word ‘artist,’ but there’s something of the responsibility of the artist that hung over me. I need to believe in the value of what I’m doing.”
He further continued,
“The work can seem vital. Irresistible, even. And if an audience believes it, that should be good enough for me. But, lately, it isn’t.”
Although the actor retired, his remarkable films have been the recipient of several accolades and awards. As for Gangs of New York, the film received a rating of 7.5/10 on IMDB and 73% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is available to stream on Max in the U.S.
