Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the most phenomenal individuals of all time. He has starred in some extremely critically acclaimed projects throughout his lengthy career, becoming one of the most respected names in Hollywood. He has received many accolades, including winning an Academy Award three times in the span of his career, for works like My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, and Lincon. Being one of the most beloved actors in the industry, his legacy has lived on even though he no longer appears in front of the camera.
The one film that distinctly stands out in his filmography is his 1989 film, My Left Foot. Not only because the film is fully Rt-rated, but because Lewis plays a character unlike anything he has ever played. It would seem that not much convincing was required for the actor to play the role, as he only had to read one scene to accept the challenge.
Daniel Day-Lewis Read One Scene and Was On Board
My Left Foot’s opening scene captivates its audience in the most perfect way possible. The film opens with a shot where the only center is the foot of the protagonist, Christy Brown, an Irish painter and writer who has cerebral palsy. He is seen trying to take a vinyl record out of its sleeve. After doing it successfully, he puts the record on a turntable. When it skips, he even manages to pick up the needle and set it in the right spot, all with his left foot.
This was the first scene that Daniel Day-Lewis read when he first received the script, and he was immediately convinced that he wanted to play the character. Intrigued by Brown’s personality and daily struggles, the actor wanted an opportunity to understand and play him to his best abilities.
Daniel Day-Lewis Was Still Unsure If He Could Do the Scene
Ironically enough, despite this scene being the one that convinced Daniel Day-Lewis to be a part of the project, he was unsure of whether he would be able to do it. Still dedicated, the actor practiced the scene for weeks before shooting began. Additionally, he also spent months with people who were afflicted with cerebral palsy to understand how he could portray them better.
When it was finally time for him to do this very difficult scene, the actor was as prepared as he could be. Interestingly enough, he managed to nail the scene on his first try, not needing more than one take for it. My Left Foot ended up becoming one of Lewis’ most critically acclaimed projects to date, possessing a near-perfect rating of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.
