Daniel Day-Lewis on Anemone and His Acting Return

When Daniel Day-Lewis announced his retirement from acting following the release of 2017’s Phantom Thread, the film world largely accepted it as the final word from one of its greatest talents. The three-time Best Actor Oscar winner seemed content to leave his unparalleled career behind. Now, in a surprising and welcome turn of events, Day-Lewis is back. His return comes in Anemone, a deeply personal project co-written with his son, Ronan Day-Lewis, who also directs.

This article explores the details of this unexpected comeback as Daniel Day-Lewis discusses Anemone and his return to acting. We will examine the unique circumstances that drew him back to the screen, the collaborative process with his son, and his thoughts on whether this marks a permanent return to the profession he once so publicly left.

A Retirement Spent in Craftsmanship

After stepping away from acting, Daniel Day-Lewis didn’t sit idle. He returned to one of his earliest passions: craftsmanship. Known for his immersive preparation for roles, he applied a similar dedication to his off-screen pursuits. In the late 1990s, he famously spent a year as an apprentice shoemaker in Florence. Following Phantom Thread, he pursued another intricate craft.

“I went back to school, in Boston,” Day-Lewis told Empire magazine. “I studied violin making. At a really extraordinary school which is not well known [North Bennet Street School]. It’s one of the great treasures in this country.” This period of quiet, focused work, alongside time spent with his family, seemed to define his retirement. A return to the demanding world of filmmaking was, by all accounts, not on his mind.

The “Lovely Gift” of ‘Anemone’

The project that ultimately lured Day-Lewis out of retirement was not a blockbuster or a collaboration with another legendary director, but something much closer to home. Anemone originated as a creative endeavor with his son, Ronan Day-Lewis, who makes his directorial debut with the film. The two co-wrote the script, which follows a former British soldier, Ray Stoker (played by Day-Lewis), who has estranged himself from his family until his brother (Sean Bean) seeks him out.

The experience of building this story from the ground up with his son proved to be the catalyst for his return. “It was just a lovely gift that I was given,” Day-Lewis shared. “Most particularly it being Ronan’s first film, and having been there every day with him from the beginning, that experience was unique and beautiful.”

While the story is not directly autobiographical, both father and son admit that personal elements inevitably found their way into the script. “Those aspects started to creep up on us,” Ronan explained. “There was a certain point where we both realised that, and started to embrace it.”

This collaborative process created a unique dynamic on set. Ronan described the “interesting paradox” of directing his father, who was simultaneously himself and the character he was portraying. “It was my dad, but then also Ray, superimposed over him,” he said. It was this deeply personal and artistically fulfilling environment that reignited the legendary actor’s passion.

Looking to the Future: “I’m Not Going to Shy Away From It”

The most exciting revelation to come from Daniel Day-Lewis discusses Anemone and his return to acting is his newfound openness to future roles. His retirement, once seen as definitive, now appears to have been more of a hiatus. The experience on Anemone has seemingly reminded him of what he loves about the craft.

When asked about acting again, Day-Lewis expressed a renewed sense of possibility. “The appetite always seems to emerge in relation to something that I’ve become fascinated with, and I believe that could very easily happen,” he stated. He made it clear that he is no longer closing the door on his career, adding, “I’m certainly not going to shy away from it.”

This statement signals a significant shift. His retirement was never about a loss of ability, but seemingly a loss of appetite for the work. The collaborative and meaningful process of creating Anemone with his son appears to have restored that hunger.

Conclusion

The return of Daniel Day-Lewis is a major event for cinema. It was not a calculated career move but a decision born from a “unique and beautiful” family collaboration. The film Anemone served as more than just his next role; it was a project that allowed him to reconnect with the creative process in a profoundly personal way.

For film enthusiasts, his comments offer more than just insight into one movie. They represent the hopeful possibility of witnessing one of the greatest actors of all time continue to share his talent with the world. While his future projects remain to be seen, one thing is clear: Daniel Day-Lewis is open to the work if the right story comes along, and the film world is ready and waiting.