Renowned actor Daniel Day-Lewis retired from acting in 2017, but it wasn't the first time the actor disappeared from film. Here's why he did it.

After Phantom Thread was released in 2017, Daniel Day-Lewis announced that he was retiring from acting for the second time. Daniel Day-Lewis is considered to be one of the greatest film actors ever, being the only performer to ever win the "Best Actor" Oscar category three times (he received the award for his performances as Christy Brown in My Left Foot, Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood, and Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln). The actor was nominated three more times for his portrayal of Gerry Conlon in In the Name of the Father, Bill "The Butcher" Cutting in Gangs of New York, and Reynolds Woodcock in Phantom Thread.

Along with his numerous accolades and achievements, Lewis was also known for his method acting, where he would remain in character through the duration of a shoot, allowing him to sink deeply into his characters. Method acting proved to be effective, as Lewis is usually unrecognizable in his films, which were typically period pieces. He fully immersed himself into costume and voice, taking method acting to an often extreme extent. It certainly helped make many of his characters stand out. However, it also seemed to take a huge toll on him too.

Daniel Day-Lewis Retired From Acting Because Of His Method Acting

In an interview with W Magazine, Daniel Day-Lewis announced his retirement. His statement was vague, with the most clear explanation being his complicated relationship with acting. The actor stated: "I didn’t want to get sucked back into another project." Previous characters he'd played had made him want to quit, causing him to take multi-year breaks in between projects. The intensity he brought to each role required a great effort and commitment that appears to have been taxing on him over time.

Lewis expanded on his thoughts, saying "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 also explained that he hadn't seen Phantom Thread, a decision that was likely tied to his decision to retire. He described his relationship with the film, and character Reynolds Woodcock, explaining the difficulty and overwhelming sadness that came from creating this character. His public announcement of retirement served as a binding to his decision, as he had attempted to retire previously in 1997.

How Long Daniel Day-Lewis' First Retirement Lasted

After The Boxer in 1997, Daniel Day-Lewis went into a state of semi-retirement for five years. While he took up woodworking and shoemaking during this period (via Vanity Fair), the actor returned to the industry in 2002 for Gangs of New York. These gaps became common for the actor, who often took two to five years breaks between his films in the 21st century. His previous return from retirement and long gaps between films keep audiences hopeful for the chance of another return to the big screen. However, with no new film announcement in sight, his retirement following Phantom Thread has proven to be his longest stint away from the camera.