Daniel Day-Lewis Says His Return To Acting Was A ‘Lovely Gift,’ But Is He Officially Done With Retirement? Here’s What He Says

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Daniel Day-Lewis is famous for fully committing to his roles – he doesn’t do things halfway. He’s very picky about the movies he chooses, and completely transforms himself when he takes on a part. He also tends to take long breaks between films. When he retired eight years ago after *Phantom Thread*, it seemed definitive. However, he’s now returning to the screen in a 2025 film called *Anemone*, which he not only stars in but also helped write. He describes this return as a welcome surprise, but does it mean he’s truly un-retired? Here’s what he said about it.

In a recent interview with Empire Magazine, Daniel Day-Lewis, known for his role in *Lincoln*, shared what motivated him to return to acting. It wasn’t a dream role he’d always wanted or a lucrative offer from a streaming service; it was a more meaningful, personal reason. He went on to explain:

Receiving that gift was truly special. Knowing it was Ronan’s first film, and having supported him throughout the entire process, made the experience incredibly unique and meaningful.

Ronan Day-Lewis, the son of Daniel Day-Lewis, is a painter and filmmaker who studied at Yale. He’s now making his debut as a director with a film called *Anemone*, which is also the first time he’s worked with his father on a project. The film, announced last October, tells a story about brothers who have grown apart and was enough to bring Daniel Day-Lewis out of retirement.

The trailer for *Anemone* reveals a story about a former British soldier (Daniel Day-Lewis) who has lost touch with his family. His brother (Sean Bean) seeks him out, prompting a reconnection. While the movie isn’t based on a true story, the father-and-son writing team found personal experiences influencing the narrative. As Ronan explains, they gradually recognized and welcomed these personal elements as the story developed.

Seeing his father transform into the character was strangely magical. “It was a fascinating contradiction,” Ronan explained. “It was both my dad and Ray, layered on top of each other.”

It’s evident that *Anemone* wasn’t simply a creative project; it was a very personal one. This personal connection might have reignited a passion in the Academy Award-winning actor that he believed was gone. Day-Lewis then spoke further about his decision to return to acting:

I often find myself drawn to new interests, and I think it’s likely to happen again with this. Basically, when I get really interested in something, a strong desire to learn more naturally follows.

This is a significant change from the firm stance he took after finishing *Phantom Thread*, where he even announced his retirement from acting. Since then, he’s focused on family, stayed out of the public eye, and returned to working with his hands – this time, instead of shoemaking in Florence, he’s learning the art of violin-making at a school in Boston. (It seems perfectly fitting, doesn’t it?)

Is Daniel Day-Lewis truly back, or is this just a single appearance? His recent comments suggest he’s no longer considering himself retired, but rather open to the right opportunity. He hinted at a potential return by saying:

I’m certainly not going to shy away from it.

So, it seems the famous performer is open to the possibility of performing again. Hopefully, if he does return, it won’t be another long wait to see him back on stage.

The film *Anemone* will have a limited theatrical release on Friday, October 3, 2025. See your local movie listings for showtimes.

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2025-09-23 23:44