“It’s a game. The game involves the power of self delusion” DANIEL DAY LEWIS
Despite having recently announced his retirement from acting, it’s safe to say the impeccable Daniel Day Lewis has cemented himself as one of the all time greats.
Known for his deeply intense, almost fanatical approach to acting, he has these illuminating words to share with Michael Parkinson about the individuality of one’s preparation;
I never did a days work in my life. I play. I see it as a game. Even if sometimes it drives you half round the twist playing it.
In a somewhat futile attempt to demystify his process he said;
There is no way to describe it. The game involves the power of self delusion. At the centre of it I have to try and kid myself that I’m living a life that isn’t mine. If I can’t do that then there’s no chance of me kidding anyone else
I put on somebody else clothes, I try and convince myself I’m living a life that isn’t mine, I live in a house that doesn’t belong to me, I have thoughts and feelings that aren’t mine, I work with a group of complete strangers….and at the end of it all….even if I do cartwheels with a bunch of daffodils stuck up my jacksy…what could be more bizarre than the thing itself! At the end of the day it doesn’t matter.
Each to their own. It doesn’t matter how you get there, the end result is all that matters!
