Daniel Day-Lewis admits he never truly retired and regrets announcing it

Daniel Day-Lewis has clarified that his long-discussed retirement was never meant to be final. The three-time Oscar winner, who is returning to screens in Anemone, revealed that he regrets making his 2017 announcement about stepping away from acting. Speaking to Rolling Stone, he confessed he would have done well to keep quiet, since his career break was less about quitting and more about exploring other work.

The acclaimed actor, now 68, said he never lost his love for acting but feared he no longer had anything to offer after Phantom Thread. That role, which earned him another Academy Award nomination, left him feeling hollowed out. Reflecting now, he explained that the process eventually regenerates, even if it takes longer with age. His return, spurred by the chance to work with his son Ronan, reignited what he calls the furnace that fuels his craft.

Day-Lewis first declared retirement after Phantom Thread but had previously stepped away before, famously training as an apprentice shoemaker in Italy during one hiatus. While critics and fans often labelled these breaks as retirements, he insists he was simply searching for a different path before coming back when the right project found him.

Anemone, directed by Ronan Day-Lewis, will premiere at the New York Film Festival in September and marks the actor’s first film in eight years. He described the experience as pure joy, emphasising the personal significance of working with his son. Despite his misgivings about the culture of filmmaking, he said he never stopped loving the work itself.

The actor, who has won Academy Awards for My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, and Lincoln, admitted that announcing retirement twice over the years was premature. Now, he views it as a lesson, joking that he should have stayed silent instead of fuelling speculation.

Day-Lewis’s candid remarks have reignited debate about his unique approach to acting, which has long fascinated audiences. His return suggests that while he may occasionally step away, the craft remains a central part of his life.