"I Never Stopped Loving the Work": Daniel Day-Lewis speaks upon ending retirement and 8-year hiatus

Daniel Day-Lewis has returned to acting after an eight-year hiatus. The three-time Oscar winner stars in Anemone, a new film written and directed by his son, Ronan. This marks his first role since Phantom Thread in 2017.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Day-Lewis explained why he decided to come back to the public eye. He said he had “certain reservations about being back in the public world again,” but added that Ronan “made it pretty clear that he wasn’t going to do it if [his father] didn’t do it.”

The film explores family bonds and generational conflicts. For Day-Lewis, the opportunity to work with his son was a key reason for ending his retirement.

Why did Daniel Day-Lewis return?

Daniel Day-Lewis said that after he retired, he “had some residual sadness.” He explained that stepping away from acting while knowing Ronan would continue making films was difficult.

“I thought, wouldn’t it be lovely if we could do something together,” he said.

The actor shared that his retirement was not a clear-cut decision. While making Phantom Thread, he felt uncertain about his ability to continue.

“Maybe there wouldn’t be that regeneration anymore,” he said.

At the time, he thought it was better to step away. Looking back, he admitted that his public retirement statement may have been a mistake.

“I would have done well to just keep my mouth shut,” Day-Lewis said. “It just seems like such grandiose gibberish to talk about. I never intended to retire, really. I just stopped doing that particular type of work so I could do some other work.”

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Daniel Day-Lewis's love for acting

Daniel Day-Lewis made clear that he never lost his passion for acting.

“The work was always something I loved. I never, ever stopped loving the work,” he said.

The challenge was not the work itself but the process of filmmaking and its impact on him. He described aspects of filmmaking that left him feeling “hollowed out.” However, he knew this feeling was part of the process and that “there would be a regeneration eventually.” That renewal came through working with his son on Anemone.

“As I get older, it just takes me longer and longer to find my way back to the place where the furnace is burning again,” Day-Lewis explained. “But working with Ro, that furnace just lit up. And it was, from beginning to end, just pure joy to spend that time together with him.”

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Daniel Day-Lewis’s return shows that his retirement was never permanent. His decision to act again was motivated by family and the chance to share work with his son. While he admits to doubts and anxieties, he remains committed to the craft he has always loved.

Anemone opens in select theaters on October 3 and will expand nationwide on October 10.

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