Overview
- The three-time Oscar winner appeared for a sold-out Screen Talk at the BFI Southbank, supporting Anemone, his first role since 2017, which he co-wrote with and is directed by his son Ronan Day-Lewis.
- He argued that recent critiques of Method acting come from people with “little or no understanding” of it, rejecting portrayals of the technique as a “cult” and describing it as a way to stay spontaneous on set.
- Reflecting on My Left Foot, he said he was initially “clueless,” credited that film with shaping his process, and noted he would not take that portrayal today given shifted views on disability representation.
- He reiterated regret over the definitiveness of his 2017 retirement announcement, saying he never truly intended to retire from acting.
- Anemone premiered at the New York Film Festival before screening in London, has received divided reviews, and features Sean Bean and Samantha Morton, with backing from Plan B and Focus Features.