Daniel Day-Lewis Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Daniel Day-Lewis was back in the London spotlight for the first time in years on Wednesday, appearing at a jam-packed Screen Talk as part of the 69th edition of the BFI London Film Festival (LFF) where he was welcomed with a rousing ovation after signing autographs for fans before the event. Discussing his return to acting after eight years in family drama Anemone, directed by his son Ronan Day-Lewis, and his career, the three-time Oscar winner shared: "It began with a pure wish really to work with Ronan" to address the "sadness" of maybe not getting to do so in film otherwise. He described the film as an exploration of brotherhood and the reuniting of estranged siblings. Related Stories TV MIPCOM Wrap: Creator Economy Eats TV's Lunch at Cannes Confab Movies 'Saipan' Co-Directors on Finding the Greek Drama That Makes an Irish Sports Story, Starring Steve Coogan, Universal "The lack of need for words" is what interested him, and understanding his character's army career trajectory was key for him to unlock the character, who is chasing his brother, and his behavior. Anemone follows a middle-aged man, portrayed by Sean Bean, on his journey into the woods, where he reconnects with his estranged hermit brother, played by Day-Lewis. Samantha Morton also stars in the movie. Day-Lewis previously shared that he had "certain reservations about being back in the public world again" by starring in the film, but that his son "made it pretty clear that he wasn't going to do it if I didn't do it." The project from Focus Features had its world premiere at the New York Film Festival. The movie is the feature directorial debut of Ronan Day-Lewis and was co-written by him and his father. In a wide-ranging discussion, the star was asked on Wednesday about how he has gotten into the physicality of many of his roles, such as My Left Foot. He eased into that one with "very gentle steps," he shared. "I thought of the wheelchair as a cage ... and I began to work a lot with my foot." Asked about his approach to acting, Day-Lewis said that immersion "to me makes sense," but other actors can do great work without that, "and hats off to them." He emphasized that "I still find that process a joyful thing. We're playing games for a living." The star also argued that criticism of method acting in recent years has at times been portrayed like a cult, saying such comments often come from people who don't really understand it. "It is invariably from people that have little or no understanding of what it actually involves," Day-Lewis said. "It's almost like some special science that we're involved in, or a cult, but it's just a way of freeing yourself [for] the spontaneity when you are working with your colleagues in front of the camera, so that you are free to respond in any way that you're moved to in that moment." The star emphasized that he came into My Left Foot without the screen experience he could have used. "I was clueless," he said, drawing laughter. "I didn't have a fucking clue what I was doing." Back when he went to acting school, theater was considered the "elite cultural form," while film was seen as "dodgy," and TV got the reaction of "really?!" he recalled. "It always bugged the hell out of me that we were basically performing for a group of privileged people," he said about his feelings towards such attitudes. To more laughs, he shared how "Stephen Frears was exasperated with me," because Day-Lewis always needs something "real" to be able to stay in the illusion and in the sphere of acting. For example, he would, in a role, stop sweeping the floor once it was clean, to the director's frustration, Day-Lewis said. Asked about his long creative relationship with Jim Sheridan, he shared: "I met Jim, and I basically had a crush on him within 10 minutes." He also mentioned on Wednesday how he "revered Marlon Brando," among other actors. And he shared: "I had a crush on Mary Poppins. Julie Andrews, I mean," he also shared. That and Zulu were two of his favorite films when he was young. The role that changed his life when he viewed it was Dai Bradley in Kes. "It remains one of the greatest performances," he said before expressing hos "admiration for Ken Loach." The star also discussed working with writer-director Rebecca Miller, now his wife, on The Ballad of Jack and Rose and now his son. "There was never any question about ... a conflict of interest" between family and work roles in both cases, he concluded. Both movies were "experiences that people will remember happily," he said. Ronan Day-Lewis joined the on-stage discussion for the final 20 minutes, sharing that the shoot for Anemone, much of which takes place in a shed, was "claustrophobic" but also "incredibly intimate.