CineTV Contest: Daniel Day-Lewis, Thespian Chamaeleon

Even though I picked this week's @cinetv contest and even though I am not eligible to win any prizes as I am a CineTV staff member, I wanted to partake in this week's contest in order to pay a small tribute to an actor who I feel is the quintessential chameleon of the stage and screen, Daniel Day-Lewis.

His career has spanned decades and he has portrayed some of the most iconic characters in film history from the sociopathic Bill the Butcher to my favorite villain, Daniel Plainview. With each performance, one feels as if they know him on a personal level. He transports us to a place within each character where they feel as if they are our brother, father, or close friend.

His dedication to his craft is the fuel for legendary stories of him staying in character for days and weeks at the time, unwilling to allow the comforts and familiarity of his life interfere with his flawless portrayal of a character. He not only portrays these characters...he BECOMES them...if even for a brief moment. He completely saturates himself within the mannerisms, speech patterns, and behavioral characteristics that make each character unique and "alive" as he interprets them.

I can't think of another actor whose range even comes close to that of Daniel Day-Lewis and I think the role that exemplifies this perfectly was his iconic portrayal of writer, Christy Brown, in the fascinating biographical film, My Left Foot. His ability to show respect to the disability of the actual individual while still giving an amazing performance as a way to tell this story was nothing short of theatric genius and I think any person seriously considering acting should see it as a case study on how every role should be approached.

I could go on and on with example after example of moments where he captured a character perfectly.....so precisely that you could not imagine someone else even attempting it, but the true power lies in watching his films and seeing him transform himself into a myriad of characters , each just as believable as the last.

Thank you so much for reading my post and remember that I love you all and take the time to watch one of his films...it may not change your life....but it might!

All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter,
Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
-Tolkien