One would think three-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis has few career regrets. Still, he revealed in a new Rolling Stone interview Wednesday that his decision to retire — only to have to field endless questions about his upcoming comeback — is definitely among them.
“I would have done well to just keep my mouth shut, for sure,” he told the outlet with a laugh. “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.”
Day-Lewis announced his retirement to utter shock in 2017 from fans, critics and cinephiles. With multiple accolades and a then-seemingly final performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Phantom Thread” en route to theaters, it appeared to be a permanent adieu.
The acting legend explained at the time that he no longer believed in “the value” of his work, and that quitting was something he “had to” do. But it was revealed last year that Day-Lewis had reversed course and was cast in the lead of a psychological drama.
“Anemone” is not only written and directed by the actor’s son Ronan Day-Lewis, but co-written by the thespian himself. It centers on an English veteran (Sean Bean) who reunites with his brother (Day-Lewis), who has lived in the woods in full isolation for 20 years.
