ROME, February 29, 2024 — Daniel Day-Lewis, renowned for his immersive method acting, nearly succumbed to pneumonia while filming “Gangs of New York” after refusing modern medical treatment to maintain historical accuracy.
A Commitment to Character
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Daniel Day-Lewis is celebrated for fully embodying his roles, even off-camera. In Martin Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York,” he portrays William “The Butcher” Cutting, a gang leader in 1846 New York. His dedication extended to rejecting contemporary medicine, a decision that brought him to the brink of serious illness.
Intensive Preparation for “Gangs of New York”
Day-Lewis’s preparation for “Gangs of New York” went far beyond typical acting research. He trained with butchers to master the art of cutting meat and learned knife-throwing from circus performers. This commitment to detail is characteristic of his work; he learned tailoring for “The Silk Thread” and even ceased using his limbs to portray a man with cerebral palsy in “My Left Foot.” However, his dedication to historical authenticity during filming of “Gangs of New York” proved almost fatal.
Daniel Day-Lewis Refused Vital Medication
Day-Lewis was the sole actor who insisted on period-appropriate clothing, which proved inadequate for the chilly on-set conditions, leading to pneumonia. Instead of resting and recovering, he continued to inhabit his character, walking the streets of Rome at night and engaging in arguments with locals. When his pneumonia worsened, he initially refused medication, reasoning that it didn’t exist in 1846. He told The Independent that he “almost died” during the production. Ultimately, director Martin Scorsese, with the assistance of a physician, persuaded Day-Lewis to accept treatment.
Beyond this, Day-Lewis employed other extreme methods, including wearing a glass eye over his own and repeatedly tapping it with a knife, and abstaining from washing his hair. Despite these intense practices, the film industry remains grateful to have avoided losing a talented actor to his unwavering dedication.
- Daniel Day-Lewis nearly died from pneumonia while filming “Gangs of New York.”
- He refused modern medicine to remain true to the 1846 setting of the film.
- Director Martin Scorsese intervened to convince him to seek medical treatment.
- Day-Lewis is known for his intensely immersive method acting approach.
