Daniel Day-Lewis, acclaimed British actor, has won three Academy Awards for Best Actor for his exceptional performances in My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, and Lincoln. His performance in the latter, directed by Steven Spielberg, solidified his legacy as one of the greatest performers in the history of cinema. However, the story of how the Lincoln project evolved is equally fascinating.
He was preparing for years, until he decided not to
Initially, Liam Neeson was Spielberg’s first choice to portray the iconic American president. After working together on Schindler’s List, where Neeson received an Oscar nomination, the director felt inclined to repeat the successful collaboration. In 2005, Neeson embarked on an intense four-year documentation process, preparing to bring to life an Abraham Lincoln in a traditional biographical approach that spanned from his inauguration to his death.
However, a radical change in the script, rewritten by Tony Kushner, transformed the narrative to focus on the last months of Lincoln’s life and his push for the 13th amendment, which led Neeson to reconsider his involvement. The actor confessed to GQ that after reading the new version, he felt out of place and aware that he could not portray the role as he had imagined. “I don’t want to play this Lincoln. I can’t be him,” Neeson stated.
Despite his retirement, Neeson deeply admires Day-Lewis’s acting, considering it perfect. Since 2013, his career has leaned towards action roles, as evidenced by his participation in the Taken franchise. His upcoming project, Get Smart, joining the iconic comedy saga, will premiere on August 1, where he plays the son of the legendary character portrayed by Leslie Nielsen.
