Daniel Day-Lewis

Daniel Day-Lewis as William "Bill" a.k.a. "The Butcher" Cutting. Gangs of New York. 2002.

Okay, anybody who says that Daniel Day-Lewis's performance was not that good, please stand up. Bill the Butcher'll plunge a knife through your heart.

To qualify into the Acting Hall of Fame, three conditions must be satisfied. First, the actor should become the character. And in this film, did the actor become the character? In this case, why the answer is yes. As with any Daniel Day-Lewis film, he totally becomes the character, on and off camera. Daniel Day-Lewis is in fact well-known for his acting eccentricities, staying in character as long as production is in progress, even if the cameras have stopped rolling. It was reported that he even had a bout of pneumonia during filming, and he stubbornly refused to be treated, saying it wasn't staying true to the period. I think he was finally persuaded when someone pointed out that during the period, people actually died of pneumonia.

The second condition that must be satisfied is that you must believe that the actor is really the character. With Day-Lewis in front of the camera, it's hard not to believe he isn't actually from nineteenth-century New York, what with his flawless accent and handlebar mustache. Daniel Day-Lewis's face totally disappears, as even the Butcher's facial expressions, gestures, and mannerisms totally become his own. Even his character's slight limp, as well as the dirty fingernails and greasy hair, all contribute to sustain the illusion that Bill the Butcher has indeed walked the earth and graced us with his presence. His knife-throwing lessons and his butcher apprenticeship definitely paid off.

And finally, the third condition that must be satisfied is that no other actor should be able to play the part better. The role must be tailor-made for that specific actor. This doesn't mean that only Daniel Day-Lewis can play Bill the Butcher. That would be an insult to all the other brilliant actors in the Hall of Fame. Perhaps the correct way to say it would be that only Daniel Day-Lewis can play Bill the Butcher the way he did. The level of artistry and devotion to the craft is unparalleled with this actor, which is why Daniel Day-Lewis, despite his considerably shorter filmography compared to other actors, still remains one of the most respected thespians of his generation.