It’s well known that the world’s greatest actor enjoys stretching his muscles by taking on challenging roles, but his latest has really tested the limits of his craft: the Lincoln star picked up where Clint Eastwood left off by talking to a chair on stage during an award ceremony.
Steven Spielberg presented Day-Lewis with the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film at the BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia awards Wednesday evening. Day-Lewis bounded up on stage with a chair in hand to greet his director. Spielberg, whose jaw dropped as he realised what was to come, shook his head before the actor commenced his acceptance speech.
(MORE: Hurry Up and Start #Eastwooding Before It’s Over)
Once he accepted the award, Day-Lewis began remarking on the elections the evening before, which he said he stayed up until 2am to watch.
“I have to say I am so extremely grateful and glad, taking time out of his very busy schedule, that the recently reelected President was able to make it here tonight,” said the Oscar-winning actor as he gestured to the chair.
The audience whooped and cheered as Day-Lewis struggled to stay in character. He managed to add one final remark to the imaginary Obama: “I know as an Englishman that it is absolutely none of my business, but I am so very grateful that it was you,” he said as the crowd roared its approval.
(MORE: How Eastwood Happened)
Eastwood became a social media sensation following his speech at the Republic National Convention in September in which he rebuked an imaginary Obama on stage — prompting the hashtag #Eastwooding, in which enthusiastic tweeters began uploading photos of themselves angrily pointing at an empty chair.
(MORE: Daniel Day-Lewis: How the Greatest Living Actor Became Lincoln)
Day-Lewis insisted however that his little parody was not designed to poke fun. Rather, the method actor said that it was really the challenge that inspired him:
“I love Clint Eastwood. This is no satirical comment on him or his politics or anything else, but I have to say, that when I saw him talking to a chair in front of a room full of strangers I thought: I’ve got to try that!”
The awards ceremony in Los Angeles also feted Daniel Craig, Quentin Tarantino and Trey Parker and Matt Stone of South Park fame. Day-Lewis may get a chance to refine his chair sketch, however: the British actor is expected to get a fair few nods for his lead role in Lincoln in the upcoming awards season.