Daniel Day-Lewis method acting height demands in Lincoln set a unique challenge for director Steven Spielberg during the creation of the 2012 biopic about Abraham Lincoln. Day-Lewis, already well known for his intense commitment to character, went so far as to insist that he always appear as the tallest person in every scene, pushing Spielberg to make unusual casting decisions and creative adjustments throughout the film’s production.
Dedication to Method Acting Sets Day-Lewis Apart
Daniel Day-Lewis has long been recognized for his extreme devotion to the craft of method acting, repeatedly immersing himself fully in his roles to achieve a level of authenticity few other actors reach. This approach has led to incredible performances and garnered him three Academy Awards and as many additional nominations, establishing him as one of the industry’s most respected talents. However, his relentless preparation has sometimes attracted criticism for being excessive, and has even subjected him to ridicule.
Whether playing a boxer and suffering real injuries in “The Boxer,” embodying a man with cerebral palsy in “My Left Foot” by requiring assistance between takes, or adopting genuine survival skills for “The Last of the Mohicans,” Day-Lewis has built a reputation for living as his characters both on and off camera. Fans and critics alike have questioned if such measures are truly necessary, but even those most critical of his approach often concede its effectiveness in delivering standout performances. His actions, such as tapping his own eye (protected by prosthetic glass) with a knife blade for “Gangs of New York,” have become legendary for their intensity.
Towering Expectations During “Lincoln” Production
Day-Lewis’ approach reached new heights during the filming of “Lincoln,” where he played the iconic 16th President of the United States. Abraham Lincoln was notably tall for his time, standing at six feet four inches, compared with the average man’s height of five feet seven inches in the 19th century. Day-Lewis, at six feet two inches, was nearly as tall, making him a solid choice for the role. Even though Lincoln’s height was not a key plot point in Spielberg’s film, it became a crucial factor behind the scenes due to Day-Lewis’s insistence on maintaining this detail as part of his immersion into the historical figure.
This requirement went beyond simply casting a tall lead. Day-Lewis expected to be the tallest actor in every scene, prompting Spielberg to pay close attention to the heights of supporting cast members. Day-Lewis admitted this quirk in a conversation with the Los Angeles Times:
“Every time Steven said, ‘How about so and so?’”
—Daniel Day-Lewis, Actor
He further elaborated,
“I said, ‘How tall is he?’ It was like buying cloth by the yard. I wanted to be the tallest person in the room.”
—Daniel Day-Lewis, Actor
Spielberg Adjusts Casting and Scenes to Protect Performance
Responding to Day-Lewis’s demands, Steven Spielberg selected a supporting cast guaranteed to ensure Day-Lewis would stand, or seem to stand, above all others. Actors such as Tim Blake Nelson and Jackie Earle Haley, both five feet five inches, along with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and James Spader, who are five feet nine inches and five feet ten inches respectively, were all well below Day-Lewis’s height. Even those cast members who approached his stature, including David Strathairn at six feet and Tommy Lee Jones at six feet one inch, did not surpass him, allowing the lead actor’s presence to dominate visually.
One exception did arise during filming: Adam Driver, who appears in a brief role as a telegraph operator, stands an inch taller than Day-Lewis at six feet three. To address this, Spielberg made the creative decision to keep Driver seated throughout his scene, thereby preserving Day-Lewis’s requested dominance as the tallest figure in the room and ensuring the actor’s method approach was maintained without distraction.
The Impact of Day-Lewis’s Height Demands on “Lincoln”
Daniel Day-Lewis’s pursuit of height authenticity in portraying Abraham Lincoln added yet another layer of intensity to his famously immersive method acting. These specific demands directly influenced Spielberg’s casting choices, shifted the dynamics of particular scenes, and brought additional logistical considerations to set. While some observers considered this insistence to be a trivial or self-indulgent quirk, it exemplified Day-Lewis’s determination to honor every detail of his character’s reality.
For those involved in “Lincoln,” including actors David Strathairn, Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Adam Driver, the experience not only demonstrated Day-Lewis’s commitment but also reflected Spielberg’s willingness as director to adapt and support his lead actor’s creative process. The result was a film praised for its authenticity and gravitas, heightened by these behind-the-scenes choices focused on detail, character, and performance.
As Day-Lewis’s performance in “Lincoln” continues to be remembered for its depth and power, his height demands join the list of stories illustrating the remarkable extent of his method acting. This unique approach not only shaped his portrayal of the historic president but serves as a testament to the lengths he is willing to go to embody his characters on screen.
