Daniel Day-Lewis Family Tree: The Story Behind The Three-Time Oscar Winner

Sir Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis, born 29 April 1957 in Kensington, London, England, is widely regarded as one of the greatest film actors ever — 3 Academy Awards for Best Actor (My Left Foot 1989, There Will Be Blood 2007, Lincoln 2012) — the only male actor with 3 Best Actor wins. Retired from acting in 2017.

The Family's Roots: A Literary-Acting English Family

The Day-Lewis family is English literary aristocracy — father a Poet Laureate; mother an actress.

His Parents

Father: Cecil Day-Lewis (1904–1972) — Irish-born English poet; Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom (1968–1972). Wrote detective novels under the pseudonym Nicholas Blake.

Mother: Jill Balcon (1925–2009) — English actress; daughter of film producer Sir Michael Balcon (founder of Ealing Studios).

His Sister

Tamasin Day-Lewis, born 1953 — TV chef and food writer.

His Maternal Grandfather

Sir Michael Balcon (1896–1977) — film producer; head of Ealing Studios; produced Hitchcock's The 39 Steps; major British film industry figure.

His First Long-Term Partner

Isabelle Adjani, born 27 June 1955 — French actress; Daniel's partner 1989–1995. They have a son together.

Son with Isabelle

Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis, born 9 April 1995 — son; model.

His Wife: Rebecca Miller

Rebecca Augusta Miller, born 15 September 1962 — American filmmaker; daughter of Arthur Miller (American playwright). Married Daniel on 13 November 1996.

Their Sons

Ronan Cal Day-Lewis, born 14 June 1998 — son.

Cashel Blake Day-Lewis, born 9 May 2002 — son.

The Day-Lewis Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Cecil Day-Lewis (1904–1972) — UK Poet Laureate.

Mother: Jill Balcon (1925–2009) — actress.

Maternal Grandfather: Sir Michael Balcon (1896–1977) — Ealing Studios founder.

Sister: Tamasin Day-Lewis (b. 1953) — TV chef.

First long-term partner: Isabelle Adjani (1989–1995).

Son: Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis (b. 9 April 1995).

Wife: Rebecca Miller (b. 15 September 1962; m. 13 November 1996) — filmmaker; daughter of Arthur Miller.

Sons: Ronan (b. 14 June 1998); Cashel (b. 9 May 2002).

Father-in-Law: Arthur Miller (1915–2005) — American playwright (Death of a Salesman).

Daniel Day-Lewis:

  • Born 29 April 1957, Kensington
  • Sevenoaks School; Bedales School (Hampshire)
  • Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
  • Early career: stage and TV
  • Films: My Beautiful Laundrette (1985), A Room with a View (1985), The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988), My Left Foot (1989 — Oscar Best Actor), The Last of the Mohicans (1992), In the Name of the Father (1993), The Boxer (1997), Gangs of New York (2002), There Will Be Blood (2007 — Oscar Best Actor), Lincoln (2012 — Oscar Best Actor), Phantom Thread (2017 — final acting role)
  • 3 Academy Awards for Best Actor (record; tied with no one else for male leads)
  • 5 BAFTA awards
  • Knighthood (KBE): 2014
  • Retired from acting: 2017

What the Day-Lewis Family Story Teaches Us

A Poet-Laureate father. An actress mother. A grandfather who founded Ealing Studios. A sister who is a TV chef. A first partner who is a French actress (and Gabriel's mother). A wife who is the daughter of Arthur Miller. Three sons. A career that produced three Best Actor Oscars.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Daniel story carries the same lesson. Some marriages combine the Day-Lewis literary family with the Arthur Miller theatrical family. The 1996 Daniel-Rebecca marriage put Cecil Day-Lewis and Arthur Miller into the same family tree.

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