Daniel Day Lewis receives Montecito Award at the 28th SBIFF

On January 26th, actor Daniel Day Lewis spoke to a sold out audience of 2000 at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara during the 28th SBIFF.

Writer/Director/Producer Michael Mann ('The Last of The Mohicans', 1992) introduced his longtime friend beginning with a powerfully edited montage of all his films spanning Daniel Day’s entire eclectic career, after which Daniel Day modestly replied: ‘this is some cruel and unusual torture’.

The two-time Oscar winning actor is up for his third Oscar this year and all the odds point in his favor for making history as the first actor ever to win three Academy Awards.

In an up-close-and-personal interview, moderator Hollywood Reporter columnist Scott Feinberg spoke with Daniel Day for three hours about his extensive acting career interspersed with clips from various films from 'My Beautiful Laundrette', 1985; a 'Room With A View', 1985; to his latest 'There Will Be Blood', 2007; to 'Lincoln', 2012. At the end of the three hours discussion and panel, the illustrious Academy Award winning actress Sally Field came on stage to award Daniel Day Lewis the Montecito Award.

In a stylish black suit sans tie accompanied by gray and green striped socks and his tattoos and bracelets, doubtless accessories picked up over the rich life of this Last of the Mohican/English gentleman, the actor sat with elegance and poise and answered eloquently, as is in his nature, as he reminisced over his 45+ years of acting. While he may have aged a tad, albeit gracefully, he looks the same now after 'Lincoln' as he did as Johnny in ‘My Beautiful Laundrette,’ as if time escapes the timeless and awe-inspiring artist extraordinaire.

-Written by Vanessa McMahon

Stay tuned for a transcription of this incredible not to be missed in-depth interview coming soon.

photos by Benjamin Schwartz