cover image Daniel Day-Lewis: The Fire Within

Daniel Day-Lewis: The Fire Within

Garry Jenkins. St. Martin's Press, $22.95 (294pp) ISBN 978-0-312-13044-2

Anglo-Irish actor Daniel Day-Lewis's memorable performances in such movies as The Unbearable Lightness of Being, My Beautiful Laundrette, The Age of Innocence and My Left Foot have enhanced his luster as a screen idol. London-based critic Jenkins's amiable biography fails to penetrate the protective armor of the elusive, nomadic star (who refused to be interviewed), but fans will enjoy the anecdote-studded account of his stage and screen career as well as the sporadic personal glimpses. Intimidated by his famous father Cecil Day-Lewis, crime novelist, poet laureate and classicist, Daniel lived in his father's shadow, set himself ever more demanding challenges and found in acting the vehicle for his restless, escapist chameleon nature. Jenkins writes perceptively of Day-Lewis's cinematic career, his theatrical roles as Hamlet and as poet Vladimir Mayakovsky in Futurists, and retreads fanzine territory such as the actor's on-and-off relationship with French actress Isabelle Adjani. Photos. (July)