Tom Cruise, “Born on the Fourth of July” - His performance as paralyzed Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic earned Cruise the Golden Globe, beating out Day Lewis. Kenneth Branagh, “Henry V” - Branagh’s epic adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy about the young British King who seeks revenge against the king of France, also received nominations for Branagh’s direction. Though his performance were unanimously praised, he still was not the year’s clear frontrunner and faced solid competition from his fellow nominees: In addition to his leading category, the movie was also nominated for:īest Picture – Producer, Noel Pearson (lost to “Driving Miss Daisy”)īest Director – Jim Sheridan (lost to Oliver Stone, “Born on the Fourth of July”)īest Adapted Screenplay – Jim Sheridan and Shane Connaughton (lost to Alfred Uhry, “Driving Miss Daisy”)īest Supporting Actress – Brenda Fricker (won for her role as the loving mother) SEE Oscar Best Actor Gallery: Every Winner in Academy Award History He contends again at the upcoming March 4 ceremony for “ Phantom Thread.” Over his career, he has become the record-holder for Best Actor wins with three (also including “There Will Be Blood” and “Lincoln”). The film was “My Left Foot,” for which Daniel Day-Lewis earned his first Oscar nomination and win for Best Actor. He insisted on staying in a wheelchair throughout filming and nearly broke his rib holding Christy’s slouched position.

When he read the opening scene where Christy puts on a record using only his left foot, Day-Lewis knew he had to play the part.

In 1988 he was offered a screenplay based on the memoirs of Christy Brown, an Irish poet and painter born with cerebral palsy.

SEE Daniel Day-Lewis movies: Top 12 greatest films ranked from worst to best

The left foot movie