For his Oscar-winning turn in 'My Left Foot' Day-Lewis learned how to operate a record player with his toes. He meticulously researched the phonetic pronunciations of 18^th Century woodsmen for his role in 'The Last Of The Mohicans' (like anyone was going to pick him up on his accent - there are few 18^th Century woodsmen who go to the movies), and for 'Gangs Of New York' he managed to grit his teeth and never lose his temper whenever Leonardo DiCaprio murdered an Oirish accent.

Now Daniel is constantly Italian on his latest film set and is even demanding pasta for every meal ("Try acting, dear boy!" © Lawrence Olivier on the set of 'Marathon Man'). This method acting thing is easy though, he reckons.

"People think I'm into some form of sophisticated sadomasochism most of the time, but that's not my experience at all. It is a thoroughly joyful thing to work."

Yes, he looks the joyful type, doesn't he? Talented actor he may be, but there's one role I'd love to see him in, one which would surely challenge him to the full. Yes, the role of Barry Chuckle in 'The Chuckle Brothers Movie'. "To me? SIGH! But what's my motivation, dearie?"

by Ian McShane