Daniel Day-Lewis said he was immediately drawn to the script for *My Left Foot* when it unexpectedly arrived at his London home in 1989. The biographical drama, based on Irish writer and painter Christy Brown’s memoir, became a critical and commercial success and earned Day-Lewis his first Academy Award for Best Actor, cementing its standing as a major British-Irish film.

Day-Lewis recalled being captivated by the opening scene, which required Brown to select a record using his left foot, despite initially seeming difficult to film. Mirrors were used to create the effect in some scenes, while the actor prepared extensively by visiting Brown’s former Dublin school and remaining physically restricted in character between takes; crew members consequently pushed, lifted and sometimes fed him. The film received five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.