Danny Flynn bears little resemblance to the larger-than-life characters for which Daniel Day-Lewis had made his name. He’s subdued, often muted and inexpressive — every once in a while, he’s capable of something like a smile when he’s around old girlfriend Maggie (Emily Watson). But more often than not, he’s a disillusioned jailbird hoping to use his boxing skills to help mend old social wounds in his hometown of Belfast, still wrapped up in the violence of the Troubles.
That Day-Lewis was capable of inhabiting this subtle, complex character speaks to his familiar level of engagement and commitment. It also reflects his pledge to only ever work on projects about which he feels passionate. “I didn’t see the point in doing a film unless I could really learn to fight,” he told the LA Times. Per the Irish Times, Day-Lewis spent a year and a half training with boxer Barry McGuigan (one of the inspirations for the film according to the article), as well as an additional 18 months of solo preparation before the film was greenlit. Day-Lewis had sparred over 400 rounds by the time of filming, and he received compliments from Conor Mcgregor’s boxing trainer Phil Sutcliffe, who also worked with him at the time and claimed his “boxing ability was out of this world.” Day-Lewis’ fighting physique was one hurdle, but the tattoo he gave himself was another, one that would leave a permanent mark.
Danny Flynn bears little resemblance to the larger-than-life characters for which Daniel Day-Lewis had made his name. He’s subdued, often muted and inexpressive — every once in a while, he’s capable of something like a smile when he’s around old girlfriend Maggie (Emily Watson). But more often than not, he’s a disillusioned jailbird hoping to use his boxing skills to help mend old social wounds in his hometown of Belfast, still wrapped up in the violence of the Troubles.
That Day-Lewis was capable of inhabiting this subtle, complex character speaks to his familiar level of engagement and commitment. It also reflects his pledge to only ever work on projects about which he feels passionate. “I didn’t see the point in doing a film unless I could really learn to fight,” he told the LA Times. Per the Irish Times, Day-Lewis spent a year and a half training with boxer Barry McGuigan (one of the inspirations for the film according to the article), as well as an additional 18 months of solo preparation before the film was greenlit. Day-Lewis had sparred over 400 rounds by the time of filming, and he received compliments from Conor Mcgregor’s boxing trainer Phil Sutcliffe, who also worked with him at the time and claimed his “boxing ability was out of this world.” Day-Lewis’ fighting physique was one hurdle, but the tattoo he gave himself was another, one that would leave a permanent mark.
Danny Flynn bears little resemblance to the larger-than-life characters for which Daniel Day-Lewis had made his name. He’s subdued, often muted and inexpressive — every once in a while, he’s capable of something like a smile when he’s around old girlfriend Maggie (Emily Watson). But more often than not, he’s a disillusioned jailbird hoping to use his boxing skills to help mend old social wounds in his hometown of Belfast, still wrapped up in the violence of the Troubles.
That Day-Lewis was capable of inhabiting this subtle, complex character speaks to his familiar level of engagement and commitment. It also reflects his pledge to only ever work on projects about which he feels passionate. “I didn’t see the point in doing a film unless I could really learn to fight,” he told the LA Times. Per the Irish Times, Day-Lewis spent a year and a half training with boxer Barry McGuigan (one of the inspirations for the film according to the article), as well as an additional 18 months of solo preparation before the film was greenlit. Day-Lewis had sparred over 400 rounds by the time of filming, and he received compliments from Conor Mcgregor’s boxing trainer Phil Sutcliffe, who also worked with him at the time and claimed his “boxing ability was out of this world.” Day-Lewis’ fighting physique was one hurdle, but the tattoo he gave himself was another, one that would leave a permanent mark.
Danny Flynn bears little resemblance to the larger-than-life characters for which Daniel Day-Lewis had made his name. He’s subdued, often muted and inexpressive — every once in a while, he’s capable of something like a smile when he’s around old girlfriend Maggie (Emily Watson). But more often than not, he’s a disillusioned jailbird hoping to use his boxing skills to help mend old social wounds in his hometown of Belfast, still wrapped up in the violence of the Troubles.
That Day-Lewis was capable of inhabiting this subtle, complex character speaks to his familiar level of engagement and commitment. It also reflects his pledge to only ever work on projects about which he feels passionate. “I didn’t see the point in doing a film unless I could really learn to fight,” he told the LA Times. Per the Irish Times, Day-Lewis spent a year and a half training with boxer Barry McGuigan (one of the inspirations for the film according to the article), as well as an additional 18 months of solo preparation before the film was greenlit. Day-Lewis had sparred over 400 rounds by the time of filming, and he received compliments from Conor Mcgregor’s boxing trainer Phil Sutcliffe, who also worked with him at the time and claimed his “boxing ability was out of this world.” Day-Lewis’ fighting physique was one hurdle, but the tattoo he gave himself was another, one that would leave a permanent mark.
