It turns out even Oscar-winning legends like Daniel Day-Lewis have a secret weapon up their sleeve, and it’s none other than an Eminem track! While preparing for his intense role in Gangs of New York, Day-Lewis revealed that one Eminem song helped him dive deep into his character. “It bypasses the intellect,” he confessed, as the raw energy of Slim Shady’s lyrics fueled his transformation.

Gangs of New York star Daniel Day-Lewis turned to Eminem to get into the head of his character, Bill The Butcher.

eminem, daniel day-lewis

Actors have very unique ways of working themselves into a role, which often requires some inspired tricks from them. There have been tons of stories about how actors prepare for roles and stay in character, including the one about Danial Day-Lewis’ time on Gangs of New York.

Daniel Day-Lewis in Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York — Daniel Day-Lewis in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York || Credit: Miramax

The actor decided to listen to some of Eminem’s music in preparation for his role in Gangs of New York. The actor had a specific reason for listening to the rapper’s music, which he explained to Rolling Stone in an interview.

Daniel Day-Lewis listened to a lot of Eminem in preparation for Gangs of New York

Daniel Day-Lewis worked with Martin Scorsese on two films including Gangs of New York — Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York || Credit: Mirarmax

Speaking with Rolling Stones, Daniel Day-Lewis talked about the way he prepared for the role of Bill the Butcher. The actor, among other things, decided to listen to Eminmen, with one song in particular easing him into his role as the the political leader. He said:

Yes, every morning around five, especially the song “The Way I Am.” I’ve admired him for a while. I’m always on the lookout for music that might be helpful to a role. It bypasses the intellect in a particular way. With this film, I realized I was listening to Eminem more than usual.

Billy the Butcher in Gangs of New York definitely has the vibe of Eminem’s The Way I Am. Day-Lewis also intimated to the magazine that music is actually an important part of his preparation process for roles, name-dropping the likes of Bach, Snoop Dogg, and Nirvana.

Daniel Day-Lewis is ending his acting retirement for his son’s film

daniel day-lewis phantom thread — Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread || Credit: Universal Pictures

Ever since the release of Phantom Thread in 2017, Daniel Day-Lewis has been largely absent from the film scene. However, his son, Ronan Day-Lewis, seems to have pulled the actor back into the game. Anemone, a film that will star the older Lewis, Sean Bean, and Samantha Lewis, was announced yesterday. The film has the fingerprints of the elder and the younger Day-Lewis, being co-written.

Daniel Day-Lewis has delivered some of the most stunning performances in film in the last few years of his current acting career. The actor has managed to work with a lot of his inspirations in the roles that he plays, drawing inspiration from the music that he can see a character fitting with, leading to him including some of music’s big names in his preparation process.

Every version I see of James singing this song with whomever the partner is, you can see how much he’s loved. Bonnie or Joni or Carole or Carly or whoever it is, they love to sing along with JT! I’d probably look the same way if I sang it with him, haha! But there’s something more than just talent on that stage—there’s a deep, unspoken bond that turns every note into a heartfelt conversation. When Bonnie Raitt and James Taylor performed “You Can Close Your Eyes” live in San Francisco, it wasn’t just a duet; it was a moment frozen in time, full of nostalgia and quiet magic. The crowd held their breath, sensing the love and respect flowing between these legends. What stories hide behind those tender harmonies? What memories do their eyes share as they sing? The full story is far more touching than you’d imagine—dive in and feel the music like never before.

Fans still talk about how that night captured the true spirit of Springsteen’s generosity and passion. I’ve never seen anyone so genuinely thrilled by their audience, so alive and electrified on stage as Bruce Springsteen was that unforgettable night in Paris. It wasn’t just a concert—it was a rare, magical moment when The Boss shared more than just his music. He invited a young fan up onto the stage, breaking the usual barrier between legend and admirer. That simple act created an instant connection, sparking emotions that rippled through the entire crowd. What was going through that fan’s mind, standing shoulder to shoulder with a rock icon? How did Bruce decide to choose this moment, this person? The energy between them was electric, almost like a passing of the torch. But what happened after the applause died down? Did this fleeting moment leave a permanent mark on the fan’s life? The full story reveals a night of unexpected magic, raw emotion, and unforgettable human connection.

I never imagined a cover could hit deeper or roar louder than Nicole Scherzinger’s—until Beth Hart took the stage. From the very first note, her voice sliced through the silence like lightning, breathing new fire into a classic. The chemistry with Jeff Beck’s guitar was electric, almost as if Prince himself was watching from above. The crowd was spellbound, hanging on every soulful scream and tender whisper. What secrets did this performance hold that made it so unforgettable? And why has it remained a hidden gem for so long? Dive into the full story behind this explosive 2017 live moment that rocked the music world.