ACADEMY AWARDS

Daniel Day-Lewis' acclaimed turn in 'Lincoln' joins these great performances

By Kate Erbland
Special to MSN Movies

Daniel Day-Lewis is, unquestionably, one of our finest working actors (he's already won two Oscars, after all) -- so, of course, when he was announced as director Steven Spielberg's pick to play President Abraham Lincoln in his "Lincoln," most movie lovers could already predict what would happen come awards time. Namely, that Day-Lewis' performance as the American president, unknowingly living out the final days of his life just as the Civil War finally had begun to wind down, would become the critical darling of the cinephile set, the clear front-runner for Oscar gold, and another prestigious notch in Day-Lewis' already-full belt. But while much of the magic behind Day-Lewis' performance is plain old homegrown talent, his "Lincoln" role also comes with a special edge -- the Oscars just love nominating actors for biographical roles. Nothing thrills the Academy more than seeing a beloved thespian disappear into the role of another (and all the better if their portrayal is of an equally-as-well-known public figure). Want an Oscar? Find someone real to play, then make it your own.