It's not altogether uncommon for an actor to retire early from their profession, but when it's a triple Oscar-winning veteran who looks ten years younger than he actually is, like Sir Daniel Day-Lewis for example, it's a sad turn of events for millions of movie lovers.

Daniel Day-Lewis at the 2013 BAFTAs partyDaniel Day-Lewis at the 2013 BAFTAs party

The 60-year-old 'Lincoln' star has never exactly been prolific in his acting career, but despite this, he has still managed to two Golden Globes, three Academy Awards, four BAFTAs and over one hundred more accolades with less than 30 film and television credits to his name.

That's quite the achievement, and then in 2014 he was made a Knight Bachelor by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, at Buckingham Palace. For someone for whom it's not unusual to take a two or three year hiatus in between movies, it's astounding how he's managed to stay so relevent and important in Hollywood.

He hasn't made a movie since he starred in 2012's 'Lincoln' (winning the Oscar for Best Actor, predictably enough), but now he's back with his supposed final venture: Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Phantom Thread'. 

'Before making the film, I didn't know I was going to stop acting', Daniel told W Magazine. 'I do know that Paul and I laughed a lot before we made the movie. And then we stopped laughing because we were both overwhelmed by a sense of sadness.'

He admits that while a creative life is 'both a curse and a blessing' ('[it] gives you life and is killing you at the same time'), he hasn't quite figured out what it was that made him quit acting for good.

'It's just there. Not wanting to see the film is connected to the decision I've made to stop working as an actor', he continues. 'There's something of the responsibility of the artist that hung over me. I need to believe in the value of what I'm doing. The work can seem vital. Irresistible, even. And if an audience believes it, that should be good enough for me. But, lately, it isn't.'

Part of the reason why he released a formal statement about his decision was to 'draw the line' and stop himself from diving into a new movie, especially since he has on many occasions dropped hints that he would retire.

'I didn't want to get sucked back into another project', he said. 'All my life, I've mouthed off about how I should stop acting, and I don't know why it was different this time, but the impulse to quit took root in me, and that became a compulsion. It was something I had to do.'

More: Daniel Day-Lewis receives knighthood

Nonetheless, he promises that he's 'not going to stay idle', and while he doesn't yet know what he's going to do with the rest of his life, he's looking forward to 'exploring the world in a different way'.

'Phantom Thread' is out on December 25th 2017.