How Daniel Day-Lewis Defended Paul Dano After Quentin Tarantino’s Viral Criticism

Daniel Day-Lewis has quietly but firmly come to the defense of his There Will Be Blood co-star Paul Dano following Quentin Tarantino’s explosive remarks that sparked widespread backlash across Hollywood.

The controversy erupted earlier this month when the Kill Bill director appeared on the Bret Easton Ellis Podcast and referred to Dano’s performance in the 2007 Paul Thomas Anderson classic as a “big giant flaw.” Tarantino’s blunt assessment quickly went viral, prompting an outpouring of support for Dano from fellow actors and industry heavyweights.

Daniel Day-Lewis Backs His Co-Star

While Daniel Day-Lewis does not maintain a public social media presence, fans believed he had weighed in after a fan account posted a clip of his Oscar-winning performance alongside Dano, captioned with praise calling Dano “one of the best and most talented actors of his generation.”

The post led many to speculate that the sentiment came directly from Day-Lewis himself.

According to The Guardian, the actor’s representative later confirmed that Daniel Day-Lewis endorsed the statement, signaling his support for Dano amid the growing controversy. Access Hollywood has also reached out to Day-Lewis’ representatives for further comment.

At 68, the three-time Academy Award winner is the latest major figure to publicly align himself with Dano following Tarantino’s harsh critique.

Hollywood Rallies Behind Paul Dano

Day-Lewis joins a growing list of A-list actors who have spoken out in defense of Dano’s talent.

Ben Stiller took to X on December 4, writing bluntly,
“Paul Dano is f*ing brilliant.**”

Simu Liu echoed the sentiment, posting,
“I don’t know, man. I think Paul Dano is an incredible actor.”

Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon also weighed in on Threads, calling Dano “an incredibly gifted, versatile actor,” while adding, “More importantly, he is a gentleman.”

Additional support has come from actors including Alec Baldwin and Josh Gad, further underscoring the industry’s widespread disagreement with Tarantino’s assessment.

Tarantino’s Comments That Sparked the Firestorm

Tarantino’s remarks were made during a discussion about his favorite films of the 21st century. While praising There Will Be Blood as a potential top contender, he singled out Dano’s role as a fatal weakness.

“There Will Be Blood would stand a good chance of being number one or two if it didn’t have a big giant flaw in it,” Tarantino said. “And the flaw is Paul Dano.”

He went on to describe Dano as “weak sauce” and claimed the film was meant to be a two-hander, but “drastically obvious” that it was not. Tarantino even suggested Austin Butler would have been better suited for the role, calling Dano “the weakest effing actor in SAG.”

Other Actors Also Targeted

Paul Dano was not the only actor caught in Tarantino’s crosshairs. During the same podcast, the director criticized Owen Wilson, despite listing Midnight in Paris as one of his favorite films of the century. He also dismissed Matthew Lillard, stating he did not “care for” the actor.

Lillard later addressed the comments during an appearance at GalaxyCon in Ohio on December 6, acknowledging that while he brushed it off publicly, the criticism still hurt.

“You wouldn’t say that to Tom Cruise,” Lillard told the audience. “You wouldn’t say that to somebody who’s a topline actor in Hollywood.”

Superman director James Gunn quickly came to Lillard’s defense, posting on X alongside photos of the actor, calling him “one of my favorite guys and actors.”

A Debate That Exposes Hollywood’s Fault Lines

The backlash against Tarantino’s remarks has reignited conversations about power, criticism, and respect within Hollywood — particularly when legendary filmmakers publicly single out actors.

While Tarantino is known for his unapologetic opinions, the overwhelming response from fellow artists suggests that many view Dano’s performance — and career — as anything but flawed.

With support from Daniel Day-Lewis and countless industry peers, Paul Dano’s standing as one of his generation’s most respected actors appears firmly intact.