When Daniel Day-Lewis wins his (virtually guaranteed) Academy Award for best actor tonight, he’ll likely thank his wife, Rebecca Miller. But, what few people may know is that Miller is a respected actress, film director and screenwriter with some famous connections of her own!
Her father, Arthur Miller, was a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright who was married to Marilyn Monroe for five years before he met and married Rebecca’s mother. In fact, Rebecca was reportedly first introduced to Day-Lewis while he was working with her father to adapt The Crucible for the screen.
Miller’s mother, Inge Morath, was a distinguished portrait photographer. Morath was recognized for pushing the boundaries — her portfolio included portraits of controversial leaders, such as Mao Zedong.
^Rebecca with her father, Arthur Miller, and mother, Inge Morath.
Miller did not rest on the reputation of her parents. After attending college at Yale, she decided to pursue acting. By 1995, she moved behind the camera to write and direct her first film, Angela. Miller earned praise in 2002 for her film Personal Velocity: Three Portraits, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Festival. Her latest movie is The Private Life of Pippa Lee.
In addition to film work, Miller is also an author. Her second book, Jacob’s Folly, will be released later this year.
According to her husband, all of her honors haven’t gone to Miller’s head.
“She is the most normal, down-to-earth person you could ever meet,” Day-Lewis told People in 2008. “We agree entirely about how to raise our children, and we enjoy each other’s company.”
Miller and Day-Lewis married in 1996 and have two sons together. The exceedingly private family divides time between the United State and the Irish countryside. While they aren’t working with film, Day-Lewis enjoys woodwork and Miller takes satisfaction in painting and sculpting.
UPDATE As anticipated, Day-Lewis won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of the 16th president in Lincoln. With this, he became the first actor to ever win the award three times for a lead role.
“I’ve received more than my fair share of good fortune in my life,” Day-Lewis said while accepting the award. He also made a nod to his wife.
