In a twist fit for Hollywood, America’s top movie president was played by a British actor.
According to a new poll, U.S. audiences chose London-born Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance as Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed biographical drama “Lincoln” as the greatest on-screen portrayal of an American commander-in-chief.
The survey, conducted by Foundations of Freedom, found that 27% of Americans ranked the three-time Oscar winner’s 2012 performance as Honest Abe at the top — giving Day-Lewis a commanding lead over the competition.
Robin Williams’ beloved turn as Theodore Roosevelt in 2006’s “Night at the Museum” landed in second place with 14%, while Dennis Quaid’s depiction of Ronald Reagan in the 2024 movie “Reagan” followed in third with 11%, the poll showed.
Reagan — who had a Hollywood career before becoming the 40th president of the United States — was the only president represented twice in the Republican-heavy Top 10. Jeff Daniels’ portrayal of the Gipper in the recent release “The Brink of War” placed fourth, according to the findings.
“Movies are an important part of telling the story of who we are and there have been some fine portrayals of American presidents over the years,” said Dave Dias, CEO of Foundations of Freedom, an organization focused on promoting freedom values through education, collaboration and community involvement.
Dias said he hopes future films and television projects continue exploring presidential history, helping new generations remember the impact U.S. leaders have had on the country.
The full list follows:
- Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, Republican, in “Lincoln” (2012)
The poll, conducted by the Symphony Technology Group for the Foundations of Freedom, interviewed 642 respondents from Aug. 24-25.
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the biopic “Reagan” will return to theaters nationwide in a special extended cut beginning Sept. 25.
The commemorative re-release features about 10 minutes of newly added footage.
