Irish-British actor Daniel Day-Lewis has announced he is quitting acting.

A spokeswoman for the 60-year-old star told Variety magazine it was "a private decision".

Leslee Dart said: "Daniel Day-Lewis will no longer be working as an actor.

"He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years.

"This is a private decision and neither he nor his representatives will make any further comment on this subject."

His final film is set to be 'The Phantom Thread', which is due for release in December.

Daniel Day-Lewis with his Oscar Best Actor received for his role in Lincoln alongside Meryl Streep at the 85th Academy Awards in 2013 | Image: Ian West/PA Archive/PA Images

He is one of the few actors to take home three Best Actor Oscars.

He was honoured for the title role in Steven Spielberg’s 'Lincoln', as a greedy oil man in 'There Will Be Blood,' and for his performance as writer and artist Christy Brown in 'My Left Foot', alongside Brenda Fricker who also took the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress that year.

During his 1990 acceptance speech, he quipped: "You've just provided me with the makings of one hell of a weekend in Dublin".

He has also earned two other Academy Award nominations for 'Gangs of New York' and 'In the Name of the Father', based on the true story of the Guildford Four.

He has been praised for his versatility and is known for going to extreme lengths for his performances.

He would frequently remain in character off-screen.

The English-born actor holds an Irish passport, and divides his time between homes in New York and Wicklow.

He has three children and is married to writer and director Rebecca Miller - daughter of the famous US playwright Arthur Miller.