CBS/AP/ February 25, 2013, 1:30 AM

Daniel Day-Lewis makes Oscars history with best-actor win

Best actor winner Daniel Day-Lewis accepts the trophy onstage at the 85th annual Academy Awards on Feb. 24, 2013, in Hollywood, Calif. / Getty Images

Daniel Day-Lewis won the Oscar for best actor for his exactingly authentic performance as President Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg's historical drama at Sunday's Academy Awards. Going into the night, the British actor was the favorite to win.

He's the first to ever win the best actor Oscar three times. He's been nominated five times in all, winning for "My Left Foot" in 1990 and "There Will Be Blood" in 2008.

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Day-Lewis, 55, spent a year preparing for "Lincoln," and, in his customary method, remained in character during the production. His widely-expected Oscar win further cements his status as the most admired actor currently working.

When asked backstage if there's anyone he'd like to portray next, Day-Lewis said, "I can't think of anyone right now because I need to have to lie down for a couple of years. No, I can't think of any. I really can't, no. It's really hard to imagine doing anything after this."

The other nominees Sunday night were Bradley Cooper ("Silver Linings Playbook"), Hugh Jackman ("Les Miserables"), Joaquin Phoenix ("The Master") and Denzel Washington ("Flight").