Oscars 2013: 10 top quotes Three years ago, before we decided to do a straight swap, I had been committed to play Margaret Thatcher... Meryl was Steven (Spielberg) 's first choice for 'Lincoln. And I'd like to see that version. Daniel Day-Lewis, picking up his record third best actor Oscar for "Lincoln," referring to presenter Meryl Streep's Oscar-winning performance as the former British premier in "The Iron Lady."