'Surprisingly high, folksy, even meek': U.S critics left unimpressed with Daniel Day-Lewis' voice of Abraham Lincoln

Daniel Day-Lewis' much-anticipated turn as former US President Abraham Lincoln is making waves months before its release.

The trailer for Steven Spielberg's drama hit the web last week, and critics have taken aim at the actor's portrayal of the 16th US leader - in particular his voice as the former President.



Critics have been left distinctly unimpressed by Day-Lewis' impersonation of the politician's voice, with one labelling it 'meek'.

Scroll down to see the trailer



Spitting image: Daniel Day-Lewis portrays the 16th US President, Abraham Lincoln Popular President: In spite of his public popularity, 16th US President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865 at age 56 Taking charge: President Lincoln looks across a battlefield in the aftermath of a siege in a scene from the film The actor underwent a heavy physical transformation to play Lincoln in the film, which depicts the final four months of the President’s life and is based on a biography written by Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. In character, Day-Lewis is seen reciting the Gettysburg Address - widely regarded as one of the greatest speeches in American history. No recordings of Lincoln exist, although several contemporaries insisted his voice was 'shrill', with one calling it 'squeaking, piping, unpleasant'. Oscar-winning actor Day-Lewis worked hard on his vocal imitation, but movie experts and political watchers are not impressed with his portrayal.

Slate.com noted that the actor avoided the kind of 'booming baritone' associated with the country's 'greatest orators' and had instead opted to voice Lincoln 'surprisingly high, folksy, even meek'. Celebrations: The White House in Washington DC is featured in Lincoln scenes

On horseback: President Lincoln leads his men through the battle field Hollywood Elsewhere blogger Jeffrey Wells wrote, 'I still don't like the sound of Daniel Day Lewis's Lincoln voice. I almost hate it, in a way. It's flat, undistinctive, unimpressive... 'It's hard to describe what I was looking to hear, but this isn't it. And I dearly love the voices that Lewis has given us over the years. The fault, of course, is Spielberg's -- he didn't push hard enough, he let well enough alone.' US comedian Jimmy Kimmel even poked fun at the 55-year-old's performance, by dubbing his impression of fictional high-voiced character Pee-wee Herman over the clip. However, historians have jumped to defend Day-Lewis, insisting that his voicing of Lincoln is accurate in the movie, which also stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field. US in flames: The movie depicts a troubling time in American history with Abraham Lincoln at the helm of the resolution

American Civil War: Lincoln tried to end the war and abolish slavery in the face of heavy opposition Harold Holzer, a leading Lincoln scholar, claims the President's accent was a blend of Indiana and Kentucky, and adds: 'People said that his voice carried into crowds beautifully.' He told Slate.com, 'Just because the tone was high doesn't mean it wasn't far-reaching. He could go in and out of his accent when he wanted to, like Clinton and Obama do when they are sch maltzing." Spielberg recently revealed to Entertainment Weekly that he was so convinced by his leading man's performance that he referred to him as Lincoln. He said: ‘I was calling (all) the actors by their character names. Advice: The film shows President Lincoln being advised by his political counsel on how best to deal with the Civil War ‘That was something I felt was important to establish a little authenticity, maybe even more for me than for them.’ The newly-released trailer shows Lincoln as he is counselled on how to deal with the situation by political advisors who stress the importance of the revolutionary situation. The film exposes the political manoeuvrings that Lincoln undertook during the final throes of the Civil War, in his quest to outlaw slavery. The film hits cinemas in America in November, before its January release in Britain. Eagerly anticipated: The film also stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field

First promotional image: Movie representatives released this shot of Daniel Day-Lewis portraying President Lincoln last month

VIDEO: Daniel Day-Lewis transformed into campaigning Abraham Lincoln...