According to the "Making of My Left Foot" segment on the Special Edition DVD, Sir Daniel Day-Lewis broke two ribs during filming from assuming the hunched-over position in his wheelchair for weeks of filming. He also would refuse to come out of character. On visits to the set canteen, other people would have to help him with food. On one visit from his English agent, Day-Lewis again refused to come out of character as Christy Brown, and his frustrated agent took off.
Many of the scenes were filmed through a mirror, as Sir Daniel Day-Lewis could only manipulate his right foot to perform the actions seen in the film.
It is the only film ever to get an A+ rating from Entertainment Weekly.
Miramax spent over three times the film production budget on its publicity campaign to get the film noticed for Oscar consideration.