DAY-LEWIS DEDICATED TO ITALIAN ROLE

The Oscar-winner plays lady-loving director Guido Contini in the movie musical Nine, opposite a star-studded cast including Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren and Penelope Cruz.

And he's left his famous co-stars tongue tied, refusing to speak anything but his character's native language to those on set.

A source tells the New York Daily News, "He's always waving his arms and telling the chef to whip up some pasta."