Steven Spielberg "wore suit" to film 'Lincoln'

Instead of his usual jeans and baseball hat, director Steven Spielberg says he wore a suit to the set every day to make 'Lincoln' starring Daniel Day-Lewis.

"I wanted to be a part of the finery of that era," he told the 'Sunday Times' newspaper. "I wanted to be dressed up to go to work. I actually put on a tie, a coat, sometimes a waistcoat."

He also addressed Day Lewis as "Mr President" and Sally Fields (playing Lincoln's wife) as "Mary'' or "Mary Todd" even when the cameras weren't rolling.

Spielberg, 66, says he focused on the last four months of Lincoln's life as he manoeuvred and cajoled to get the 13th amendment passed banning slavery through Congress. 

He wasn't interested in recreating the Civil War. "I had no urge to do battles. People expecting that movie will be disappointed. I had to change the paradigm of the way I tell stories in order to tell this one."

He also revealed he still goes to see movies  - picking out of the way cinemas - with his wife and kids. He always takes an aisle seat and buys no food or drink for himself.