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(First posted on 20 November 2001)
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D-Day for Damian’s Career

The next big thing is not a phrase to be used lightly, but in Damian Lewis’s case it’s an accurate description. Last seen as Mark in the first series of BBC1’s Hearts and Bones, the 30-year old actor has the potential to be a superstar by playing an American in Band of Brothers.

The only problem with being the ‘next big thing’ is that few people recognise you - in Hollywood that is - untill you’ve really made it. This was brought home to Damian recently when he attended The Golden Globes. He was hoping to see his new pals Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, but he couldn’t get past the security guards.

‘Trying to say hello to Steven and Tom, it was like trying to see the Queen or the President,’ say Damian. ‘There was a cordon of security around them. I was trying to get through and they were saying, “Sorry, you can’t come through here, sir.” And I was saying, “Well, look, I’ve just spent nine months working with these people, if they see me, I’m sure they will say hello.” And he said, “Sorry, sir,” and I was being strong-armed out of the way.’

Fortunately, Damian was made welcome when Tom saw what was happening. ‘There was this great moment when Tom Hanks shouted across the room, “Hey, there he is! Here’s the guy!” at me. I turned around and sort of smirked smugly at the security guard. And I went and said hello. That was quite a nice moment.’

This ‘nice moment’ was a pinnacle of an amazing story that began a year early when Damian auditioned for the part of Richard Winters (above). Band of Brothers is the true story about how Richard led a platoon that parachuted into France on D Day. After numerous screen tests, one of the programme’s producers turned to Damian and said, “So, how would you like to go to LA on Thursday and see Steven and Tom?” The final casting decisions lay with them. Naturally, an extremely excited Damian immediately said yes. ‘I called my granny and cancelled lunch,’ he adds. Then he tried to ride his motorbike home, but it proved too difficult. ‘I thought jesus! If I get on a motorbike now, I’ll go straight under a lorry.’

After hearing the news on a Tuesday, he was flown to Hollywood two days later. But he still had to convince Steven and Tom that he was right for the part. He had an audition with Tom, and then Tom and Steven asked to meet him the next day, which Damian hadn’t expected. In fact when they met he was completely hungover. He had been out the previous evening and ‘got absolutely mashed’.

Fortunately, the meeting was very relaxed. ‘They were utterly charming,’ says Damian. ‘They talked about their kids, and the fact they were going to have to get Christmas trees. It was surreal.’

After a chat, the decision was made and they offered him the part. ‘Maybe I was still drunk,’ says Damian, ‘because I got up and kissed everybody in the room.’