Press Archive

Manchester Online
23 May 2003
by Ian Wylie

manchester tv

Telly talk: The Saga of love’s young dream

CRUEL, bitter and heartless, Soames Forsyte was a nasty piece of work when he returned to TV screens last year. “I’ve had exactly the reaction that I wanted,” grins actor Damian Lewis, back for a second series of The Forsyte Saga.

“Sometimes it was people coming up to me and going: ‘Oh God, you were disgusting in that series.’ Or others saying: ‘Poor you. Wasn’t she a bitch?’ I think that proves we got it right.”

The woman in question is, of course, Gina McKee’s Irene, who left her spirit-crushing marriage to obsessed Soames for new love with Young Jolyon. Twenty years on, things have changed… a little.

Based on John Galsworthy’s third novel, To Let, the four-part Granada series was again filmed in Manchester and Liverpool. “It’s definitely lighter in tone compared to the first series,” says Damian. The main story concerns a forbidden romance between Fleur Forsyte (Emma Griffiths Malin), daughter of Soames, and Jon Forsyte (Lee Williams), son of Irene.

“Being a father has mellowed Soames. Every time Fleur’s around, he gazes on her adoringly. He’s obviously still in love with Irene and he exercises the same ruthlessness at work that he used to, and certainly in his dealings with Young Jolyon. There is still that emnity.

“They’re brought together to fight a common cause, which is to keep their children apart.

“I don’t think Soames has changed that much, but he’s found someone to replace Irene, and Fleur manages to wrap him around her little finger.”

Soames is in his sixties as the Saga continues, struggling to comprehend the social revolution following the First World War. Damian explains: “He is still pretty repressed and caught up in himself.

“He has been softened a little bit by his daughter. But I think the importance of Soames in the plot is that he does retain his bigotry, and his bitterness.”

Romantic

Not everyone, however, was impressed by the intense first series, with Gina’s performance attracting some critical comment. There should be no such concerns about this second outing as viewers are swept along by the romantic tale at its heart.

“It’s more humorous and mischievous – and episode four will have everyone reaching for the tissues,” says Damian, relaxed in an open-neck striped shirt, a far cry from the stiffness of his character.

Some may even warm to Soames. “I think it’s a testament to Galsworthy’s skill,” says Damian. “There are, superficially, good and bad characters. I think everybody in the books is motivated by self-interest, pride and vanity. And yet he manages to make most of the characters sympathetic, or enjoyable to watch.”

That’s not to say Band Of Brothers actor Damian would share a sherry with Soames. “You always love your characters. But I don’t think I would like Soames if I met him. And there is no way I’m anything like him!”

He’s recently moved on to film alongside J-Lo on a new movie called An Unfinished Life, starring Lopez as a single mother, forced to move in with her father-in-law, played by Robert Redford.

Damian’s also been working on a Martin Scorsese film with the working title of Brides, telling the true story of how mail- order brides were sent from Greece, Turkey and Russia to America to marry complete strangers.

“Sometimes hundreds of women were packed into below stairs accommodation, third class on big steamers. I play an American war photographer, who is also on this boat heading back home.”

As for Soames and his withering looks, he could well return if a third series of The Forsyte Saga gets the go-ahead. “I don’t think I made a conscious decision to give him a sneer, it just came out that way.”

The Forsyte Saga is on ITV1 on Sundays at 9pm.