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Knickers in the post and the rather racy past of the hottest Brit in Hollywood, Daily Mail, January 18, 2013

Knickers in the post and the rather racy past of the hottest Brit in Hollywood

Those weary souls, trudging through Heathrow after emerging, blinking, from the Los Angeles red-eye, rarely cut the most hale and hearty of figures.

But if a touch of the leading man gloss appeared to have come off Damian Lewis as he exhaustedly navigated the arrivals hall earlier this week, he had a good excuse.

Because only a few hours earlier, in the faux Polynesian surroundings of Trader Vic’s bar in Beverly Hills, his celebrations for landing a best actor Golden Globe were in full swing.

Actor Damian Lewis (left) and Helen McCrory arrive at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California

Actor Damian Lewis (left) and Helen McCrory arrive at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California

As the evening progressed, he first treated photographers to an excitable version of dancing ‘Gangnam Style’, in homage to the recent internet craze.

Then, in the presence of an A-list crowd, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Heidi Klum and Richard Gere, at an after-show party, he continued the festivities, bopping manically with his actress wife Helen McCrory to a series of rock ’n’  roll numbers.

So, it would hardly be surprising that he gave every impression of nursing a sore head as he wandered through Heathrow, still  carrying his creased Tom Ford tuxedo over his shoulder.

But who could blame 41-year-old London-born Damian for wanting to celebrate? After all, in the wake of his award for his role as a former Marine-turned-traitor in the U.S. hit series, Homeland, headlines in America are calling the red-headed actor everything from Hollywood’s most bankable leading man to the new Steve McQueen.

Rather than milk the adulation, however, the Old Etonian was booking himself on the first available flight back to the family home in London he shares with Ms McCrory and their two children, daughter Manon, six, and five-year-old son, Gulliver.

All of which gives a rather poignant insight into the tortured flip-side of Damian’s Hollywood dream.

Homeland with Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody and Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison

Homeland with Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody and Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison

Damian Lewis holds up the award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for his role in Homeland at the Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in September

Damian Lewis holds up the award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for his role in Homeland at the Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in September

British actor Damian Lewis starring in in the hit U.S. drama Homeland

British actor Damian Lewis starring in in the hit U.S. drama Homeland

 For while his children remain in the UK with their mother at their large family house, he spends five months of the year in the U.S. filming Homeland, in which he stars with blonde actress Claire Danes.

And this week, in a moving interview with Vogue magazine, he revealed just how hard it is to be parted from his family to pursue his glittering career.

Speaking of his son, the heart-throb said: ‘I was talking to Gully about something different and suddenly, without looking at me, he said: “D’you know, Dad? When you’re away, sometimes I look out of my bedroom window at night and I call your name and I cry.” I wrestle with this.’

It is a conflict, those close to him say, that resonates particularly with Damian because he has yet fully to come to terms with the death of his mother, Charlotte, in a car accident 12 years ago.

Indeed, in his emotional Golden Globes acceptance speech, he told the star-studded audience: ‘I want to dedicate this to my mum, who is up there somewhere, looking down and bursting with pride.’

Read the rest of the article at the Daily Mail