Categories News The Baker The Escapist The Misanthrope Theatre


  • Thanks to Thann for the news that Damian Lewis will star onstage in The Misanthrope which will run at The Comedy Theatre in London’s West End from December 7, 2009 through March 13, 2010! ➡

    Damian Lewis leads an outstanding ensemble with Tara Fitzgerald, Keira Knightley and Dominic Rowan in Martin Crimp’s blistering version of Molière’s greatest comedy, The Misanthrope.

    Transported from 17th century Paris to modern-day London, Alceste (Damian Lewis) is a famous British playwright disillusioned and angry with the hypocrisy, shallowness and vanity of the contemporary world. Vowing to reject society, Alceste’s plans are derailed when he falls madly in love with Jennifer (Keira Knightley). An ambitious American film star and darling of the social scene, she may prove to be his biggest challenge yet.

  • Baz Bamigboye’s column in today’s issue of the Daily Mail featured a story about The Misanthrope that included comments from Damian Lewis and Director Thea Sharrock:

    Keira Knightley has cancelled her close-ups in front of movie cameras for a while so she can make her stage debut in the West End in December…the Oscar-nominated actress was said to be ‘terrified but excited’ about appearing in a modern-day version of Moliere’s 17th century masterpiece The Misanthrope, in which she will play a flirtatious Hollywood film star, joining an ensemble cast led by Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre actor Damian Lewis, who plays the title role.

    Tara Fitzgerald and Dominic Rowan will also star. Rehearsals start the middle of next month, with preview performances at the Comedy Theatre from December 7 and an official opening night on December 17…As Damian, her future leading man, noted: ‘She’s been surrounded by theatre all her life. ‘She also knows of the importance of being part of a company of actors. ‘It’s not the bloody Keira Knightley show,’ she joked to one friend. That point was underscored by director Thea Sharrock…’Keira’s right – it’s not the Keira Knightley show. She’s the leading lady because she has the biggest female role, but she’s not the lead part. This is Damian’s show…

    ‘I signed up to work with Damian Lewis because it’s brilliant to get him back on stage. And along the way we happened to get Keira Knightley, which is fantastic and I’m very excited but, you know, it’s in that order.’

    However, both Damian and Sharrock were clearly thrilled to be working with Keira because, however small her name is on the marquee, her star power will bring in punters…

    The actors will work from a version of The Misanthrope shaped by Martin Crimp 15 years ago and first performed at the Young Vic with Ken Stott. Damian explained that it’s an entirely updated version of the play, originally written in 1666, where Moliere was venting his anger at the ‘insincerity and vacuousness and shallowness of society around him. ‘These are people who live to be seen at the latest play, to be wearing the latest fashion, to be generally complimenting and flattering anyone they see in order to further their way up the greasy social pole,’ he said.

    Crimp has taken Moliere’s characters and turned them into a playwright (Damian’s character, Alceste), a critic, an agent, a journalist and others on the social whirl, plus an actress, known as Celimene in Moliere’s original but now called Jennifer (the role Keira will play).

    ‘Jennifer’s a young American starlet and everyone within the play is going: “Why on earth are you in love with her? She’s sh**ging everything that moves. ..”‘ Damian explained.

    The actor observed that there has always been a need for ‘what’s current, what’s fashionable’. ‘It was true in 1666. It was true when Martin Crimp’s version was written 15 years ago and it’s true now,’ said Damian, who was speaking from the set of the movie Your Highness, which is shooting in Belfast…

  • Bill Iddings’ review of the IFC International Film Festival in Muskegon, Michigan this weekend includes these comments about Damian Lewis’s performance in The Escapist:

    “The Escapist,” a compelling prison-break yarn with an ensemble cast led by Brian Cox, Joseph Fiennes and a redheaded actor who should be typecast as the Devil, Damian Lewis…

    To my eye, the best of the bunch is “The Escapist,” rookie British director Rupert Wyatt’s compelling drama about a group of convicts plotting to bust out of the joint…

    The wild card in this deck is a King of The Cell Block (Lewis), a sinister man of few words, who has no interest in rotating back to the real world, where he is nothing. Given his appearance, Lewis does not have to say a thing to establish himself as one of the most ominous presences to be seen on screen this year…

    As for Cox, his performance personifies the kind the reason they give Academy Awards, but don’t. That’ll make more sense after seeing “The Escapist.” a movie that burrows underground, and perhaps into the mind of a man who might or might not be dead. Early candidate for line of the year: “You got one thing going for you: You’re too old to die young.”

  • The Baker starring Damian Lewis will open at the Glenwood Arts Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri on October 9, 2009.
  • Click here to view a new video titled “Easy Company Real Veterans/Soldiers, With the Band Of Brothers Actor’s” that was posted on YouTube by Distancian.

Categories Helen The Baker The Escapist


  • The region 1 (US/Canada) DVD of The Escapist featuring Damian Lewis is now available for rental exclusively from Blockbusters.com. ➡

    The Escapist will screen at The Harbor Theater in Muskegon, Michigan on October 10, 11, and 12 for the IFC International Film Festival.

  • The Baker starring Damian Lewis opens in Portland, Oregon on October 23rd at the
    Living Room Theatres.

  • Helen McCrory recently gave an interview to Rotten Tomatoes that mentions the “epic” ending planned for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. Helen plays Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.

    Helen gave the interview during the filming her new movie 4.3.2.1.

  • Click here to listen to Helen performing in “Words and Music Feasting with Panthers” on BBC Radio 3.

Categories Gallery The Baker


  • Visit the Warehouse for more pictures of Damian Lewis and his adorable son Gulliver participating in the “Prostate Cancer Charity London Tour” on September 19, 2009. 😀

  • Deborah Ground Buckner’s review for the “Kansas International Film Festival” screening of The Baker includes these comments:

    Each village character manages to stand out from the ensemble, becoming clearly definable and engaging. Audiences will be pulling for Milo (Damian Lewis) and his belief that “Everyone deserves a second chance.” Beautiful scenes of the countryside (juxtaposed against the impact of Eggs and his explosives) and charming storefronts create an enchanting world. Michael Gambon is great fun as the seen-it-all done-it-all Leo, Kate Ashfield provides a lovely, spirited love interest, and the mysterious relationship between Milo and Bjorn is fun to watch as it unfolds.

    The Baker received the Best Feature Film award at the RiverRun International Film Festival (2008), the Audience Favorite Award at the Connecticut Film Festival (2009), and the Gold Remi Award for Editing and the Special Jury Remi Award for a Theatrical Feature Film, at Worldfest Houston (2009).

Categories Events News The Baker


  • Damian Lewis to play George Mallory? Yes, if author Jeffrey Archer gets his way! ➡

    Columbia has purchased the film rights to Paths of Glory, Archer’s bestselling book about famous British mountaineer George Mallory who disappeared on Mt. Everest in 1924.

    Thanks to Funn Lim for this news posted on the London Evening Standard.co.uk that Lord Archer thinks Damian Lewis is the best choice to play Mallory in the movie:

    GOOD news for Lord Archer. He has sold the rights to the film adaptation of his book on George Mallory, Paths of Glory, to Columbia. Interestingly, the millionaire novelist is keener to see Damian Lewis cast in the role, rather than the favourite, Christian Bale, which might be because Lewis has played Archer himself in the satire Jeffrey Archer: The Truth. “We’re about to sign the contract this week,” Archer said. “Columbia have bought it which is good because a lot of people say they’re going to make a film and you know it’s all talk, Columbia are a serious outfit. Everybody says Christian Bale should play it. I think Damian Lewis is a very fine actor and obviously I’d be delighted if Christian Bale played it but I’m a huge fan of Damian Lewis, I think he’s a very fine actor.” Did Archer enjoy Lewis’s take on him? “Unfortunately, I never saw it,” he replies.

    Click on the links below for more information about Paths of Glory and Archer’s thoughts about Damian Lewis’s suitability for the role: l 1 l
    2 l
    3 l



  • Damian Lewis is scheduled to take part in the “Tour of Britain” cycling event to benefit the Prostate Cancer Charity on Saturday, September 19, 2009. Click here to read more about the event and visit the Warehouse to view a larger version of the photo above.

  • The Baker starring Damian Lewis will screen at the
    Kansas International Film Festival on September 19th; click here to read Ken Loch’s comments about the film.

Categories Band of Brothers Download Events Helen The Baker Your Highness



  • Thanks to Kaz for these scans of a terrific new interview with Damian Lewis in the current issue of Today’s Golfer magazine. Click here to watch a video clip from the interview.



  • Damian Lewis will participate (if his film schedule permits) in the “Tour of Britain” charity bicycling event, in London on September 19th, to benefit the Prostate Cancer Charity.

  • The Baker starring Damian Lewis will screen at the Temecula Valley International Film Festival in California on September 10th and 12th. The film will also screen at the Kansas International Film Festival in Overland Park, KS on September 19th.

  • It’s the “Labor Day” holiday weekend in the US and Spike TV is running a
    Band of Brothers marathon starring Damian Lewis as Major Richard Winters. The network will continue to air episodes of the series on Friday nights.

    Mike Hughes of the News-Leader.com has advised readers to take advantage of this opportunity to “Get another look at brilliant Band of Brothers” and Brooke Cain told readers of the NewsObserver.com: “What to Watch on Saturday: Band of Brothers marathon on Spike.”

    Thanks to Kaz for sharing this link to an interesting “Normandy Then and Now” photo archive. Click here for a video montage of Band of Brothers soldiers and actors posted on YouTube by hankbrown1.

  • Thank you to Ryanne for this link to download (in mp3 format) the Arkangel audiobook for “Hamlet” featuring Damian Lewis as Laertes. Damian performed in 3 audio plays for “The Complete Arkangel Shakespeare”. The series was directed by Clive Brill and originally released in 1999:

    » Valentine in “Two Gentleman of Verona”

    » Alcibiades in “Timon of Athens”

    » Laertes in “Hamlet”

  • Flashbacks of a Fool with Helen McCrory is currently running on US television; check your local listings.
  • Information posted by blogger Resolution Art indicates that Your Highness with Damian Lewis is still filming on location in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

  • Clelia at Rupertised.com has featured Damian Lewis as the “Redhead of the Month!” 😀

Categories The Baker



  • The Baker starring Damian Lewis will screen at the Kansas International Film Festival on September 19, 2009 at 8:15 PM; click here for ticket sales.

    Screenings for the Kansas International Film Festival take place at:

    Glenwood Arts Theatre
    9575 Metcalf Ave
    Overland Park, KS
    913-642-4404

  • JayFlix has posted this review of The Baker:

    Even though this delightful little British farce was released in 2007, it won’t officially be available here in the US until late May, 2009. I saw it at the Sedona Film Festival this past March and thought it was a treat!

    Damian Lewis [“Forsyte Saga,” “Friends and (Crocodiles)” and “Band of Brothers”] is an enterprising hit man who works for Michael Gambon (“Cranford” and “Harry Potter”). After an [un]successful job, Lewis is dispatched to a bakery in a small village in Wales to await further orders. Consequently he buries his Glock under a tree and treks into town. He finds himself in the awkward position of having to pretend he has moved there to serve as the new village baker.

    This isolated little village withholds judgment about the newcomer because they DO need a baker, so….

    Meanwhile, one of the young men in town had observed the burial and digs up the gun. He immediately concocts a fantastical scenario which is shockingly close to the truth.

    Watching Lewis attempt to woo a local lass while struggling with the intricacies of making bread, doughnuts, and other pastries, is great fun. When they finally fling themselves into each other’s arms, their enthusiastic lovemaking amid slippery frosting, dough, and batter ingredients, rivals that of the classic paint shop scene in “The Stuntman.”

    Many of these same actors appear in the hilarious update of “Much Ado About Nothing” which also stars Damian Lewis, so maybe it is the same production company. If you are curious about THAT one, look for it in the “ShakespeaRe-Told” collection (spelling verified). It is by far my favorite selection out of the four in that set.

    I like silly British comedies that take place in quirky little hamlets, and for some reason Damian Lewis is one of my favorite actors, so this is one I enjoyed immensely. Check with your local library or Netflex, and cross your fingers!

    Note: The Baker and Much Ado About Nothing were not created by the same production company. MAAN is a BBC production and The Baker was produced by Picture Farm, an idenpendent film company founded by Damian Lewis, Gareth Lewis, Rupert Wyatt, and Adrian Sturges. Damian’s brother Gareth Lewis wrote and directed The Baker.

    Sadly, The Baker has not yet been released in the U.S. 🙁

Categories Band of Brothers The Baker The Escapist Your Highness

  • Author Carrie Lofty uses specific examples from the Band of Brothers mini-series to illustrate this interesting essay about the various forms of address used by males.

  • Lucky White Rabbit has been hired as an Extra in Your Highness. The comedy features Damian Lewis and is currently filming on location in Northern Ireland. Here’s her intriguing description of the role:

    Just got a call from the extras company there. They would like to have me as an extra in James Franco’s movie. Happy days you say? Yes I say.

    Essentially I’m an albino tribeswoman who, along with her tribesy friends, kidnaps the princes and does terrible things to them. I can’t say I’m overly thrilled about wandering around Belfast in an animal skin bikini in the middle of September but I’m sure it’ll be a laugh.

  • The Baker starring Damian Lewis now appears in the schedule for September’s Kansas International Film Festival, date and time information to follow.

  • Click here and here for fan reviews of The Escapist with Damian Lewis.