Grace Jones – Damian Lewis

Helen Dishes About Damian on Desert Island Discs – June 28, 2020

On June 28, 2020June 28, 2020 By Gingersnap Comments Off

Helen McCrory on Desert Island Discs Podcast

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | June 28, 2020

Helen McCrory OBE is one of the most versatile and critically acclaimed actresses working today. On screen she has played Anna Karenina, Cherie Blair (twice), Harry Potter‘s Narcissa Malfoy and the Peaky Blinders matriarch Aunt Polly. Her theatre roles range from Yelena in Uncle Vanya to Euripides‘ Medea.

A diplomat’s daughter, she spent her early childhood in Africa before continuing her education in the UK. After a bruising and unsuccessful audition at the Drama Centre in London – she was instructed to find out more about life before learning to act – she travelled to Italy where she discovered art and love and came back to try again. This time she passed the audition.

In 1993 she made her mark in Richard Eyre’s production of Trelawny of the Wells at the National Theatre and went on to perform leading roles on some of London’s most prestigious stages, winning two Olivier Award nominations. She was awarded an OBE for services to drama in 2017.

She met her husband, fellow actor Damian Lewis, when they both starred in a play called Five Gold Rings. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic Helen and Damian, together with the comedian Matt Lucas, co-founded the Feed NHS campaign which raises money to provide hot meals to frontline NHS workers.

On BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs podcast that aired June 28, 2020, Helen McCrory shared eight music tracks, one book and a luxury item she would want to take with her if cast away to a desert island.

Continue reading Helen Dishes About Damian on Desert Island Discs – June 28, 2020

Music Narrator Video

Damian’s 2009 Narration of ‘Keep On Running: 50 Years Of Island Records’ – August 21, 2017

On August 21, 2017August 23, 2020 By Gingersnap Comments Off

BBC’s Classic Documentary Now Available for Streaming

by Anton Spice | The Vinyl Factory Limited | August 21, 2017

Island Records is touted as “the most diverse and influential independent record label in history” and arguably the most prestigious record label in the history of British music.

Damian narrated BBC’s documentary Keep on Running: 50 Years Of Island Records in May, 2009 to coincide with the label’s 50th anniversary and concert. The BBC’s feature-length documentary has been uploaded to YouTube and available to watch online here for the first time since August, 2017.

Originally aired on BBC Four, it follows the story of the label from humble beginnings in Jamaica, where a young Chris Blackwell released budding jazz and ska bands, before making for the UK with the island’s sound system hits under his arm. Chris Blackwell founded the Island label in Kingston, Jamaica in 1959 with capital of just £1000. Relocating to London in the early 60’s, Blackwell built the most diverse and enviable back catalogue of any independent record label in history. From Island’s early Jamaican roots in ska and rock-steady, through the label’s expansion to become the cutting edge of progressive rock in the late 60’s, and then on to the signing of such international superstars as Bob Marley, Grace Jones and U2, Blackwell brought to Island a unique vision and passion which still informs the label’s approach to this day.

Watch the 90-minute documentary in full below:

Sources: Island Records and Vinyl Factory Limited

Colditz Media Personal and Family Life Print Media

Damian Lewis: ‘British women are weird’, Sunday Mirror, March 27, 2005

On March 27, 2005October 8, 2017 By Damianista Comments Off

DAMIAN LEWIS: `British women are weird’ Actor and red-hot redhead Damian Lewis, 34, talks about his kinky fans, pinching girls’ bums, and why he’s a born liar.

by Louise Burke, Sunday Mirror, March 27, 2005

You star in new ITV drama From Colditz With Love, as a prisoner of war who joins the Secret Service. Are you a gadget man?

Damien Lewis: I like my sports car. I just got a little Mazda MX5 – it’s only a cheap and cheerful one really. It’s titanium, a sort of greyish colour. I’m not exactly obsessed by toys. I don’t have a plasma TV, just a normal one, though I suppose it’s still quite big. I do have an i-Pod, although I need to learn how to download my music. You can pay people to do that can’t you? I heard you can pay someone pounds 200 and they’ll download you 5,000 songs. I think I’ll do that, because to be honest, I’m a bit clueless.

Is it true you were asked to audition for the new Bond movie?

DL: That isn’t strictly true. I have never auditioned for the role of James Bond. It would be difficult not to consider it – helicopter rides to sunny locations and let’s not forget the Bond girls. Halle Berry was pretty good in that bikini, but my favourite was Grace Jones.

Continue reading Damian Lewis: ‘British women are weird’, Sunday Mirror, March 27, 2005