Keane – Damian Lewis

Video Interview & Podcast: Damian’s Guest Appearance on Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist – April 22, 2018

On April 22, 2018July 6, 2020 By Gingersnap Comments Off

Sunday Sit-Down and Podcast with Willie Geist

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | April 22, 2018

Source: NBC Today Show

On Sunday, April 22, 2018, Damian appeared on NBC’s Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist at New York City’s Spin to discuss insider tips about what’s to come on the upcoming season of Billions, Damian’s breakout role in Band of Brothers, his American and British accents, and he even showed off his crazy ping-pong skills in this video. For additional interview video snippets and extras, view our original announcement.

Watch the interview video and listen to the full-length podcast below, and don’t forget to visit our Gallery for the latest photos.

Podcast:

Damian says of Billions and playing Bobby Axelrod, “This season we descend even further through the circles of hell. And as each personable, individual soul blackens and darkens because of the corrupting influence of power and money, we see the stakes just rise higher and higher. It’s really good fun. You know, this is a show about assholes being assholes. That’s why he’s [Axe] fun to play. He’s a predator, he prowls, he’s looking for prey – that’s a good metaphor for hedge fund guys who are looking for the injured wildebeest off the back of the pack that’s under performing. He’s got a swagger about him. He’s an alley cat. He’s a scrapper, he’s that boxer who lives on his wits and who’s wits are just a little bit quicker than everybody else’s so he can roll and he’s got quick feet.”

Over the last two years, Willie has sat down with some of the biggest names in news and pop culture — from actors and musicians to presidents and CEOs — to talk about the stories behind their success. Starting now, these entire conversations will be available every week on the “Sunday Sitdown” podcast.

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Damian Lewis’ Path from Band of Brothers to Billions – March 23, 2018

On March 23, 2018 By Gingersnap Comments Off

Damian Discusses His Most Pivotal Roles

by Emily Zemler | LA Times | March 23, 2018

Source: LA Times – Photo by Genaro Molina

“I am interested in the imperfections in people,” Damian Lewis says. “I’m interested in the contradictions and in the moral struggle that often exists in all of us.”

This sensibility threads through many of the actor’s film and television characters, particularly his current role as shrewd hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod on “Billions.” The Showtime series returns for its third season tonight, bringing us even closer to understanding what exactly makes Bobby tick.

“He’s a fiercely loyal man,” Lewis says about Bobby. “He’s ruthless. He’s extremely competitive. For him, the game is everything. The playing of the game is the thing — and it is a game, so winning the game is paramount. He enjoys it.”

The role is a big shift for Lewis, 47, who got his start on British television before coming to the attention of American audiences in Steven Spielberg’s World War II epic miniseries “Band of Brothers.” Although Lewis has since had several career-defining roles, particularly as Nicholas Brody in “Homeland,” that project lingers as one of his most important projects.

“Some jobs are just gigs, but some jobs have the ability to be life-changing,” he notes. “They just alter you in some small way. ‘Band of Brothers’ was definitely one of those.”

Here Lewis discusses several of his most pivotal roles:

Bobby Axelrod, “Billions” (2016-2018)

“What attracted me to Bobby Axelrod was to get to play a man who is willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants and see where that takes him personally. To find out, during the course of the show, how corrupting that is on a man who is prepared to cross one line after another. What does it do to one’s soul? I saw that as potentially where it was going. And it’s enormous fun. He’s a form of gangster and it’s fun playing that kind of guy.”

Continue reading Damian Lewis’ Path from Band of Brothers to Billions – March 23, 2018

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Damian Lewis Webchat: Your Questions Answered – April 19, 2017

On April 19, 2017August 10, 2020 By Gingersnap Comments Off

From Sweet Packets and War Heroes to Myths of Private Education

by Staff | The Guardian | April 19, 2017

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Damian Was Third Choice to Play Homeland’s Nick Brody – Jan 12, 2016

On January 12, 2016February 9, 2018 By Gingersnap Comments Off

Damian Lewis had to fend off Ryan Philippe and Patrick Wilson to play Homeland’s Nicholas Brody

by Sarah Doran – RadioTimes – January 12, 2016

Source: Showtime

Showrunner Alex Gansa reveals the British actor wasn’t top of the list of Showtime’s potential leading men for the espionage thriller.

He may now be one of TV and film’s most famous redheads but did you know Damian Lewis very nearly missed out on his role as Homeland’s Nicholas Brody?

When casting for the US show began, Lewis wasn’t Showtime’s (the network Homeland debuted on) first choice for the role. In fact, he wasn’t even the second, despite showrunner Alex Gansa’s determination to see him step into Brody’s shoes.

“When we first brought him up, everyone was very negative about the suggestion,” Gansa told The New Yorker. Their hesitation had a lot to do with the failure of Life, a cancelled NBC police procedural drama in which the British actor had played the lead character.

“That carries a pretty big stigma,” Gansa said. “The network really wanted Ryan Phillippe; Patrick Wilson passed. I kept talking about Damian until I got a call from the head of the studio saying, ‘Look, Alex, please do not bring up Damian’s name again.’ Hanging up the phone in my office – I think we were two weeks from the start of principal photography – I was like, Are we going to cast Ryan Phillippe in this role?”

That’s right. A non-Lewis Brody very nearly happened. We know, you guys. We know.

Continue reading Damian Was Third Choice to Play Homeland’s Nick Brody – Jan 12, 2016

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Damian Lewis: Film Inspired My Prince’s Trust Role

On March 25, 2013May 22, 2022 By Gingersnap Comments Off

Ambassador for Prince’s Trust Influenced by Keane Role

by Fred Attewill | Metro | March 25, 2013

Homeland star Damian Lewis’s role as a homeless man moved him to become an ambassador for a charity helping disadvantaged young people.

The 42-year-old star became involved with the Prince’s Trust after research for his 2004 film Keane, in which he played a man who suffered a nervous breakdown, showed him how easy it was for a comfortable lifestyle to fall apart.

Lewis said: ‘It’s alarming how few steps I trod in the film from a successful life to a breakdown into homelessness – and many kids are closer than adults to this because they don’t have support networks.

Continue reading Damian Lewis: Film Inspired My Prince’s Trust Role