Pillars of the community

With American Buffalo around the corner let's have a look on Damians very successful play back in 2005

St.Paul's Cathedral

Sir Christopher Wren's mighty St Paul's Cathedral draws the eye like nothing else in London, even though the City's skyscrapers now tower above it. The centrepiece of the great reconstruction of London after the great fire of 1666, it is still the spiritual focus of Great Britain.


Royal weddings and birthdays, the funerals of Britain's leaders and services to celebrate the ends of wars all take place beneath the famous dome. The cathedral miraculously survived the Blitz in World War II and served as an inspirational symbol of strength. Explore the medieval relics in the crypt, the gorgeous Victorian mosaics and up to the staggering views of London from the top of the dome.

Red Hot on the main site

Read the amazing and brilliant new interview with Damian Lewis on our main site.... damian-lewis.com
its one of the best interviews I have ever read with Damian!!!!!!!

its simply a joy to write it....

Damian Lewis stars in Wolf Hall and soon inAmerican Buffalo....

its a happy time for fans:-)

Go and meet Teach Don and Bobby

see new pictures and read a fabulous interview with Damian Lewis John Goodman and Tom Sturridge on our main site damian-lewis.com
its stage time....!!

more from the rehearsals

see more great pictures of American Buffalo rehearsals and please read damian-lewis.com for plot and ticket information....
for our tips and reports stay tuned with DFI:-)

American Buffalo rehearsal pictures

its time to get excited.-)

see great rehearsal pictures from the play and with this it feels real and close so enjoy the
first look and don't forget to buy your tickets...don't miss this opportunity

it will be huge..!!!!!!

 

picture source: The Guardian

previews are about to start so if you don't have your ticket yet hurry up!!

you will be in for a treat we guarantee you an unforgettable evening with masterclass performances by three exceptional actors...

meet Teach Don and Bobby

we looking forward to American Buffalo

Pic of the day

source:damian-lewis.com

The little treasures....Stolen Q&A at the BFI (09 May 2011)

Back in the theatre….a real challenge for me

I remember when Damian Lewis went on stage five years ago and the news came out

on a rainy October day it was Friday the ninth in fact I am sure every  fan in Britain and Europe

was happy and planned their trips.

I went to a heavy depression phase that time and it was no question I would go to see him

but during a level of depression you are not able to feel joy or happiness so I planned my

trip and hoped to reach a lower level until my trip which started in the first week of march in 2010

but I was wrong so me and my dark thoughts travelled to London to see Damian Lewis in

The Misanthrope….what a nice resemblance

Anyway the play was very good but I was never able to really enjoy it and it’s hard to explain

how a diehard fan couldn’t feel the happiness and luck to see him on stage but there was

a constant darkness around me and when returned home I swore myself never ever again

come back to London because over all those years London was my heart home a city I

felt free and happy and my illness never interfered until this trip and it cut an illusion

the illusion not be the weirdo with panic and depression but the free spirit who is able to enjoy herself far away from home and problems.

The depression phase went away as usual and I re discovered Damian Lewis and a year after

I was back in London to see him at the BFI preview for stolen and yes I was in London again and again and saw Damian Lewis again and I was every time in a perfect shape and mood luckily….

But now he goes back on stage a situation I prayed for years because he is a real event on stage

a different kind of event since he totally different on stage than he is on screen but perfect

on both waysJ

so I was hoping for another chance to really see him on stage and enjoy myself and have fun and

realize how thankful I can be to have the opportunity to travel to London and to see

the actor I adore but with my twenty years of illness(oh gee I am sounding like a long term weirdo)

I have kind of fear to screw up a second time to have another depression waiting around the corner

But this time is a bit different. I have my Darling Emma with me and she has already so amazing plans

for us and we also have an exciting meeting coming up too so I feel loved in the city I love and that’s

the difference. I am still an enormous fan who is excited just thinking about the trip but I am no longer alone and that’s worth to try the new challenge. Don’t you think??  J

The Tip for true crime fans

The Sherlock Holmes Museum

Tube: Baker Street

Crime fans will be in heaven in Britain with Miss Marple and Poirot

or the most famous Detective of all times: Sherlock Holmes!!

He is probably the most loved Detective in town and no I am not

talking about Benedict Cumberpatch I really mean Sherlock Holmes

because the Detective who “lived” in Baker Street 225b gets until today

letters from all over the world.

So the little museum and a must see for Sherlock Homes fans and his

creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The museum is located in Baker Street 225b and surrounded by very modern

Houses and big companies so the little house of Mr. Homes immediately

put you in the 19^th century and you can’t wait to enter the special world of Homes and Watson.

Its like a real house so you walk from room to room and discover the life of the famous Detective

and his friend Dr.Watson 

the atmosphere is amazing and you get the feeling Holmes just left the house and he will be back soon.

The little souvenir shop on the ground floor has some lovely and very special things for fans and

the quality of the products is very good since I bought a handmade “ The Hound of the Baskervilles”

twelve years ago and use it almost daily and it’s still a lovely memory

website

copyright:sherlockholmesmuseum

Emmy.com interview on Wolf Hall

a new and brilliant interview with Damian Lewis and Mark Rylance about Wolf Hall and the special relationship between Henry and Cromwell...

read and see NEW pictures on damian-lewis.com

Pic of the day

source:damian-lewis.com

Q/A Damian Lewis October 2005

Damian Lewis was born in London in 1971. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in the second world war drama Band Of Brothers. He plays Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, part of the BBC's Shakespeare season, and next month stars in Ibsen's Pillars Of The Community at the National Theatre. He lives in London and Wales.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Autumn, long walk, fire, bottle of red.

What is your greatest fear?

Death.

Which living person do you most admire?

Roger Federer -- unearthly talent combined with killer instinct.

What has been your most embarrassing moment?

Not appropriate to mention here. I was 15 and had only one thing on my mind. ...

What makes you depressed?

Terrorism.

What is your favourite smell? Welsh air. What is your most treasured possession? A photograph of my mum. What is your most unappealing habit? Hypocrisy. What is your favourite word? "Snazzy." Radiator or airconditioning? Radiator. Cat or dog? Dog. Is it better to give or to receive? Give. What is your guiltiest pleasure? Living. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? "I'm not going to do that again. ..." What has been your biggest disappointment? That I'm not a world-dominating sportsman of some kind. What is your greatest regret? That my mum died. When and where were you happiest? At 12, on the edge of Ashdown Forest, pinging golf balls at the cricket pavilion at sunset in my pyjamas. Have you ever had a same-sex experience? Do I count? What single thing would improve the quality of your life? Servants. What song would you like played at your funeral? Burning Love, by Elvis. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? You only get out what you put in. source:damian-lewis.com

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

England's most famous royal palace, and the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace opens the doors of its State Rooms to the public every summer. Originally acquired by King George III for his wife Queen Charlotte, Buckingham House was increasingly known as the 'Queen's House' and 14 of George III's children were born there.

 On his accession to the throne, George IV decided to convert the house into a palace and employed John Nash to help him extend the building. Queen Victoria was the first sovereign to live here (from 1837). The State Rooms are now still used by the Royal Family to receive and entertain guests on State and ceremonial occasions. Visitors can admire some of the more unusual gifts received by the current Queen, including drawings by Salvador Dali, an embroidered silk scarf from Nelson Mandela and a grove of maple trees.

 Decorated in lavish fashion, the rooms include paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto, Vermeer and Poussin, sculpture by Canova, exquisite examples of Svres porcelain, and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. The Ball Supper Room, the setting for a host of sparkling events in the history of the palace, 29-acre gardens and annual exhibitions are all also available to visitors.

more brilliant interviews...

Now you’ve signed on to another Showtime series, Billions, costarring Paul Giamatti.
I do think some of the best writing happens in TV. It’s no accident that I said yes to Billions and going back to Showtime.

my favourite part:-) read the whole interview on damian-lewis.com 

Wolf Hall needs more Henry...says zappit.com

and we agree of course:-)

Wolf Hall the BBC’s six-part adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Booker Prize-winning novels, has a clear hero: Thomas Cromwell (Mark Rylance).

Cromwell, who has a knack for knowing when to break into a kind yet sardonic smile, is an intelligent, thoughtful, tragic man from lowly beginnings who eventually rises to become King Henry VIII’s chief minister.

However, although Cromwell is a strong leading man with a tear-jerker of a past — his cruel father used to kick him on the streets until his blood dripped onto the cobblestones — there’s one man missing from Sunday’s (April 5) premiere as part of PBS’ “Masterpiece”: Henry VIII.

The English king (Damian Lewis) does not make a significant appearance until the last five minutes of the hour-plus episode. And although there’s no denying the satisfaction that comes from watching a man who doesn’t deserve the cards he’s dealt — Cromwell’s wife and two daughters die on the same morning — take them in stride, there’s something special about the addition of Lewis’ Henry.

Within the few minutes Lewis and Rylance are on screen together, it becomes apparent that they will be the power couple to watch on the series. An hour of following Cromwell’s back story was fine enough, but chances are that Lewis will make the next five episodes that much more enthralling and entertaining for fans.

Hopefully Lewis’ few minutes on screen are not a sign of what’s to come in the rest of the series, and together both actors will bring to life an odd friendship that is full of backstabbing, lies and secret winks that signal they respect each other on some level.

Let's say it again...

The press call it a true Masterpiece and Damian Lewis as Henry VIII earned again rave reviews

We wish you a great time on court and think big...Wolf Hall is just the beginning...

soon it's stage time with American Buffalo and later in the year Billions start shooting...
we keep you updated and please go all those exciting roads with us:-)

your DFI team

The Spring Highlight!!

Sabrina about the King.-) Wolf Hall on PBS memory piece

Since Emma already told you about her first impression of King Henry and Wolf Hall

Today it’s my turn.

 as most of us I eagerly awaited the miniseries because I loved the books and I often wrote here

about my dream role for Damian Lewis in fact I did it the first time when opened the blog back in July last year but I am proud to hear even other blogger and fans joined in which is quite nice.

But I also told you all that I was a bit worries because it’s a great role and a role other actors

played very well and as I mentioned before Damian polarizes always a bit in his “homeland”

but I was convinced we would see something entirely different because the books doesn’t

describe the fat choleric Henry or as Damian said we will not see an Elvis like king.-)

but a new Henry youthful athletic powerful and yet a bit naïve and as a fan I was utterly convinced

an actor from a calibre like Damian Lewis will be able to handle it but for a fan I have to confess that

I am very critical sometimes over critical only because I don’t like it to lose the objective view on things. 

So I expected a great first episode. The complete series has a stellar cast, you don’t know where to begin but maybe with Cromwell and Mark Rylance

The series is about Cromwell and with Mark Rylance the production has one of the best if not best 

Actor of his generation and frankly as one critic wrote Rylance is the best actor of his generation and Lewis isn’t far behind him I was over the moon because yes I am proud to be a Lewis fan always has been long before Homeland and I had never doubts he is one of the best actors of his generation

and to hear such statement establish my own opinion even more.

Wolf Hall started fantastic with a dark touch and even if some people criticised the lightning

in the night shoots for me it worked  and made the scenery real and thrilling the atmosphere was captured perfectly.

All the actors and actresses brought their characters to life in a wonderful way.

Mark Rylance is brilliant in the role of Cromwell and he is for me the Cromwell I imagined

In the books. Cannot wait to see more of him the next weeks.

But I could write a long list here because every actor in every single role was convincing and

made the first episode a highlight for me….

Yes the King….came for around five minutes and that was enough to make the audience

Happy and we all shared the same opinion: This is the Henry we waited for!!

  His presence is overwhelming and electrifying. the way he walks and speaks assure you he knows every bit about his power.

Damian Lewis brought a new not seen yet King to the screen and I cant wait to see more

and agree with  the loads of comments from the Wolf Hall audience :

A brilliant performance and he was able to capture us within minutes!!

Thanks for a great first episode it was a joy to watch.

source damian-lewis.com

Emma about the King.-) Wolf Hall on PBS memory piece

So last night after spending the evening with my husband for his birthday and at 9pm looking at my watch and thinking “why today did it have to be his birthday” , I got home at 11.15pm and just had to watch my pre-recorded wolf  hall which was on over 2 hours earlier – like a child I couldn’t wait another day to see it, and boy was I glad I waited up for another hour to feed my anticipated addiction.

As the credits began and the music started the hairs on my arm began to move and I was rooted to the spot.  I don’t want to give too much away for people in the US who are still to wait for a few months to see it, but the acting, the set and the sheer brilliance was just wonderful.  As a child and now adult I have to admit that I was never really into period dramas – however over the last 24 months Damian Lewis has changed my perception of this and since Forstye Saga I have been turned (not in a Brody way though) Mark Rylance plays Thomas Cromwell brilliantly and the cast is just fabulous, even down to the children. 

 I spoke to a friend today who was rooted to the spot when the Tudors were on television a while back and she said to me “ this is going to be a fantastic 6 weeks” and then clutching my cup of tea and dunking a biscuit the wait was over, Henry made his debut appearance on my screen, dressed in red with his floppy black hat and his sneering grin, there stood in the palace gardens, Damian Lewis, portraying King Henry 8^th. 

 At first I had the urge to shout “whohoo” but then realised at 12am and kids asleep probably best just to keep it to my big smile and watch the last 5 minutes of what promises to be one of the best period dramas on the BBC in a very long time – BBC 2 have already said that they have not had TV ratings on a show that high in over a decade – so whether it’s down to a fantastic adaptation, or a great director or is it the fact that Damian Lewis has been cast into a magnificent British drama – whatever the reason I know I will be infront of my TV every Wednesday at 9pm for the next 6 weeks. 

more reviews follow and of course you will read it every week here on DFI

Damian Lewis on Wolf Hall

Read the NEW interview on damian-lewis.com

and enjoy another brilliant interview about Wolf Hall acting and the world of monarchy

American Buffalo..meet Mr.Goodman..and a touch of Teach

listen to this small clip with Mr.Goodman and hear a little sequence from the rehearsal with Damian Lewis

Clip: 

American Buffalo previews from 16th of April and official press night on 27th of April the play runs till 27th of June

American Buffalo and Wolf Hall

Wolf Hall starts on PBS and American Buffalo are about to start...
read news and updates on damian-lewis.com and take a look on the Blog for our pieces, London tips and all around Damian Lewis