As a child, Lewis made several visits to the US to visit relatives during summer breaks.[10][11] He first decided to become an actor at the age of 16.[5]
Lewis once worked as a telemarketer selling car alarms.[13] His first television appearance was as a medical student in "Hickory Dickory Dock", a feature-length episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot, an ITV Studios TV production, broadcast in 1995.[14] He also appeared as a rakish student in an early episode of the drama series A Touch of Frost (1996). He appeared in Robinson Crusoe (1997) as Patrick Conner.
He was in the 2000 series called Hearts and Bones as the love interest of Dervla Kirwan. Subsequently, Lewis portrayed Soames Forsyte in the ITV series The Forsyte Saga, which earned him positive reviews.[17] He returned to the US to star in Dreamcatcher, a Lawrence Kasdan film about a man who becomes possessed by an evil alien. The character is American but when possessed he takes on a British accent.[10] On the heels of this role, he starred in Keane as a Manhattanite with a fragile mental state who is searching for his missing daughter. Despite the film's poor box-office, Lewis's performance in the role was very well reviewed.[18][19][20]
In 2008, Lewis starred as the main character Charlie Crews in the American television series Life on NBC. The show premiered in the US on 26 September 2007 and was affected by the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike. Only half of the first season's shows were produced. Regardless, the show won a 2008 AFI Award for best television series.[24] Although the show received critical acclaim, when it returned the following television season, it was shuffled from night to night, and eventually cancelled by NBC to clear its time slot for The Jay Leno Show.[25][26]
In 2016 he began starring as billionaire hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod in the Showtime series Billions.[34] He left the show in 2021 after five seasons, but returned for half of season 7. In 2016 he appeared in the British spy film Our Kind of Traitor.
Music
In an interview with The Guardian in October 2022, Lewis said that he had long-standing ambitions to be a musician, and had been collaborating with jazz artist Giacomo Smith, firstly on cover songs and then writing new material for an album that would be released in 2023: "I started writing and found out there was lots that I actually did want to write, and before we knew it we had a record’s worth of songs. We’ve ended up with a rootsy, jazzy, rock’n’rolly, singer-songwritery-type album."[35]
Lewis released his debut single, "Down On the Bowery", on 13 April 2023.[36] His debut album, Mission Creep, was released in June that year on Decca Records.[37]
In 2009 Lewis featured in Inspired By Music, a book commissioned by The Prince's Trust, written and photographed by celebrity photographer Cambridge Jones,[39] and sponsored by Starbucks.[40][41] It features personal reflections by 36 celebrities as well as four ordinary people helped by The Prince's Trust,[42] about musical lyrics that inspired them.[40] Lewis's photo portrait also featured in Jones's exhibition Talking Pictures, featuring famous people of Welsh descent, that toured the world from 2010.[43]
In 2010, Lewis became a trade justice ambassador for the charity Christian Aid.[44] In May 2006, June 2016, June 2018, and June 2022, he played for England in Soccer Aid,[45][46][47] and played golf for Europe in the All*Star Cup in August 2006, both shown on ITV.[48]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewis and his wife Helen McCrory supported Feed NHS, a fundraiser to give food from high street restaurants to NHS staff. By April 2020, they had raised £1m for the charity. The initiative started in London, but following its success, plans were announced to roll it out to other cities in the UK.[49]
His performance as Henry VIII of England in Wolf Hall earned him his third Primetime Emmy nomination and fourth Golden Globe nomination.[55][56]
Personal life
Lewis suffered a period of depression following a motorcycle accident in north London in 1998.[57][58]
Having previously dated Katie Razzall, Kristin Davis, and Sophia Myles,[59] Lewis married actress Helen McCrory on 4 July 2007. They have a daughter and a son.[60] McCrory died of cancer on 16 April 2021, aged 52.[61][35]
Since 2022, he is in a relationship with singer Alison Mosshart.[63][64][65]
Filmography
Film
Television
Stage
Discography
Albums
Singles
Other appearances
References
^ a b cPeacock, Tim (10 June 2023). "Damian Lewis Shares Emotive Single 'She Comes'; Announces New UK Dates". UDiscover Music. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
^ a b c d"Musical Career". Damien-Lewis.com. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
^ a bCollins, Lauren (2016). "Blue Blood, Blue Collar: Damian Lewis's transformations," The New Yorker, 18 January 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
^Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, 1990, ed. Charles Kidd, pg 759
^ a bInterview with The Sunday Express, 25 May 2003; accessed 22 December 2008.
^Mottram, James. Damian Lewis interview with Marie Claire Archived 27 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, 25 February 2008. accessed 14 January 2009.
^"Homeland's Damian Lewis rooting for Wales in Six Nations". Independent.co.uk. 20 March 2013.
^"Yarrow, Sir Alfred, First Baronet". 5 November 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
^"An Interview with Damian Lewis". Public Broadcasting Service. 2002. Archived from the original on 15 February 2006. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
^ a b cIannotti, Lauren. "Esquire Style". Esquire, April 2003, 139 (4):120.
^"Fighting Talk" Archived 7 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine. New Woman, November 1999. republished at Damian-Lewis.com. accessed 22 December 2008.
^Wolf, Matt (1 January 1995). "FILM; Who Will Be The New Ralph Fiennes, The Next Hugh Grant?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
^Holmes, Linda (29 September 2012). "Damian Lewis On The Conflicts And Complexities Of 'Homeland'". NPR. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
^"Poirot" Hickory Dickory Dock (TV Episode 1995) - IMDb, retrieved 16 January 2023
^ a b c"RSC Performances: Damian Lewis". Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
^ a b"Pillars of the Community" (PDF). National Theatre Education Pack. National Theatre. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
^Kelleher, Terry (14 October 2002), "The Forsyte Saga". People. 58 (16):36
^Rozen, Leah (19 September 2005), "Keane". People. 64 (12):40
^Kauffmann, Stanley (19 September 2005), "Heights and Depths". New Republic. 233 (12):28–29
^Thair, David (1 May 2009). "HIGNFY Guest Host interview: Damian Lewis". BBC. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
^Heritage, Stuart (13 April 2012). "What makes the perfect Have I Got News For You host?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
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^"The Love Book App, poetry read by great actors". Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
^"Damian Lewis Suits Up for New Showtime Drama Billions". People. 11 August 2015.
^ a bHattenstone, Simon (29 October 2022). "Damian Lewis on grief, espionage and his new musical ambitions: 'When someone dies prematurely, you're left careering in a different direction'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
^ a bClarke, Naomi (13 April 2023). "Damian Lewis releases first single ahead of his debut album Mission Creep". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
^""Sod it, why can't I have a go at something else?": Hollywood star Damian Lewis on his debut album". www.musicweek.com. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
^Harrison, Ellie (5 July 2023). "Damian Lewis 'honoured' to open British Grand Prix with performance of national anthem". The Independent. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
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^ a bHartford, Maggie (16 July 2009). "Inspired by music". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^Jones, Cambridge; Prince's Trust (2009). Inspired by Music. Shoehorn. ISBN 978-1-907149-01-6. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^Collins, Phil; Charles, Prince; Jones, Cambridge (26 November 2009). Inspired by Music. Shoehorn Publishing (published 26 November 2009). ISBN 978-1907149016. Retrieved 20 May 2023. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
^Blank, Matthew (22 September 2010). "Photo call: Jonathan Pryce, Michael Sheen, Eddie Izzard, Anthony Hopkins featured in Cambridge Jones photo exhibit in NYC". Playbill. Retrieved 19 May 2023. Cambridge Jones's "Talking Pictures" appears at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts through Nov. 27. The exhibit will launch in early 2011 at the Chateau Marmont before moving to The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery March 3.
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^Chilton, Louis (9 June 2022). "Damian Lewis reveals touching gesture Helen McCrory made ahead of Soccer Aid appearance". The independent. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
^Amofa, Richard (5 June 2016). "Soccer Aid 2016: England 3-2 Rest of the World - Jermain Defoe's double inspires Jose Mourinho's men to victory". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
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^"Europe pips America to win All*Star Cup 2005". Wales Online. 30 August 2005. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
^"Homeland and Peaky Blinders stars raise nearly £1m to feed NHS workers". BBC News. BBC. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
^"Damian Lewis: my depression after motorbike crash". www.telegraph.co.uk. 5 January 2015. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
^"Wolf Hall's Damian Lewis on the one thing he has in common with Henry VIII". The Independent. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
^"Red hot: The irresistible rise of Damian Lewis". The Independent. 9 September 2006.
^"The Mirror article". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
^"Peaky Blinders actress Helen McCrory dies aged 52". BBC News. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
^McCoid, Sophie (25 May 2018). "Damian Lewis posts cringeworthy video as he travels to Champions League Final". liverpoolecho. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
^McCormick, Neil (10 June 2023). "Damian Lewis on his unlikely rock reinvention: 'I'm aware how dangerous this is for me'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
^Wynne, Kelly (7 July 2022). "Damian Lewis Confirms Romance with Alison Mosshart After the Death of Wife Helen McCrory". People. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
^Kirkpatrick, Emily (6 July 2022). "Damian Lewis Is Dating Alison Mosshart and Her Mom Can't Wait to Meet Him". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
^Kit, Borys (10 April 2018). "Damian Lewis to Play Controversial Ex-Toronto Mayor Rob Ford in Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
^Wiseman, Andreas (13 June 2023). "Damian Lewis Vampire Comedy 'The Radleys' Underway; Joining Cast Includes Kelly Macdonald, Sophia Di Martino & Shaun Parkes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
^"Damian Lewis tells Chris Evans about working on a film adaptation of a Matt Haig book". Virgin Radio. 12 March 2024. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
^Tabbara, Mona (10 July 2024). "Edinburgh 2024 world premieres include 'Lollipop', 'The Radleys' and AI doll documentary 'Smiles And Kisses You'". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
^White, Peter (6 October 2021). "Damian Lewis & Guy Pearce Lead Cold War Limited Series 'A Spy Among Friends' For Spectrum Originals & BritBox UK". Deadline. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
External links
Damian Lewis at IMDb
Interview with Charlie Rose—A compilation of Rose's interviews with Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, the stars of the hit drama Homeland. 2 January 2014.