An Interview with Damian Lewis: Homeland, Acting, and Meeting President Obama

TLDRDamian Lewis discusses his role in the hit show Homeland, his experience working with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, and his surprise dinner at the White House with President Obama. He emphasizes the importance of portraying his character, who converts to Islam, with nuance and avoids associating Islam with violence. Lewis also shares amusing anecdotes, including being mistaken for a war hero and receiving a signed box set of Homeland from the President.

Key insights

😲Damian Lewis describes the surprise and excitement of winning the Emmy award for his performance in Homeland.

🇺🇸Lewis reflects on the experience of playing an American character as a British actor and the reactions he receives from people who think he is American.

🤝Lewis shares his admiration for and experiences working with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg on Band of Brothers.

🎉Lewis discusses the success of Homeland and how it became an even bigger hit after President Obama revealed it was his favorite show.

📺Lewis talks about the importance of portraying his character's conversion to Islam in a positive and nuanced way, while avoiding stereotypes and misconceptions.

Q&A

Has Damian Lewis won any awards for his role in Homeland?

—Yes, he won an Emmy award for his performance.

Did Damian Lewis meet President Obama?

—Yes, he was invited to the White House for dinner and sat at the president's table.

How did Damian Lewis prepare for his role in Band of Brothers?

—He did interviews and auditions before being selected, and then had the opportunity to work with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.

Is Damian Lewis really American?

—No, he is actually British, but his portrayal of American characters is so convincing that some people think he is American.

Did Damian Lewis receive a signed box set of Homeland from President Obama?

—Yes, he was asked to sign a box set of Homeland for the President and received a specially signed box set in return.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Damian Lewis discusses his experiences in the entertainment industry and his role in Homeland.

01:28Lewis talks about his surprise and excitement at winning an Emmy award for his performance in Homeland.

03:04He reflects on the experience of playing an American character as a British actor and the reactions he receives from fans.

05:48Lewis shares his admiration for and experiences working with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg on Band of Brothers.

08:14He discusses the success of Homeland and how it became an even bigger hit after President Obama revealed it was his favorite show.

09:57Lewis talks about the importance of portraying his character's conversion to Islam in a positive and nuanced way.

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