musings about the actor and the characters he brings to life
“It’s like Highlander, there’s only One.” – Bobby Axelrod
The Television Critics Association gave the stage this morning to the show runners and talent behind Billions at TCA15, and, boy, did they give us a lot to take in. Foremost is the news that Billions is set to premier on Showtime on Sunday, January 17 at 10pm! And here’s a new extended trailer:
We already know the premise and players, so let’s get to the highlights from TCA15.
By now, you all know that one of the highly anticipated Damian Lewis projects this year is Queen of the Desert, directed by celebrated director Werner Herzog and starring Nicole Kidman, Damian Lewis, Robert Pattinson and James Franco. The movie had its World Premiere at Berlinale 2015 and will be coming to the US movie theaters in winter 2015 according to the official movie website.
Queen of the Desert is essentially a biopic of Gertrude Bell, a traveler, writer, archaeologist, explorer, cartographer, political attaché and a spy for the British Empire in the Middle East in the early 20th century. She shaped the politics of the Middle East and drew up the borders of modern Jordan as well as Iraq. Think of more or less a female Lawrence of Arabia.
Nicole Kidman stars as Gertrude Bell, and Damian Lewis takes on the role of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Doughty-Wylie, who is considered to be the love of Bell’s life. He was married, and the two had a romantic, yet unconsummated relationship; they exchanged love letters between 1913-15 until his death. Continue reading “Damian Lewis is Charles Doughty-Wylie in Queen of the Desert”
Damianista and I are always batting around the idea of serendipity: Our mutual love of finding gems in places where we weren’t looking for them, and then making luck where we find it. We also have a way of finishing each other’s thoughts or typing the same ideas or observations at the same time. That’s probably more happy coincidence than serendipity, but, in either case, it’s a welcome sign of working with someone who is sympatico: that not exactly rare but always welcome thing of having a working relationship with a kindred spirit.
Whether it’s serendipity or a happy coincidence or good old fashioned brilliance in casting that Nicole Kidman and Damian Lewis got to work together in Queen of the Desert, the more revealed about this film and this team of actors, the more anxious we become to see it all played out on screen. Reading Vogue’s article on Nicole Kidman revealed bits about her approach to her art that bear an uncanny resemblance to another fine actor we all know and love, Damian Lewis. Nicole Kidman’s spread in Vogue replete with pics from Queen of the Desert whets my appetite even more.
Continue reading “Actors and Hope for Humankind: Damian Lewis and Nicole Kidman”
We talked about “American” Damian earlier here. From Dick Winters to Nicholas Brody, Damian Lewis gave us a wide portfolio of American characters all of whom we have fallen in love with. And now that he’s filming the NEW Showtime drama Billions in New York (Have you seen the first Billions teaser yet?) we cannot wait to meet Bobby Axelrod in January 2016 when Billions is supposed to hit TV Screens!
Now… Given that Damian Lewis is probably more well-known for the American characters he has brought to life, one just wonders about how this all started… which takes us to 1999, and in Damian’s own words to “auditions in damp Soho basements.” Continue reading “Trivia Tuesday: How did Damian Lewis Become Dick Winters?”
