Hello everyone! While the original post is from more than three years ago, it is my pleasure to share it again when I notice a recent tweet about Damian taking the subway in NYC or the tube in London.
Enjoy!
I just sat next to Damian Lewis on the tube and I think my life is complete
— Lucy PJ (@lucyperryjones) November 9, 2019
Here is the most HILARIOUS conversation between Damian Lewis and Nick Grimshaw, the host of BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show that Damian joined last week. You can hear the radio bit (short version) here and (long version, starts at 01:33:48) here. BIG thanks go to JaniaJania for transcribing part of the conversation for me!
Nick Grimshaw: We saw this picture the other day, Fifi sent them, of you on the tube. (I said) That’s cool, it’s Damian Lewis, he’s getting on the tube!
DL: Yeah.
Nick Grimshaw: Because it must happen when you’re out and about, people are like…ohh, can I have a …
DL: Who has pictures of me on the tube?
Nick Grimshaw: I don’t know, it was in the paper. But em…
DL: (To Steph) Do you know who has pictures of me on the tube?
Nick Grimshaw: (To Fifi) Do you know this? There are pictures of him on the tube. What was it Fifi?
DL: Who took a picture of me on the tube?
Nick Grimshaw: Who did that? (Fifi: Somebody on the…) Somebody on the tube did it.
DL: I’m always picking my nose on the tube. You’ve got to be careful. You’ve got to be overly careful about that.
Gotta LOVE this guy!
Well, way before Damian found out about his pictures on the Tube, we found and shared them here. And following this radio conversation, it’s absolutely TIME for a re-post! ENJOY!
We talked earlier about Nicholas Brody starring in the “London Underground” photo exhibition by the brilliant Singaporean photographer Yangchen Lin in 2013.
And now you will find out about why it’s so proper for Damian Lewis to be part of a photo exhibition celebrating London Tube’s 150th Birthday!
Well… There was news, this past winter, about Helen Mirren taking the subway in NYC.
This was followed by an article in TIME magazine talking about other celebrities braving the crowds and taking public transportation — including Tom Hanks, Naomi Watts, and some others.
This made NEWS just because we are not used to having celebrities with us, mortals, on NYC subway. You know what makes news, right? Things that happen rarely make news! A routine never makes news — typical “Dog Bites Man” vs “Man Bites Dog” right?
And, that’s EXACTLY why I want to turn a routine, Damian Lewis’ routine into NEWS today 🙂 Because his routine deserves to be NEWS. He’s the one that takes the tube… like EVERY DAY! If you search for “Damian Lewis” and “Tube” together on Twitter, you get a lot of Hits! A LOT!
Damian Lewis loves London and he enjoys city life! In particular, when asked about what he missed most when he filmed Homeland in an interview with Hunger Magazine, this is Damian’s answer:
“When filming Homeland, I spent most of my time in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s a very large and spread-out place where you rely heavily on cars. I missed the clamour of London; it’s a much more condensed city where you can exercise your senses. I love getting out of cars and getting on the tube. I also missed riding my bicycle, and of course, going to the pub.”
Damian adds:
“I feel very proprietorial about London. It’s my town and always has been. I’m resolved to using public transport. I simply refuse not to use the Tube because I might get bothered by people. It’s slightly mad to walk through the West End during peak tourist season – the Italians and Spanish can be quite persistent! I’m not going to lie, some days I don’t deal with it very well because I’m in a hurry.”
I know some think fans taking pictures on the Tube is a violation of personal privacy which is actually true. And if I talked for myself, I would die to take a picture but eventually not do it 😀 That said, and at least in Damian’s case, I know that those fans tweeting about him being on their train always do it with kindness and appreciation. Here is a few tweets that I have selected for you 😀
I LOVE that Damian Lewis is not a diva. He actually gets on a train! I've worked with people who would never do that. He's A-list! #ilovehim
— Kassi (@KathrynSarah15) July 11, 2014
Just spotted Damian Lewis on the tube! Really humble of you @lewis_damian especially during rush hour! I liked you before now even more!
— Sheila Fernandez (@Sheila_Ferna) May 22, 2014
Currently sitting opposite Damian Lewis on the tube. He has kind eyes.
— Dave (@myggie_) December 24, 2016
Just saw Damian Lewis aka Nicholas Brody on the tube. He also takes the stairs.
— Thor Johannes Wang (@thorjwang) November 27, 2014
Damian Lewis was on my tube carriage @ Euston earlier. Along with 100 others desperately trying not to give a shit. It's great to be British
— Martin Jago (@ukpuppetboy) June 28, 2014
Fairly certain I was just on the tube next to Damian Lewis. Reading a book about philosophy and carrying an M&S bag. Man after my own heart.
— George Bouras (@GeorgeBouras) March 11, 2013
Fans LOVE “Damian on the Tube” because he IS one of them — just another Londoner braving the bad weather and the big crowds trying his best not to give a shit… reading his newspaper on his iPad or just sharing a laughter with his wife 🙂
Now, a loved up couple “cackling with laughter” is such a beautiful sight that makes anyone feel warm and fuzzy. But I LOVE the response to that tweet even more: “He’s more Just Like Us than we are.” I could not have put it in better words myself! “Just Like Us than we are!” So well said and that’s one BIG reason why we admire Damian so much! And, you know, I really love it he’s always reading something. I have a soft spot for readers, you know 😀
Now that our Englishman has been shooting Billions in NYC for the last couple of years, you could ask if he was taking NYC subway like he does take London Tube.
Here’s a tweet from July 2015:
I’m sure, Alejandra, you really saw incredibly talented Damian Lewis on the subway, and doesn’t it feel good to see he’s one of us? And, believe me, fans, in case you are not familiar with NYC subway, it may take some courage and patience to take it in summer, in particular the subway cars in which the AC is not working… well, they suck and there are more than a few of them 🙂
To close with a quick note to other celebrities: Come take the subway, or the Tube, with us, we promise we don’t bite, but yeah, we can take pictures 🙂
