Damianista’s note: The lovely, crazy, adorable story you will read below comes from our own “Dark Horse” Vicky (well, she loves Soames!) who is one of the first, if not the first, fans that I met online the day Fan Fun with Damian Lewis was born in 2015. I remember that we exchanged a few words about Damian and she told me about how she became a fan of the “Ginger Prince.” Over the years, Vicky has written several posts for Fan Fun, participated in every Fan Fun community project, and become a friend. I know you will LOVE her tattoo story. I am thrilled to have been a little more than an extra in it. ENJOY!
Anyone who’s read my fan story (“How Major Winters Steals a Teenager’s Heart”) will know how important ‘Band of Brothers’ was in my teenage years and that that show was where my love for Damian began…
Well, fast forward to 2023: I’m now a married woman (yes, to the boyfriend who got an honorary mention for knowing who Damian was when we met in 2009) with 2 tattoos (both with personal meanings, honouring family & heroes lost), and Damian is branching out into music with ‘Mission Creep’. My hubby Steve isn’t keen on the album to be honest but agrees to come with me to Damian’s gig in Nottingham on 9th September. My brain is whirring… Could this be my chance to meet my hero? Could I get his autograph and something for a tattoo?
We get there VERY early, to ensure a front row spot and I’m like an over-excited Tigger!
The gig is incredible. I’m singing and screaming away all night, Damian definitely spots me and looks my way a few times, and I have quite a selection of photos and videos to keep as memories…
…but would I get to see the man himself??? The day before, Damianista had been gearing me up, telling me, “Don’t leave without a selfie!!!” and saying she had a feeling I would get to meet him.
After the show, we sit outside with drinks, watching as members of the band appear, but no Damian. Steve goes inside to check and waves me in… I know what that means and run! Nervous doesn’t cover it – I babble at him about loving him since ‘Band of Brothers’ and writing on this site as Dark Horse and he replies, “oh that’s you!” (Oh dear, what does that mean?!) I get an amazing photo with him, which is an absolute prized possession, and I stumble out, shaking like a leaf and burst into tears in the street outside! (Embarrassing!!!)
It’s only afterwards I realise I didn’t get the autograph I wanted. He’d been sat with other people and I’d worried about disturbing him for too long, but I’d missed my moment to get Damian’s autograph and the idea I’d had of getting Currahee tattooed in his handwriting had gone… Or had it???
I happened to mention all of this to Damianista and the amazing lady worked her magic just a couple of weeks later… She told him the story (I dread to think what he thinks of me haha) and he signed a copy of his album with a beautiful message and the all important CURRAHEE!
Fast forward again to 1st August 2024 and I did it. I now have CURRAHEE! tattooed in Damian’s ACTUAL handwriting on my right shoulder and I absolutely love it. I am unashamedly a forever fan of “The Ginger Prince” (as I’ve always called him) and I will always have a connection to him and the show that started me on this journey.
I can never thank Damianista enough for her help in making this happen and I hope one day I can show the man himself my utter dedication to him and this fandom!
