I admit (*choking with emotion) that I have been waiting for this day for some time.
Fan Fun with Damian Lewis is TEN years old today!
TEN years?!?!?!
Yes, TEN years! So I think I deserve my crown 🙂
And I give you our TEN Years in (almost) ten minutes…
I was burst with excitement as I shared my first ever post on Fan Fun. And I was very lucky to catch Damian on Billions pilot set a month later to introduce myself and let him know about the blog. Believe it or not, he had my contact information in his jacket pocket as he was filming the very famous “FU money” scene.
Ten years of thinking, brainstorming, researching, writing, posting, sharing on social media, interacting with fans, responding to reader feedback, managing the website, and doing all this while holding a full-time job is not trivial. I take pride in not missing a day on the blog even when I was under the weather (rarely), on vacation (sometimes), or buried under work (always). I feel extremely happy about the fan community we have collectively created and I am deeply committed to writing about the one and only Damian Lewis and his brilliant work in the years to come <3
Now, please bear with me as I reflect on the last ten years… As I feel all the feelings – thrilled, emotional, proud, excited… I’d love to thank all the people that have made Fan Fun with Damian Lewis a success story.
When I kicked off the blog on January 5, 2015 I knew that I would have fun doing this and meet like-minded fans along the way to team up with. What I did not know was we would have the best team! I thank all my blog mates, current and former, who have contributed to Fan Fun over the years, from the bottom of my heart. And I want to give a standing ovation to one person who deserves much more than that: Gingersnap has been doing a fantastic job on our sister site damian-lewis.com giving the fandom all the news, events and pictures! Thank you, Gingersnap, for being you, a true friend and a confidante. Your work ethic is inspirational. I love you to the moon and back!
Lewisto, my number one guy and our Fan Fun tech guy, who has supported the blog since its inception, deserves special thanks! I would never ever have started a blog should he have not encouraged me. I will never forget him saying:
“Some people love golf. You love Damian Lewis. What’s the difference?”
Right?!?!
Have I ever told you Lewisto named the blog, too? He said:
“You are a big fan and you will be doing this for fun so why not call it Fan Fun with Damian Lewis?”
I ran with it.
Lewisto, you are absolutely the best thing that ever happened to me. THANK YOU for playing ball with me, even in my craziest endeavors like Fan Fun, making everything in life better, funnier and happier!
And I cannot thank Damian enough for his kindness, trust and generosity towards us. I do not know about other fandoms but I do not think actors typically introduce the fans who manage their fan sites / blogs to their agent, PR person, their personal assistant, invite them backstage after their stage performance, make a “thank you” video for them, treat them like a friend on a film set, call them “a lovely, smart woman” in an interview with GQ magazine or introduce them to their cousin as someone who has become family. I need to stop here because I have already started to tear up. Damian, you are one in a billion. And you are my muse. Thank you for the inspiration <3
These ten years have brought so much love and laughter to my life thanks to YOU, our wonderful readers! And this anniversary is a great opportunity to thank YOU for the overwhelming love and support you have given us! As we collectively share Damian Lewis FUN, you make our dreams come true. Here is a BIG thank you to each and every one of you for reading us, following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, giving us feedback, spreading the word, and making Fun Fun the most exciting adventure!
As I review the blog’s year, the first thing that pops up in my mind is the birthday party we put together for Damian on the blog! I think we put a big smile on his face with both the 53-song playlist that we put together him and the birthday cake we sent him!
Then comes Henry! Damian resuming his role as Henry VIII has been a huge highlight for Wolf Hall fans, especially for yours truly. His portrayal of Henry VIII is commanding and nuanced, capturing the complexity of the infamous Tudor Monarch. A larger than life character, Henry has deep insecurities due to not being able to have male heirs, but also due to the jousting accident that left him with a bad leg. Only an actor of Damian’s calibre can find the balance between the magnificence and the insecurity Henry VIII carries in him. And he does it seamlessly.
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light premiered on BBC in November and, me being me, I had to see it immediately. I watched via VPN, recapped every episode and I am thrilled to report that I have received lovely messages from many of you – some of you read my recaps before watching to get familiar with the episode, some of you read them after watching to make sure you don’t miss a thing, and some of you only read my recaps to see what is coming because the mini series is not yet available in your country yet. THANK YOU! And I can’t wait to do it all over again in March when Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light hits PBS. I know that my partner-in-crime Lady Trader (she’s a Tudor junkie so maybe she should change her alias to Lady Tudor!) can’t wait to watch and write, either! We will have FUN.
But then again Damian was thinking about his UK tour as he was on his way to Wolf Hall set!
Our guy had the second leg of his Mission Creep UK Tour in March. We, the front row ladies, followed him from city to city with Monique, Tsvete and me attending four gigs (Stroud, Poole, Norwich, and Cambridge) while Mel breaking all the records and attending six! With the kind of commitment we have, we deserve our crowns, don’t we?
It was an incredible experience for me to have backstage pass on this leg of the tour so I could hang out with the musicians and their guests after the gigs. I had a lot of Peroni but I also had the privilege of my gracious host making the band’s signature drink “D Lou” for me! Thank you, Damian!
And I still get goosebumps when I remember that Damian sat with me for about 20 minutes in his dressing room and answered my questions about his music writing process, putting together the set lists, his summer festival schedule, and what have you! I tended to listen rather than intervene but you can hear my voice a couple of times where I could not restrain myself. I have to add I am super impressed by how articulate Damian could be after a one-and -a-half-hour gig and a few drinks, too! AMAZING. In case you missed it, the interview is here!
Between the second leg of the UK tour and the summer festivals, Damian also played a gig at Boisdale of Canary Wharf, a premier live music venue where the patron Jools Holland curates daily music shows. Here’s a little glimpse into the gig with Damian’s original “She Makin’ Me Change” which I suspect could be the first single from the second album.
I LOVE Damian’s music, I am so lucky he is playing the kind of music I live for. I LOVE it that his live music gigs give his fans the opportunity to meet their favorite actor/musician. And I LOVE it that Damian makes sure everyone goes home happy – lots of hugs, kisses, selfies, and autographs!
And can it get any better than getting sandwiched between these two ridiculously talented, super cool and super nice (a rare breed!) human beings post show? I can’t be happier that I could have a chat with Alison that I could tell her how she and Jamie “killed it” in Chicago, and that I think she transforms into a completely different creature on stage, oh man, she is wild, and how impressed I am with her writing on social media – follow Alison on Instagram and read especially the posts she makes after her gigs. You can see that she really feels every single word she puts in there. I’m in love! Oh and I also tell her how much I love her and Damian together. I really really do.
Then come the summer festivals. Damian played at Black Deer, Pub in the Park, Latitude (his biggest gig to date where he and the kids also had some family time, see the photo below), and Car Fest!
By the end of the summer, Damian thought of us who have been having Damian Lewis gig withdrawals and dropped a Live EP of his Mission Creep Tour — so we can relive it all over again!
And it was a pleasure to see Damian as twin vampire brothers Peter and Will in The Radleys on big screen in the fall. Knowing how, in the blink of an eye, he can have a character switch from one mood to another, I am not surprised how seamlessly he goes back and forth between Peter and Will who may be twins but live very different lives. I am in awe of his comedic timing and deadpan delivery. He should do more comedy!
Lewisto and I “met” The Radleys the day the movie opened in cinemas in the US and the cherry on the pie was Damian sharing my Instagram story with a note attached to it about his fangs – hilarious! The song that accompanies the Instagram story is Damian’s new single ‘Suck My Blood‘ and it goes very well with The Radleys theme. It is on the movie soundtrack.
Last but not the least, in his very busy work schedule, Damian once again made time to support the charities close to his heart, namely Cure EB and Sir HvH Arts Foundation. Damian hosted Cure EB’s Silver Butterfly Fundraiser Dinner and Sir HvH Art’s McCrory Awards and Private Exhibit. He was also on the trading floor to raise funds for both charities on BGC Charity Day.
We’re just a few days into 2025 and I’m already excited.
In a month, we’ll celebrate Damian’s 54th trip around the sun!
In three short months, we’ll have Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light in the US. Come awards time, I am rooting for this masterpiece historical drama, its director, screenwriter, costume designer, music composer and for its two lead actors!
Sometime this year, Damian will drop his second album! And having heard many of the songs on the new album on the UK Tour, I think the album will be very strong, maybe stronger than Mission Creep. And we have our fingers crossed for new gigs, album signings, and a tour!
And finally, we will see our favorite actor and his moustache in two movies this year!
The first one is Pressure, a movie taking place in the last 72 hours before the Normandy landings. Damian is playing the British General (promoted to Field Marshall later in the war) Bernard Law Montgomery, aka “Monty.” I’ve already written about what to expect from Pressure here.
The second one is Fackham Hall (I can’t help giggle at the title), a period comedy, a parody of traditional period dramas like Downton Abbey. Damian is playing the family patriarch Lord Davenport. And I’ll write about what to expect from Fackham Hall soon.
One of my favorite Damian quotes is “best journeys are shared.” It is a privilege to share this journey with you. Hope you enjoy both sites, come visit us often, spread the word and we keep following Damian’s brilliant career together! Cheers <3
Gingersnap
Happy 10th Birthday to Fan Fun with Damian Lewis and the wonderful team we have. I jumped at the chance to be a part of this team 8+ years ago and the rest, as they say, is herstory!
It has been a joy posting the news over at our sister site damian-lewis.com since 2017, blogging here with my blog mates since 2016, interacting with the fandom on social media and commenting with all of you readers. I am grateful for this community and its continued patronage because we wouldn’t be here without loyal readers like you.
Damian kept me busy posting music news over at our sister site, from the release of his Live EP and his Spring music tour, to playing gigs on the summer festival circuit and performing at EFG London Jazz Festival opening gala. Even more news included Letters Live (twice), portraying the Guest Inspector in Whodunnit3 [Unrehearsed], performing in Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year Live, reciting poetry at the Invictus Games 10th Anniversary for Prince Harry and also reciting poetry at the US Embassy London, as well as attending D-Day 80: Remembering the Normandy Landings. Not to mention all his charitable work, from Unicef UK and celebrating 25 years of Scene & Heard, to hosting Cure EB foundation’s biannual Silver Butterfly Dinner, participating in BGC Charity Day for Sir HvH Arts Foundation and commemorating the annual McCrory Award photography auction and private exhibit. He even chatted up King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Film and TV Charity Reception at Buckingham palace.
Biggest news came from the release of The Radleys and Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light. Probably my two favorite pieces of news to report on was when Damian drove sheep over the River Thames in historic tradition and Angela Harnett’s dinner date with Damian on the Dish Podcast from Waitrose. Fun times!
What is on the horizon for 2025? Well I can’t wait for the release of his highly anticipated second album, the release of his two new projects Fackham Hall and Pressure, and of course the fan collaboration for Damian’s 54th birthday project right around the corner this February!
Here’s looking forward to 2025 and another trip around the sun for the blog.
Lady Trader
Happy 10th Birthday Fan Fun!
The modern gift for a ten year anniversary suggest diamonds, reflecting the enduring and sparkling nature of a decade together; and isn’t that the perfect way to describe this blog – enduring with a sparkling nature.
Has it really been ten years? Those years seem to have just zoomed by! But, as the saying goes “Time flies when you are having FUN”, and that certainly is what the blog is! At it’s core, it’s what this blog is all about: the FUN of writing and interacting with each other and the readers and all the FUN of writing and exploring the amazing acting, philanthropy and the musical stylings of Damian Lewis!
It never goes without saying how much I appreciate all the hard work that everyone puts into this labor of love. We all have lives: jobs, families, and other commitments that everyone must attend to; but the attention, level of commitment, and enthusiasm of everyone who is involved with this project is amazing. Damianista is the brilliant leader, and she continually astounds me with her writing, her organization, her world touring, her encouragement and her tireless support that makes this blog what it is today. Most of us fans are living vicariously though her so we thank you for all that you do and share!
2024 was a great year for Damian Lewis and his fans. Damian once again toured across the UK playing live gigs that we all got to live vicariously though Damianista and the Front Row Ladies. A better, nicer group of groupies there never was.
2024 also saw Damian reprising his amazing Henry Tudor in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light. This was the role that brought me into the Fan Fun universe. Although we here in the US were not able to watch yet, we were able to get a taste through Damianista’s brilliant recaps. I’m looking forward to watching and recapping the series when it is broadcast on PBS in the US in March.
Congratulations on 10 years of fabulous FUN!
Holliedazzle
Well, time sure does fly. It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years, but it’s not hard to see all 10 of those years in the collective work and progress this blog has made. I still remember vividly stumbling across the blog in a google search for Damian, reading the articles and thinking “wow, this blog is really thoughtful and deep.” It was so much more than an average fan account or site. The tone was there from the start, and over time, it has really blossomed into something special. I am so grateful that a long-winded comment about my observations about Damian’s acting opened the door to writing my first articles. I feel very proud to say I am part of this team, and frequently share my admiration and love for this team with my friends and family.
Damian-business aside, I am also super grateful for the friendships that have come from this whole thing. Getting to know these people has been a treat, and I sure hope I get to meet some of them in person one day. They’ve seen me through good times and bad, supported me personally and as an entertainer, and provided this wonderful creative outlet. They’ve also inspired me to “swing big” in life. What if Damianista hadn’t trespassed onto a set all those years ago? The risk can definitely be worth it, in some cases.
Can’t wait to see what the tall one, as we, get up to in another 10 years.
Happy 10 years! Oh my goodness do I love your 10-years compilation video!!! It’s fantastic, great job! Here’s to 10 more! – Gingersnap
Thank you so much! It was fun and a bit emotional putting the video together and reflecting on the last ten years. Thank you for sharing this journey with me, you’re the best! ❤️
WOW!!!! 10 years Bahar! that’s amazing! and I absolutely loved watching your 10yr anniversary mash-up video! just brilliant! there can be only one Damian Lewis @ a total legend, and both yourself and Krista fo him proud! Sorry I’m no longer on social media at all, but I do still read this platform with enjoyment and I wish you both well and much luv to DL. maybe I’ll run into him again on the streets of London this year…..fingers crossed. Happy New Year to you all.
Rachel x
Thank you so much, Rachel, for your kind words ❤️ I wouldn’t be on social media if it weren’t for the ginger man, it’s exhausting. Sending you love and hugs.
CONGRATULATIONS Bahar and team! Thank you, thank you, thank you for 10 years of so much fun. Along with all of the expert reporting, I remember the projects that you encouraged us to take part in – the birthday gifts, the “how I became a fan” and so many others! I look forward to the next 10 years of the blog and Damian’s acting and music. And maybe another lunch with you in Chicago!!!
First things first: I missed you lady and I hope all is well with you. Thank you so much for your kind words and for always supporting us! You rock, Nancy ❤️❤️ More projects on the way
All is well – I miss you too!! Watched two shows that reminded me of you: a Rick Steves show on Western Turkey – a beautiful country, and a show that I watched after a Duke game which toured Durham – the chapel and the gardens are amazing! Love to you my friend!