Author: Damianista

Academic, Traveler, Blogger, Runner, Theatre Lover, Wine Snob, Part-time New Yorker, and Walking Damian Lewis Encyclopedia :D Procrastinated about a fan's diary on Damian Lewis for a while and the rest is history!

Billions on Showtime, Season 2 Episode 8: The Kingmaker

Black Jack Foley. Old steel and railroad money. One of the first businessmen that went to Russia after the wall fell. It seems he has taken after his great-great-great uncle Boss Tweed that he is pulling the strings in Albany. He is THE Kingmaker who takes your measure and bless you. And that is why both Axe and Chuck need a moment with this man as soon as possible.

source: Showtime

Chuck Sr gets a lukewarm call from Foley. His granddaughter has not got the clerkship. Chuck may have no idea Foley moved the casino away from Sandicot, but he should have some idea Foley will help him in Albany. Now that he feels disrespected, Foley will back Bob Sweeney’s campaign in gubernatorial elections.

We find out Chuck Sr keeps his 1998 Fundadores at his personal locker at Nat Sherman Townhouse and likes them at 80% humidity for their “funk.” Chuck Sr shares the news with his son. Continue reading “Billions on Showtime, Season 2 Episode 8: The Kingmaker”

Damian Lewis BRIGHTENS the Screen in Queen of The Desert

I first saw Queen of the Desert as part of a test screening back in October 2015. Test screening is a pretty serious process that you sign an agreement not to make public comments on the parts of the movie that have not been made public yet. Thus, I decided to publish my review only when the movie is released in the US Theaters. And now that the VERY LONG wait is over, and that I have seen Queen of the Desert at the IFC Center in NYC on the day it opened (the final version is a bit different from the test screening version), I am fired up and ready to go share my thoughts about the movie with you!

In a nutshell, Queen of the Desert is a film about Gertrude Bell who had a pretty unconventional life, particularly as a woman, in early 20th century. She was a traveler, writer, archaeologist, explorer, cartographer, political attaché and a spy for the British Empire in the Middle East. She played a significant role in shaping 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. Continue reading “Damian Lewis BRIGHTENS the Screen in Queen of The Desert”

Reviews are IN and ‘The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?’ SHINES! *Updated*

“Damian Lewis gives the performance of his life.” — Paul Taylor, The Independent

Damian Lewis has made a wonderful comeback to stage in Edward Albee’s late modern masterpiece The Goat or Who is Sylvia? at Theatre Royal Haymarket. Damian is headlining the play as Martin Gray and stars along the great Sophie Okonedo as Martin’s wife Stevie, Jason Hughes as Martin’s oldest and best friend Ross and the young rising star Archie Madekwe as Martin and Stevie’s son Billie. Tom Kirdahy Productions is producing and Ian Rickson, who was the artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre from 1998 to 2006, is directing the play. The previews started on March 24, and the play has had its Press Night – or Opening Night as we say for Broadway – last night! The play will have a strictly limited run until June 24.

Before the previews started, Damian was a guest on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 answering questions about why he is putting himself into this — doing a play — again, because it’s terrifying, isn’t it? Continue reading “Reviews are IN and ‘The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?’ SHINES! *Updated*”

Finding “Ginger Prince” in Band of
Brothers: Connie’s Story

Hello, everyone! Damianista welcomes you to a new Fan Story!

Connie, a long-time Damian fan, certainly gets the well-deserved credit in adding “Ginger Prince” to our vocabulary and never ceases to amaze me with her attention to detail, be it the way Damian combs his hair, or a missing button on his coat 😀 She is amazing!

Ok I really need to tell this story!

It starts with a comment Connie makes about a picture we post from an interview Damian has recently given to CBS Sunday News.

“I see the man still has that yellow leather coat. He has been wearing it for ages (good color for him) and I’ve noticed of late it has all its buttons. For some time years ago there was one missing.”

I had no idea! 😀 But then I find this picture from about 12 years ago. Check out Damian’s second button from the top. Voila! Continue reading “Finding “Ginger Prince” in Band of
Brothers: Connie’s Story”

Billions on Showtime, Season 2 Episode 7: Victory Lap

source: Showtime

As we start the second half of Season 2, Axe and Chuck are at opposite ends in their personal and professional lives. Axe seems to have made up with Lara but is suffering from the Sandicot deal. Chuck, on the other hand, is doing his professional victory lap for taking down Boyd but has a fragile relationship with Wendy. And, in an interesting turn of events, Episode 7 Victory Lap makes both men converge to exactly the same point: Black Jack Foley. Man of the Hour. It seems we will get to see more of David Straithorn in the coming weeks.

Continue reading “Billions on Showtime, Season 2 Episode 7: Victory Lap”