Tag: Mark Rylance

TOP Damian Lewis Moments 2023: The Return of King Henry VIII

“Henry VIII is a monster, but he’s our monster. No other nation has a king who had six wives and cut the heads off two. We’re perversely proud of Henry.” – Hilary Mantel

I left the following wish on the Fan Fun 8th anniversary post last January:

“BBC confirmed that they would adapt The Mirror and The Light, the final volume in Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy, for TV as early as in May 2019. The Guardian reported that the BBC adaptation will see director Peter Kosminsky and screenwriter Peter Straughan resuming their partnership from 2015. Mark Rylance has announced in March 2022 that he was to reprise his role as Thomas Cromwell and that he hoped for a 2023 date to start the production. And we are hoping to hear that Damian will resume his role as Henry VIII. Hilary Mantel’s untimely death in 2022 left me heartbroken since she is my favorite author and it sucks to know that I will not be able to look forward to her new book. But I returned to The Mirror and The Light and read it in her memory. It is the perfect ending  to Mantel’s fantastic trilogy.”

And, finally, in an interview with Natalie Boare of ITV News ahead of his Brighton gig late September, Damian shared the news that he would start filming The Mirror and The Light soon! See the interview in its entirety here and repeat after me: LONG LIVE THE KING!   Continue reading “TOP Damian Lewis Moments 2023: The Return of King Henry VIII”

Throwback Thursday to a Special Gift from Knitting Witch to Damian Lewis

Now that Damian has confirmed he is going to play King Henry VIII in the Wolf Hall sequel The Mirror and The Light, it is my pleasure to share this story about Damian’s “very own Enry” again. ENJOY!

Damian tweeted about his lovely gift, his “very own Enry” from Knitting Witch UK, I would love to share the story behind the tweet with you. Denise, I am thrilled that your work is being appreciated by many, and I am proud to call you a friend. Keep knitting, my lovely witch!

Continue reading “Throwback Thursday to a Special Gift from Knitting Witch to Damian Lewis”

Eight Years with Damian Lewis

OH. MY. GOD.

Fan Fun with Damian Lewis is eight years old today!

Eight years?!?!?!

YES, eight years!

I vividly remember the conversation I had with Lewisto in the last weeks of 2014 about whether it would be worth keeping an online fan diary about Damian Lewis. Being the rational guy that he is, Lewisto suggested I do it  only if I was confident I could commit for at least two years so it would be worth the effort.

2 years?!?! We just quadrupled that 😀 😀 😀 Continue reading “Eight Years with Damian Lewis”

In Memory of Hilary Mantel: Revisiting Henry VIII in Wolf Hall

“Henry VIII is a monster, but he’s our monster. No other nation has a king who had six wives and cut the heads off two. We’re perversely proud of Henry.” – Hilary Mantel

The world lost a true literary genius yesterday. Hilary Mantel’s style was unique. So was her imagination. Her wit was matchless. She published 17 books that received literary applause. Yet Wolf Hall Trilogy stands out as her Magnum Opus. She once said she knew Wolf Hall would be the best thing she would produce when she started writing it. Mantel became the first British writer and the first woman who won the prestigious Man Booker Prize with Wolf Hall and its sequel Bring Up the Bodies. As we all know both books have been adapted for a BBC miniseries which I many times called “the best thing that ever happened to TV” as well as for plays produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company. I am privileged to have seen them both. Multiple times. That is how much I love Wolf Hall. Continue reading “In Memory of Hilary Mantel: Revisiting Henry VIII in Wolf Hall”

Damian Lewis Created a Monster

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I’ll admit to not being the most educated person. I spent most of high school just trying to pass the time and get out with a diploma. I wasn’t a bad student, but when you decide on beauty school in your sophomore year, suddenly AP History and three hours a night of homework seem kind of like a waste of time. And I certainly didn’t spend my two study halls a day reading up on history, math or science. Now, as an adult, I am revisiting these subjects with a newly-found appreciation. I am learning things as a 36 year old woman that most people learn in high school. The history of The Tudors has been my newest interest, and I have Wolf Hall to thank for opening me up to something new. Continue reading “Damian Lewis Created a Monster”