They call him Dad

Dad is a word which can evoke a minefield of emotions simply because the word is personal to each of us and our personal circumstances will affect whether the word evokes positive or negative emotions.

Being a Dad (in real life) can be all kinds of difficult and rewarding. With father’s day approaching we take a look at Damian Lewis as an onscreen Dad.

Damianista

“Love is the strongest power there is.” – J.K. Rowling

Probably because I lost my dad at a young age, I am a true sucker for loving father-daughter relationships in fiction. Today I give you some of my favorite moments with Damian Lewis as screen dad. Even though the characters are quite different in each relationship, there is an overarching theme: A lost soul who finds meaning in life through his love for his daughter.

brodysoameskeane

Brody and Jess love story is over way before Brody returns home. Jess is in love with Mike even though she tries her best to start all over again with Brody. Chris, as much as happy to have dad back, is used to Brody’s absence since he was a baby when dad left for war. Brody does not know his son, and seeing how close he is to Mike, does not seem to try his best to get to know him. So it is all his daughter Dana that connects Brody to family. I know Dana has never been popular with the viewers but I love this independent, open-minded, headstrong young woman who LOVES and NEEDS her dad. She genuinely tries to understand the lost soul that Brody is. She is the one who does not want to believe, but in fact believes, Carrie when she comes to tell Brody is about to do something really bad. And it is Dana’s LOVE for his dad and Brody’s LOVE for her that stops the suicide mission: “I’m coming home, Dana.” Continue reading “They call him Dad”

Hey Damian, I loved you as Soames Forsyte… There I said it :)

source: New York Times
source: New York Times

Damian Lewis, at Times Talks London in May 2014, laughs and says:

What you don’t know, Damian, is, one of those dark horses is writing on your fan blog!

I LOVED YOU AS SOAMES FORSYTE!!!!!

There, I said it… Continue reading “Hey Damian, I loved you as Soames Forsyte… There I said it :)”

Meet the Forsytes!

“Life calls the tune, we dance.” ― John Galsworthy

source: Amazon
source: Amazon

PBS Direct has just released Forsyte Saga – The Complete Series back to DVD. In celebration of the release – meet the Forsytes!

source: ITV Studios
source: ITV Studios

The Forsyte Saga chronicles the lives of the leading members of a large upper-middle class English Family. Only a few generations removed from their farmer ancestors, the family members are very much aware of their status as “new money.” The main character, Soames Forsyte is nicknamed as a “man of property” in the family by virtue of his ability to accumulate material possessions — but this does not bring him pleasure in his marriage to his beloved Irene or in life in general. Continue reading “Meet the Forsytes!”

Desert Island Discs with Damianista

source: dailybeast.com
source: dailybeast.com

I identify a lot of things in my life with music. Almost every piece of music I love reminds me of some sweet moment, and sometimes a bittersweet one from a particular time in my life. I associate my memories with music so much so that I, in fact, believe we all should have a life soundtrack 🙂

Thus, it has been pretty easy for me to identify the pieces of music that reminds me of Damian Lewis or some characters that he brings to life. The only challenge has been to limit the list to eight. I have tried my best to choose the eight that I feel most strongly about. Continue reading “Desert Island Discs with Damianista”

Soames Forsyte

Strange to talk about a series that happened over 10 years ago, but discussing Damian Lewis’ oeuvre without touching on Soames Forsyte and the Forsyte Saga would just be incomplete.

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source: Granada Television/WGBH

Imagine if you will, a 30 year old actor just returned from completing his first “Hollywood” venture, the most expensive series ever produced and shown on HBO, Band of Brothers. It was a hit! Everyone wants him! Everyone wants him to come back over the pond and play….another soldier. Word has it, and Damianista just mentioned this week, that Damian was offered a role in Blackhawk Down and turned it down to stay in England and play Soames Forsyte. One may speculate he told the casting folks that he can’t do it but his good friend and fellow Eton-ite Ewan MacGregor might be free. 🙂 Of course, BHD was a great film, but, boy, we’re glad DL said no. Continue reading “Soames Forsyte”