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Damian Lewis Joins UK Comic Relief Event

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Friday March 15, 2013 @ 12:15am PDTTags: BBC, Comic Relief, Damian Lewis, Funny For Money, Ricky Gervais, The Vicar Of Dibley

Joe Utichi contributes to Deadline’s UK coverage.

Homeland star Damian Lewis will join the cast of BBC sitcom The Vicar of Dibley when it reunites for Friday night’s Comic Relief telethon. This year’s Funny for Money broadcast is set to offer plenty of YouTube-ready revival sketches for viewers. Already set is Ricky Gervais resurrecting The Office character David Brent. The Vicar of Dibley’s reunion is its first since since another Comic Relief sketch in 2007, which co-starred Sting. Lewis was keen to take part, he said, because he’d been unavailable for past specials. “Some of my favorite actors are in The Vicar of Dibley and I grew up watching them on TV,” he said. He joins a high profile guest cast that includes Kylie Minogue, Sarah Ferguson and Johnny Depp.  READ MORE »

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2012 Primetime Emmys: Showtime Arrives With ‘Homeland’ Success

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Sunday September 23, 2012 @ 10:07pm PDTTags: Damian Lewis, Emmys, Homeland

Ray Richmond contributes to Deadline’s TV coverage

Sunday was the night Showtime officially entered the Emmy big leagues thanks to its newest signature drama series, the pulse-pounding first-year Homeland. It won the pay-cabler its first Emmys in three different major categories: for top drama series as well as lead actor (Damian Lewis) and actress (Claire Danes). Only Danes’ win was considered a shoo-in. The other two were significant upsets, having broken lengthy winning streaks. The only omen that Homeland could be in for such a big night was its victory back in January for best drama series at the Golden Globes. But rarely is the Hollywood Foreign Press Association a reliable arbiter of future success with the TV Academy.

Related: Nikki Finke: Live-Snarking The 64th Emmys

Few pundits anticipated this kind of dominance for Homeland. But Danes noted backstage that the cast, crew and producers took no special pleasure in having prevented Mad Men from earning what would have been a record fifth consecutive outstanding drama series Emmy. “We didn’t make our show just to undermine Mad Men,” she said. “We’re delighted and thrilled and a little startled by this. No one was expecting to be recognized in this way right off the bat.” Danes paused before adding, “But it feels pretty nice.” Co-creator and executive producer Howard Gordon — coming off a hugely successful run at Fox on 24 — was asked backstage after the big night of wins if having the creative freedom afforded by Showtime made a big difference. “They have been phenomenally supportive and great partners,” he replied, “and they’ve had great patience. They gave us support and time with the characters and let the stories breathe. We’re really grateful.” Homeland‘s Emmy success comes just in time — the series’ second season premieres next Sunday.

Related: Analysis: ‘Homeland’ And ‘Modern Family’ Unbeatable While Other Favorites Flounder Read More »

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EMMYS: ‘Homeland’s Damian Lewis

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Friday June 8, 2012 @ 7:26pm PDTTags: Awardsline, Damian Lewis, Emmys, Homeland

Matt Webb Mitovich is Editor-at-Large at TVLine

Just as Nicholas Brody received a hero’s welcome upon being rescued from captivity in Afghanistan, Damian Lewis of Showtime’s Homeland has been met with plaudits for his riveting portrayal of the conflicted Marine sergeant, husband,Damian Lewis father and… would-be terrorist. Lewis — going for his first Emmy nomination this year, having previously been nominated for the 2012 Golden Globes for playing Brody on this series and in 2002 for his role in HBO’s Band of Brothers — reveals how he makes the potentially reprehensible relatable.

AWARDSLINE: Your character for much of Season 1 had to keep us guessing about his agenda. How much did the producers share with you up front?
DAMIAN LEWIS: They gave me a pretty good outline, but what wasn’t explicit from the outset was whether Brody was actually going to try and do something. They never said, “This guy is a terrorist and he will act in a devastating way.”

AWARDSLINE: Actors can get caught up in the idea of playing a likeable character — certainly not an American-bred terrorist. How’d you get past any such concerns?
LEWIS: It was a crackling script. Also, I don’t mind playing unlikeable roles. One of the things you should seek to achieve as an actor is that your character is understood somehow. If people then like what they find, that’s their choice. But I had one contention: Is there a way of finding in Islam a force for good, a nurturing thing in his life? Plenty of people think that if you’re a Muslim you want to blow people up, which is nonsense. We were at great pains to find motivations for him, and they successfully did that. Read More »

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TCA: The 9/11 Anniversary And The Killing Of Bin Laden Makes ‘Homeland’ Timely

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Thursday August 4, 2011 @ 10:37am PDTTags: 9/11, Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Homeland, Howard Gordon, Showtime, TCA Press Tour, Television Critics Association

Ray Richmond is contributing to Deadline’s coverage of TCA.

Is it mere coincidence that Showtime is unveiling the heavy-duty psychological thriller series Homeland the night of Oct. 2, a scant three weeks after the landmark 10th anniversary of 9/11? In a … Read More »

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Showtime Picks Up ‘Homeland’ & ‘House Of Lies’ To Series

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday April 7, 2011 @ 11:52am PDTTags: Cable TV, Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Don Cheadle, Homeland, House of Lies, Kristen Bell, Mandy Patinkin, Showtime, Showtime Homeland, Showtime House of Lies, TV, TV Deals
Nellie Andreeva

New Showtime entertainment president David Nevins is going 2-for-2 in his first development season at the pay cable network, picking up both pilots he ordered — drama Homeland and comedy House of Lies — to series. Both have received 12-episode orders and will start production in the summer. Thriller Homeland, from 24 showrunner Howard Gordon, stars Claire Danes, Damian Lewis and Emmy and Mandy Patinkin, while management consulting comedy House of Lies is toplined by Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell. “Homeland and House of Lies are audacious in both their concept and their casting,” Nevins said. “They build upon the network’s successful pedigree and expand the definition of what a Showtime series can be. Read More »

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Damian Lewis Cast As The Male Lead In Showtime’s Pilot ‘Homeland’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday December 21, 2010 @ 5:47pm PSTTags: Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Damian Lewis Homeland, Homeland, Homeland Casting, Homeland Pilot, Showtime, TV, TV Deals
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Showtime’s drama pilot Homeland has assembled a pretty solid cast. Former Life star Damian Lewis has been tapped to star opposite Claire Danes in the pilot from 24 executive producers Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa. Lewis will play the … Read More »

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