Is ‘Homeland’ actor Damian Lewis bragging about being rude to Pres. Obama?

I’ve mentioned before how much I enjoyed the first season of Showtime’s Homeland. It was a really, really great show with wonderful writing and incredible performances by the two leads, Claire Danes and Damian Lewis. I rarely get a chance to discuss Lewis, mostly because I feel like most people don’t know who he is. I’ve followed his career since Band of Brothers, through the underrated and too-early-cancelled Life, and now on Homeland, where he is simply excellent. I never really knew that much about his personal life, just that he’s English, married and the father of two kids. I wish I could go back to that place, because I just read this interview with him, and now I kind of think he’s a douche. Maybe I’m being hyper-sensitive (it happens), but it seems like Damian is bragging about being a giant brat to President Obama!

Despite the mixed reviews about its season finale that had viewers across the world on the edge of their seats, it proved to be one of this year’s smash-hit dramas. And Homeland can also boast one of the world’s most powerful men among its fans – according to its leading man.

Damian Lewis, who wowed viewers and critics alike with his portrayal of troubled Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody, said President Barack Obama told him that it is his favourite show.

As he posed for a smouldering shoot for Mr Porter, Lewis told the men’s retail website about being a guest at the White House state dinner.

He said: ‘I thought we were going to be sitting by the kitchen or something. Next to the revolving door that would repeatedly hit us on the back of the head, as waiters came in and out. But when we got to the marquee on the South Lawn we found that out of 396 people at this dinner, we had been put at the President’s table. I was opposite Obama. He said Homeland is his favourite show.’

He said the President also asked him how he got the part in Band of Brothers, which was not only his big break, but the first time he had to portray an American.

He said: ‘He thought it was because I looked like the guy I was playing. So I made a joke – I said, “No Mr President, it was because of my outstanding leadership qualities and moral probity.” And he wasn’t sure for a minute – he was like, “Who the f*** is this guy?”. It’s not as if I come from a military family or anything. My dad did national service in the 1950s, but he wasn’t very good at it. He lost his platoon in the woods.’

He said: ‘I knew we were doing something a bit better than your average TV show or movie for that matter. But there was no telling the way in which it touched a chord. People get a strange thrill out of being made to feel anxious and worried!’

Damian is about to start filming the second series of Homeland in two weeks time in North Carolina, which doubles as Washington DC.

He said: ‘It’s great. I’m closer to home. And I don’t have to work so hard because it’s more of an ensemble cast. So I just jump on a plane if I get a few days off. And the kids can come out and see me for the summer holidays, jumping in and out of the pool all day. It’s perfect, basically. All I have to do is get the acting right – make sure I’m not the tosser that lets it all down!’

His family – actress wife Helen McCrory and their children, daughter Manon, five, and four-year-old son Gulliver – are back in the UK, Islington, north London to be precise and are staying in Hugh Laurie’s old house. Hugh has been a huge success across the Pond in House and Damian said: ‘That’s how it works, you’ve got to be English on a popular show and then you get to sell each other property.’

[From The Mail]

CB thinks there’s a good possibility that Damian was just being very “English” and attempting to be funny/self-effacing. But it just sounds like Pres. Obama asked him an innocent question (“How did you get cast in Band of Brothers? Did you look like the real dude?”) and instead of answering simply, Damian decided to “take the piss”. I mean… I’m not saying everyone has to genuflect around the President of the United States, but if you’ve been invited to a state dinner and you’re sitting at his table, don’t “take the piss” when the president asks you a question! RUDE.

Photos courtesy of Mr. Porter/The Mail.

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68 Responses to “Is ‘Homeland’ actor Damian Lewis bragging about being rude to Pres. Obama?”

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  1. 3mama says:

    Yeah, I don’t think he was being rude. He was taking a knock at himself but it probably didn’t come across as such.

    • tripmom says:

      This +1. I feel kinda bad for him. We’ve all made what sounded like a good joke in our head, and then had it fall flat. At least when I do it it’s in front of my husband, not the president!

    • Red Granny says:

      +2

  2. Johanna says:

    Loved him as Captain Winters in Band of Brothers; superb acting. I can’t tell if he’s being a smart ass or he’s using his English charm…

  3. k says:

    Being English all the way. He’s also recounting the conversation. He clearly did not recite it word for word, just mentioned one part of it.

  4. Eve says:

    I agree with Celebitchy…I think he tried to crack a joke.

    Problem is: President Obama asked a simple question and, unless he reads gossip blogs or follows Lewis’s IMDb profile (or any fan sites dedicated to him), there’s no way he could know about his family having a military background or not.

    So I guess it was both: a joke, and kinda rude.

  5. lucy2 says:

    I don’t think it was rude, I think he was probably nervous and just tried to make a bad sarcastic joke, which sounds worse in the re-telling.
    There’s something about him I find kinda creepy, but he’s excellent on Homeland. I can’t wait for it to come back on!

    • Guest says:

      I agree, I think he was nervous and it came off as sarcastic. He was probably trying to be witty and it didn’t come off that way. Not everybody is good at thinking quick on their feet. Some actors are not good at improv.

  6. Cel says:

    No, not being rude – he was clearly not expecting to be sitting with the President, and probably trying too hard to be funny.

  7. MJ says:

    I think it would be easier to have a joking tone with Obama than most other presidents, as he tries hard to project a casual, down-to-earth image.

    • OlsenTriplet says:

      Obama probably gets a standard reaction from people he talks to and this ginger threw him off. Then the ginger felt weird. Understandable.

      Think of how stressful it would be to be “on” for so many hours each day like Obama–this is the same reason I have sympathy for Kate Middleton. Then again, she gets to retreat to her cottage retreat every five minutes, so perhaps I should reevaluate that.

      It’s probably pretty easy to joke with GWBush.
      http://www.time.com/time/audioslide/0,32187,1872615,00.html

  8. mln76 says:

    I hope not because he’s such a talented actor I don’t want to think he’s a jerk. He was amazing in The Forsythe Saga.

  9. Eve says:

    I agree with Celebitchy…I think he tried to crack a joke.

    Problem is: President Obama asked a simple question and, unless he reads gossip blogs or follows Lewis’s IMDb profile (or any fan sites dedicated to him), there’s no way he could know about his family having a military background or not.

    So I guess it was both: a joke, and kinda rude.

  10. L says:

    It’s still amazing to me that he’s married to Narcissa Malfoy. (the actress that played her in the movie)

    Life was a awesome show. And he was awesome in it. And the Forsythe saga! Also awesome.

  11. Chatcat says:

    Love love love this guy and his acting skill. I like his humor and really I doubt that if it was a slight to Obama…and if it was it was oh well he is entitled to his opinions.

  12. Dawn says:

    I can’t tell either if he was being rude or not. But I do like him as an actor. He stood out immediately to me in The Band of Brothers because I remembered him playing a part on Poirot. He was not the villain. Life was excellent and I was sad they did not give it more time to find an audience.

  13. Happymom says:

    Dry English humor. Plus I will not hear one word against Damian. I’ve loved him since Band of Brothers, his wife is an amazing actress, they don’t papp out their family AT all and he’s fantastic on Homeland.

  14. Eve says:

    About Lewis being sexy…I have mixed feelings towards him. I loved how red his hair was in Dreamcatcher (seriously, watch the extra features to see what I’m talking about), but there’s something about his mouth I can’t get used to — I think it’s too small for his face, and it gets worse when he smiles.

    • TheOriginalKitten says:

      I love him but I think his mouth is weird too. I think it protrudes in an almost ape-like way. However, I would still have sex with him. If he wasn’t married…

  15. Schwizzle says:

    Anyone that thinks this is rude is an idiot. He tells a similar story on Graham Norton. There isnt a hint of arrogance in this guy- at least not publicly. Also, consider the source.

  16. cr says:

    I’ve been a fan of his since Peacekeepers/Warriors, the BBC serial on the Brit UNPRFOR soldiers in Bosnia (also with Ioan Gruffud).
    And I don’t think he was being deliberately rude, I’m with those who think it was more of a nerves/self deprecating thing.

  17. ST says:

    i worked on the show here in Charlotte, he’s a super nice guy, very gracious, I don’t think mean to be rude at all.

  18. telesma says:

    Sounds to me like he tried to crack a joke and it went over like a lead balloon. More awkward than rude.

  19. ZenB!tch says:

    I’m no fan of Obama but who the F is Damien Lewis.

    • Andie B says:

      @ZenB!tch..he is an exceedingly hot red haired English actor. Sometimes his American accent is a bit dodgy, but I can overlook that, as he’s so cute.

  20. Alaina says:

    I don’t even understand how this could have been interpreted as rude? It’s so plainly self-deprecating and just Damien having a laugh at himself. And since Obama himself has a fine line in self-deprecation, I can’t imagine for even one second that he picked it up as anything other than that.

  21. jamie says:

    I’ve been a fan since I saw the Forsyte Saga years back so I may be somewhat biased but I don’t think he was being rude. Sounded like a joke to me, I’m kind of disappointed with Obama for not getting it. Keep the Damian Lewis posts coming! I bet he has a lot of fans on this website.

  22. Jensational says:

    It’s a joke for crying out loud. Just because the president is an idiot and didn’t get it doesn’t mean Mr. Lewis was rude. Geez, people need to chill out and being so overly fucking sensitive and offended by every little thing.

    • cr says:

      Considering that most of the commenters here fall into the ‘he was joking’ category, I’d say most weren’t being overly sensitive.

      ETA: Just because the president took a minute, according to Lewis, to figure what Lewis actually meant, doesn’t mean he’s an idiot. It takes most of my co-workers a bit to ‘get’ my sarcasm, so I understand that some people don’t automatically ‘get’ others’ humor or manner of talking.

      • Eve says:

        Agree with cr.

        Also: Just because the president is an idiot and didn’t get it doesn’t mean Mr. Lewis was rude.

        Really? Obama an idiot? Unlike the genius who governed the country before him — that one would have understood the joke on the spot, right? Dear god…

    • Marley says:

      THANK YOU! Just because someone is a President/Prime Minister/Congressman doesn’t mean they are godly and you shouldn’t be yourself around them. Damian was being English as Brits are notoriously sarcastic and have an off humor about them that Americans sometimes view as rude but its usually as a response to a silly question.

      • Gretchen says:

        No Marley, thank you! I’m english and i have to say when i read the tagline for this post and then read Lewis’s comments i suffered a sever case of disconnect. I really don’t know how this could have been interpreted as him being rude to Obama or how Lewis talking about it could be construed as him “bragging” about “being rude” to Obama (?)

        He was expecting to be placed by the kitchen and instead got placed across from the president, the president asks a not so bright question and Lewis gives a sarcastic quip.

        Obviously my only qualifier is that i am english, however I can say that in an unnerving social context where “we” get nervous+obvious question, it = sarcastic response.

        All i can say is we don’t mean to be rude, this shit just comes out. It’s not premeditated or intentionally rude, it is just programmed into us. If someone comes up to me and says “is that a lighter? can i use it?” my initial reaction is to say “no, it’s a floatation device, and no, you can’t”, but of course i don’t mean that at all and I pass the lighter on with a smile. (sorry smokers reference).

      • Veruca says:

        Oh Gretchen,

        How I wish we worked together. The days would fly by filled with happy sarcasm.

        Sigh. My coworkers don’t understand any quips — unless they involve boobs, farts and peni$es (can we use that word, or is it evil on this site?).

        This wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing if the jokes were actually funny. Alas…

  23. Stacie says:

    Sad because I too have like Damian since Band Of Brothers. I’m kinda disappointed in his comments .

  24. kpist says:

    Honestly, wasn’t Obama rude? I mean implying he only got the part on looks and not talent sounds like an insult to me

  25. Emma - the JP lover says:

    Why is everyone so quick to give this guy a pass?

    It’s often not ‘what’ is said but ‘how’ it is said (and none of us were there to ‘hear’ how he delivered his comment). What’s obvious is that ‘something’ gave President Obama pause after the comment was made.

    Could you imagine the press and or gossip if an American actor/actress–no matter how popular or sexy–did something similar at an event hosted by the Prime Minister or a member of the Royal family?

    Again, none of us ‘heard’ how he delivered his comment. There is a big difference between dry English humor and deliberate glibness.

    • Gretchen says:

      Oh please, if an actor made a quip to the prime minister or the royal family I guarantee that very few people in the UK would give a shit, if they did they would probably laugh (have you never heard of “spitting image” or “have i got news for you”? )

      And considering you weren’t there to know if the problem was in the “what” or the “how” why are you so keen NOT to give him a pass? So Obama paused, maybe the comment was unexpectedly refreshing after all the arse-kissing…who knows?

      As an aside- actually there really isn’t much difference between dry english humour and deliberate glibness

  26. Lady_Luck says:

    Well President Obama is not beyond reproach. Why was it okay (and even applauded by some) whenever anybody ever took the mickey out of George W.Bush…yet so hush hush and gasp inducing if anybody were to do so to Obama?? I feel that Obama and his left-wing loving media have carved out an ‘untouchable’ aura about him (for politically correct reasons or otherwise), which effectively attempts to make any criticism/jokes etc. towards him an offence. That is wrong. On many levels.

    • Emma - the JP lover says:

      @Lady_Luck …

      Well, first you’d have to be more specific about the ‘anybodies’ who dissed President Bush, and whether or not they did so in person as an invited guest at an event hosted by President Bush. If they did so after being asked a simple, innocent question by former President Bush then yes, I believe they were wrong to do so.

    • cr says:

      I was going to try and keep actual politics out of this, because it’s not really the point of the post, but these types of blanket statements interest me: “left-wing loving media” What left-wing loving media? No, I mean that seriously- do you mean the ‘mainstream’ media, network and print?. Or what about other onlinemedia sites?
      As someone who considers herself a moderately progressive lefty, I can assure you most actual left leaning sites don’t give Pres. Obama a pass at all. And I’m pretty sure that conservative sites aren’t either.

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        It always gets political around here when the president is mentioned, even if it’s a gossip blog. I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said I HATE THE LIBERAL MEDIA. It made me lol. But yeah, I voted for Obama, I’m liberal. I’m disappointed with a lot of things but I never expected a miracle. Honestly, with senators like Mitch McConnell making it his life mission to stop Obama at every turn, it’s not as easy as waving a magic wand. Then again, it never is with politics..

  27. teehee says:

    Hes a demigod in my book 😀 lol

  28. TheOriginalKitten says:

    Eh…probably trying to be funny but not a great choice. I still effin’ love Damian though. I had sex dreams about him after watching Homeland. TMI I know but I feel better getting that off my chest.

  29. Karen says:

    I’m with you, girl. I don’t see how that could be construed as rudeness. We also only have that snippet and not the entire conversation. This comment could easily have been taken out of context. I’m all for giving him the benefit of the doubt. He doesn’t strike me as skeevy.

  30. MissilePanda says:

    I’m a brit, no idea what the fuss is about? Was a joke in my eyes. Not his best material, but still.

  31. Brittney says:

    I’m so glad you mentioned Life. I’ve been re-watching it on Netflix and remembering what a great show it was. Watched the pilot of Homeland, but I need to find a way to watch the rest of the season, I guess…

  32. shaboo says:

    what’s rude about it? There’s no bragging!

    He made a joke and it was shit.

  33. meg says:

    He’d be getting high-fives if he said that to a Republican president – say it to Obama and he is “rude”. How funny. 🙂

  34. thethinker says:

    Damien Lewis was being sarcastic;I’d probably have laughed at that joke. Then again, I live in England.

  35. kris says:

    i hope he was being rude

  36. Kim says:

    He was making a joke in typical dry English humor. Obviously Obama is to stupid to have gotten the joke.

  37. faye says:

    I saw him on the Graham Norton show the day before he was set to fly to washingtion to Meet the President – you can see the episode on Youtube. He was elated, he was on air, so excited by the invitiation. Because he was working, he was flying to washinton then back to the UK the next day. I doubt very much that someone this exicted, someone who rearranged his scheudle to make this happen would then turn around and be rude to the President.

  38. Snowflake says:

    I’d love to see more covering for Damien, he is SUPERHOT and a real talent.

  39. susan says:

    who cares? We have pictures of the GINGER GLORIOUS

  40. gee_gee says:

    Eh. He gets a Hot Ginger pass for the dry British humor.

  41. ViktoryGin says:

    I credit Lewis with awakening my love for gingers. First saw over a decade ago in Peacekeepers and have had a bit of a thing for him since. He’s not conventionally attractive but I find myself inexplicably drawn to him. So glad that u found an excuse to cover him. Keep the Damian posts coming. May I also put in a request for Tom Hiddleston? Since we’re on the subject of sexy gingers…

  42. tina says:

    Love this actor. I loved the series Life. Couldn’t believe it was cancelled after two seasons. Was my favorite show.

    • PDog says:

      I never understood how it got cancelled!! Did people pick it up too late?

      • Karma says:

        Loved that show too.

        It was my understanding that Jay Leno’s primetime show is what caused it to be bumped.

  43. Vicki says:

    Uptight much? He’s totally not being rude, and this is in an interview context – he mightn’t have said EXACTLY that in the presumed tone to the President’s face. It’s just an English sense of humour.

    If Fassy did that, you’d think it was awesome.

  44. ViloDeMenus says:

    I’m not sure he was being a douche, so much as unsure of what to say to the leader of the Free World, and wanted to be “The witty Englishman”, he failed but gave it a whirl anyway. Great show but actors in general are not always socially adept because they memorize great lines others write and when they wing it they fail more often than not. He should have been gracious and flattered as Obama probably doesn’t watch much TV with the demands on his time being what they are.