Damian Lewis Quotes

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About Damian Lewis

Damian Lewis, born on February 11, 1971, in London, England, is an accomplished British actor known for his versatile performances on stage, television, and film. Lewis attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he honed his craft and developed a passion for acting. His professional acting career began in the early 1990s with roles in various theatre productions, including "Indigo" and "The Misanthrope." In 2001, Lewis gained widespread recognition for his role as Charlie Crews in the American drama series "Life," which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. Lewis's breakout television performance came with his portrayal of Nicholas Brody in the critically acclaimed Showtime series "Homeland" (2011-2013), for which he won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards. His other notable TV roles include the lead role in the historical drama series "Wolf Hall," and as Harry Houdini in the miniseries "Houdini." In film, Lewis has appeared in several projects, including "Dreamcatcher" (2003), "Keane" (2004), and "The Baker Street Irregulars" (2007). His performance as Henry VIII in the historical drama "Wolf Hall" (2015) was particularly well-received. Throughout his career, Lewis has demonstrated a remarkable ability to embody diverse characters, showcasing his versatility and commitment to his craft. His work continues to captivate audiences worldwide, solidifying his status as one of Britain's most talented actors.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life is a series of tiny decisions, all leading you to where you are now."

This quote suggests that every small choice we make in life accumulates over time, collectively shaping our present circumstances. It highlights the idea that each decision, no matter how insignificant it may seem at the moment, can have a significant impact on our overall path in life. The quote encourages us to be mindful of the choices we make and their potential long-term consequences, as they are the building blocks of our lives.


"It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life."

This quote encourages individuals to seize opportunities that allow them to assert their strength, courage, and individuality rather than living a passive, conformist life. It advocates for taking bold actions, even if temporary, over a lifetime of timidity and compliance. The quote invites us to embrace our inner lions when faced with challenges, knowing that we can make a difference in our lives and the world around us.


"When it comes down to it, I don't think there's any great secret about acting. It's about listening and reacting truthfully."

Damian Lewis' quote emphasizes that the essence of acting lies in active listening and genuine response. It suggests that a successful actor should not only understand their lines, but also be attentive to their surroundings, fellow actors, and the emotions of the character they are portraying. The ultimate goal is to deliver a truthful performance by reacting authentically to what they perceive. This quote underscores the importance of empathy and adaptability in the art of acting.


"I think the hardest thing in this industry is not failing but dealing with success."

This quote highlights the unique challenges that come with achieving success in the entertainment industry, or any high-pressure field. While failure can be demoralizing and difficult to cope with, it's often a clear-cut situation where one learns from mistakes. However, success brings its own set of problems such as increased expectations, pressure to maintain or surpass past achievements, and potential burnout. Managing these complexities, balancing personal life with professional commitments, and staying grounded amidst the limelight can indeed be the hardest part of the journey.


"The best way to learn acting is by doing, making mistakes, getting up, dusting yourself off, and doing it again."

This quote by Damian Lewis emphasizes that practical experience and learning from mistakes are crucial in mastering the craft of acting. He suggests that the process involves continuous attempts, errors, and self-correction, rather than relying solely on formal education or theory. The essence is resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to improve through persistent practice. This applies not only to acting but also to various fields where growth requires patience, perseverance, and the ability to learn from one's mistakes.


If you pick up an eighteenth-century play, at the top it says 'The Argument,' and then you have a list of characters, and then you have the play. I was just always struck by that - that, of course, good drama is about conflict.

- Damian Lewis

Play, Always, About, Argument

My kids think America is swimming pools on the roof, screening rooms, and hot dogs. They love it here.

- Damian Lewis

Love, Think, Here, Hot Dogs

You can't do something that is morally vacuous or dysfunctional and then write it off saying, 'It wasn't my film, I was just doing a job in it.'

- Damian Lewis

Doing, Dysfunctional, Then, Morally

I will always find a defense for characters, and that's why it's fun playing characters that are morally ambiguous, or are at least perceived superficially as being problematic.

- Damian Lewis

Will, Always, Problematic, Morally

When I was at drama school, I remember going to Amsterdam for new year and sitting with friends on the front of a P&O ferry in the wind, having some sort of 'Titanic' moment, declaring ourselves to be the new kings of theatre.

- Damian Lewis

I Remember, Year, Some, Declaring

Would I have traded 'Homeland' for anything else? No. Would I trade 'Billions' for anything else? No.

- Damian Lewis

Trade, Billions, Would, Traded

If you believe - which I do - that acting is a bit like advocacy for your character, then of course I want to find the positive points.

- Damian Lewis

Want, Like, Which, Advocacy

There is a latent anger in a lot of people that went to boarding school at an early age. I was eight. And I loved it over the five years, but I think the adjustments for eight-year-olds are a lot. And I think it informs who you are for a long, long time.

- Damian Lewis

Anger, Years, I Think, Boarding School

I went to boarding school, and what that teaches you is to cope emotionally at a young age and to suppress a lot of emotion. Being in the army is, in a way, similar.

- Damian Lewis

Young, Similar, Suppress, Boarding School

I went to boarding school from the age of eight - first to prep school, then to Eton. One thing that kind of education teaches you is community living: there's little retreat. That's why people come out of it and talk about lifelong friendships forged in the furnace.

- Damian Lewis

Education, Forged, Furnace, Boarding School

I'm not good enough to flip in and out of my Brit accent to my American accent.

- Damian Lewis

American, Not Good Enough, Accent

It's good to be busy on a film set because there is a lot of sitting around, so if you've got two roles to play at one time, then that's great to do.

- Damian Lewis

Play, Set, Roles, Film Set

I love going for a swim. Growing up in England, anywhere with a pool seems like the height of glamour to me.

- Damian Lewis

Love, England, Going, Glamour

It's certainly true that I was brought up in that British amateur tradition, the one which always held that if you were reasonably good at cricket, knew one or two Latin texts and a few zingy Oscar Wilde quotes for dinner parties, you were pretty much ready to go and run some outpost in Hindustan.

- Damian Lewis

Some, Brought, Held, Wilde

I guess I'm just good at playing repressed individuals. I'm lucky because those are often the roles that catch people's eyes.

- Damian Lewis

Lucky, Often, Roles, Repressed

It's such an overused phrase: 'to be part of the conversation.' But it's true. It is nice to be part of the conversation - just be sure they are talking about you in the right way.

- Damian Lewis

Sure, Part, About, Overused

I am Damian Lewis, not Daniel Day-Lewis.

- Damian Lewis

I Am, Daniel, Am, Lewis

This high-end, novelistic form of TV, you know, is just peppered with despicable people who do marvelous things and marvelous people who do despicable things.

- Damian Lewis

TV, High-End, Despicable, Marvelous

I've done classical theaters. I played Hamlet myself and Romeo.

- Damian Lewis

Myself, Romeo, Hamlet, Theaters

Why do you think so many actors are only half-developed people? It's very easy when you're a young actor to have these intense, explosive friendships for short periods of time, because you can control what's shown of you. Then you go on to your next job and reinvent yourself again. I think it's important to find something constant.

- Damian Lewis

Next, Reinvent, Very, Young Actor

I'm not an American, but I have this weird connection to America in different ways through my dad living here for five years, my godfather being an American who I'm very close to.

- Damian Lewis

Through, Here, Very, Godfather

I found the hedge-fund guys I met all to be very, very concentrated listeners - watchful and articulate and quick to defend, if needed. They all seemed to have this contained sitting posture. The legs, if they weren't crossed at right angles, tended to be close over the knee, their hands put together.

- Damian Lewis

Hands, Quick, Very, Articulate

L.A. still ranks as one of my guilty pleasures, along with butter-pecan ice cream and Coldplay albums.

- Damian Lewis

Ice, Still, Albums, Ice Cream

In England we burnt redheads at the stake, because we thought they were witches. There are still young redheads in Britain getting ripped for having red hair. 'Oy, Ginger!'

- Damian Lewis

England, Still, Britain, Witches

An interesting insight into the ruthlessness of studio executives: I was having a conversation with Alex Gansa, a creator of 'Homeland,' and I said, 'So you guys must have seen 'Life' and liked me in it, right? That's the most recent thing I've done over here.' And he went, 'No, Damian. You actually nearly didn't get the job because of 'Life.'

- Damian Lewis

Here, Studio, Homeland, Alex

Fallible characters are more interesting than superheroes in the end.

- Damian Lewis

More, Characters, Superheroes

Dramatically it's always more interesting to conceal rather than reveal things.

- Damian Lewis

Always, Conceal, Reveal, Dramatically

I came of age as a male lead actor just as the TV landscape dramatically shifted.

- Damian Lewis

Actor, TV, Came, Dramatically

I suppose where I am sort of reflects the work I have chosen to do. Are there occasional frustrations because I can't work with a certain director because it's a big studio movie, and I don't have enough of a studio profile? The answer is yes. But generall... generally, I have the career I have chosen myself.

- Damian Lewis

Career, Big, Studio, Frustrations

You can't be sent away to prison for life and feel OK about it.

- Damian Lewis

Feel, Away, About, OK

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