Damian Lewis left a journalist in disbelief when he unexpectedly ended an interview.
The British actor and musician, 53, did some press to advertise the return of BBC’s historic drama Wolf Corridor after virtually a decade.
Lewis performs famed Tudor monarch King Henry VIII within the sequence, which additionally stars Sir Mark Rylance, 64, as Thomas Cromwell.
Nevertheless, it appears he wasn’t too eager on chatting, as a Radio Occasions interviewer found.
“So this can be a first,” reporter Ginny Dougary’s article started. ‘My interviewee ran away.
“Not with any frills or uncontrolled anger, however lifeless casually, as if it weren’t actually grand.”
Dougary set the tone, explaining that the hour-long interview was agreed to in writing and could be achieved remotely with cameras on in order that the publication may use video clips to advertise the revival of Wolf Corridor.
Nevertheless, Lewis arrived ten minutes late to the interview together with his digicam turned off. When Dougary requested if he would thoughts making up the time on the finish, he knowledgeable her that would not occur.
She additionally wrote: “Truly, as he stated simply earlier than the interview, he must ‘bail’ quarter-hour early, reducing our agreed time in half (shortened additional if he pulls the plug).”
Dougary known as Lewis “devious” for doing this on the spot when not a lot may very well be achieved to rectify the state of affairs.
She then in contrast the traits evident in Lewis’s habits with that of Henry VIII, main her to wonder if it was ‘reverse methodology’.
Though Dougary famous that Peter Kosminsky, whom she had additionally interviewed earlier within the day, behaved far more “fairly.”
She listed among the issues that left her with a bitter style after speaking to Lewis, saying that he requested her to regulate the positioning of her digicam as a result of he was “not completely happy” with it.
“That is higher,” he then instructed her.
Earlier than talking to Lewis, she requested Wolf Corridor director Kosminsky what King Henry VIII’s relevance is in 2024.
He replied, “Damian ought to most likely communicate, since he performs Henry….”
Nevertheless, when she requested this query to Lewis, it did not take lengthy for him to show round.
“Nicely, I believe somebody as traditionally vital as Henry VIII will at all times be vital,” he instructed Dougary, including, “Except your query means that such an unawakened character as Henry VIII, shot by some sort modern prism, should not be on TV anymore?’
“However after all I must reject that concept,” he acknowledged.
Lewis then confessed his love of historical past and the way he “learn extensively” in regards to the Tudor interval in preparation for the function.
Sadly, when questioned about his private beliefs, he declined to elaborate.
He instructed the publication: ‘I used to be very clear that I wasn’t doing profiles and it is beginning to really feel a bit like a profile so I am coming off.’
And sure, that was that.
When the journal piece appeared on-line, readers branded Dougary’s takedown of Lewis as “brutal.”
Others known as Lewis ‘pompous’, whereas one person on Threads stated that whereas Lewis’s performing is ‘implausible’, he ‘appears ap***okay’.
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Lewis’ half interview comes after the BBC confirmed that Wolf Corridor: The Mirror and the Gentle is returning to screens.
The primary sequence was an enormous success, receiving eight nominations on the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to three on the 73rd Golden Globes.
The second six-part installment begins on Sunday, November 10 and is tailored from Hilary Mantel’s third Wolf Corridor ebook, 2020’s The Mirror and Gentle.
Watch Wolf Corridor: The Mirror and the Gentle on Sunday 10 November on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
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