Damian Lewis, yes or no?

Eichhörnchen · 01-20-15, 08:24 AM

As the benchmark for WW2 on TV now (at least in the ETO) do you approve of the choice of a British actor, Damian Lewis, to play Major Dick Winters in "Band Of Brothers"?

I have to admit that I hadn't seen him before this, and assumed he was an American actor: I was pretty astonished when I learned that he's a Brit 'cos quite frankly, to me, he couldn't have looked more like a Yank.

For my part, he gets a massive thumbs-up, but I'll understand if you don't agree... do you?

Tchocky · 01-20-15, 08:26 AM

Q: True or false - Ronnie Wood?

A: Eh, true.

Q: Actually it's false, Ronnie would not.

Bilge_Rat · 01-20-15, 09:54 AM

it was filmed in the UK, so not surprising you have a lot of British actors. If you look carefully you can spot James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy in small roles. This was long before they became stars.

Betonov · 01-20-15, 10:00 AM

I never knew the real col. Winters, but Lewis did an excellent job in that role.

Eichhörnchen · 01-20-15, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tchocky

Q: True or false - Ronnie Wood?

A: Eh, true.

Q: Actually it's false, Ronnie would not.

Huh??? No understand...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

it was filmed in the UK, so not surprising you have a lot of British actors. If you look carefully you can spot James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy in small roles. This was long before they became stars.

Yes, we enjoyed seeing some familiar British TV actors now turned into GI's, but I'm still surprised they didn't bus in an American actor for the "plum" role of Winters...

Bilge_Rat · 01-20-15, 02:17 PM

personally I thought Lewis did a great job in "Band of Brothers". That mini-series is my favorite war movie by far and I have seen it several times.

01-20-15, 04:03 PM

He was awesome and since BoB he is on my personal "top actors" list.
Was also great in 'Warriors', first movie I've seen with him.

u crank · 01-20-15, 04:10 PM

Yes. Have watched Band of Brothers many times and also read the book.

Lewis also played an American Marine in the Showtime series Homeland.

Skybird · 01-20-15, 06:51 PM

Why mistaking the actor with the role he plays?

The only important question is whether the actor is a good actor or not. And Damin Lewis as well as many others in that series did a hell of a good job.

Eichhörnchen · 01-20-15, 07:13 PM

Well I suppose the nub of my question was to discover, particularly from our American friends, whether there was any question as to why the role was given to a non-American, given that he would have to get to grips with the accent, and given that my American nephew once assured me that no Briton could fool an American that way. If the US audience found him convincing in the role then fine, but did they?

Sailor Steve · 01-20-15, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

given that my American nephew once assured me that no Briton could fool an American that way.

I wonder what your American nephew thinks of Hugh Laurie in House?

August · 01-20-15, 10:40 PM

Might be a fake accent but certainly more natural sounding than his native English accent would have been.

Take the BBC shows Wallander or Zen. Great shows but those English accents are so jarring.

Eichhörnchen · 01-21-15, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I wonder what your American nephew thinks of Hugh Laurie in House?

This made me smile. I know the show you mean, although I've never seen a whole episode, only clips: I don't know what US viewers make of Hugh Laurie as an American, or whether they are all even aware of his more familiar "cut-glass" English accent. Does he go down well or is he a bit of a joke? (I know the character he plays is a bit edgy and the show is, it seems, rather tongue-in-cheek). He's well-regarded here...

Sailor Steve · 01-21-15, 02:58 AM

I became a Laurie fan thanks to Blackadder, and the more I see British comedy from that era the more I like him (and his cohorts). I was surprised at House, both how good he was at a semi-serious role and how well he caught the accent.

The real fun for me was how many fans of the show didn't know that he wasn't American. There was a lot of shock and it was fun to watch the reactions.

I do have to admit that I didn't know that Damien Lewis was British, and now that I do know I don't care. He performed the role brilliantly and fit right in.

Eichhörnchen · 01-21-15, 04:28 AM

All of that satisfies me greatly: I wanted to hear that Hugh Laurie fooled viewers, because his real accent must have therefore come as a huge surprise to many; also that you didn't know about Damian Lewis and that he convinced you...

01-20-15, 08:24 AM	#1
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,389 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Damian Lewis, yes or no? As the benchmark for WW2 on TV now (at least in the ETO) do you approve of the choice of a British actor, Damian Lewis, to play Major Dick Winters in "Band Of Brothers"? I have to admit that I hadn't seen him before this, and assumed he was an American actor: I was pretty astonished when I learned that he's a Brit 'cos quite frankly, to me, he couldn't have looked more like a Yank. For my part, he gets a massive thumbs-up, but I'll understand if you don't agree... do you?

01-20-15, 08:26 AM	#2
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Q: True or false - Ronnie Wood? A: Eh, true. Q: Actually it's false, Ronnie would not. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

01-20-15, 09:54 AM	#3
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,856 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	it was filmed in the UK, so not surprising you have a lot of British actors. If you look carefully you can spot James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy in small roles. This was long before they became stars. __________________

01-20-15, 02:17 PM	#6
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,856 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	personally I thought Lewis did a great job in "Band of Brothers". That mini-series is my favorite war movie by far and I have seen it several times. __________________

01-20-15, 04:10 PM	#8
u crank Old enough to know better Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Prince Edward Island Posts: 11,744 Downloads: 136 Uploads: 0	Yes. Have watched Band of Brothers many times and also read the book. Lewis also played an American Marine in the Showtime series Homeland. __________________ “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” ― Arthur C. Clarke

01-20-15, 10:00 AM	#4
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	I never knew the real col. Winters, but Lewis did an excellent job in that role.

01-20-15, 04:03 PM	#7
Nippelspanner Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	He was awesome and since BoB he is on my personal "top actors" list. Was also great in 'Warriors', first movie I've seen with him.

01-20-15, 06:51 PM	#9
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,628 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Why mistaking the actor with the role he plays? The only important question is whether the actor is a good actor or not. And Damin Lewis as well as many others in that series did a hell of a good job. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

01-20-15, 07:13 PM	#10
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,389 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Well I suppose the nub of my question was to discover, particularly from our American friends, whether there was any question as to why the role was given to a non-American, given that he would have to get to grips with the accent, and given that my American nephew once assured me that no Briton could fool an American that way. If the US audience found him convincing in the role then fine, but did they?

01-20-15, 10:40 PM	#12
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Might be a fake accent but certainly more natural sounding than his native English accent would have been. Take the BBC shows Wallander or Zen. Great shows but those English accents are so jarring. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

01-21-15, 02:58 AM	#14
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I became a Laurie fan thanks to Blackadder, and the more I see British comedy from that era the more I like him (and his cohorts). I was surprised at House, both how good he was at a semi-serious role and how well he caught the accent. The real fun for me was how many fans of the show didn't know that he wasn't American. There was a lot of shock and it was fun to watch the reactions. I do have to admit that I didn't know that Damien Lewis was British, and now that I do know I don't care. He performed the role brilliantly and fit right in. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo Last edited by Sailor Steve; 01-21-15 at 08:28 AM.

01-21-15, 04:28 AM	#15
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,389 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	All of that satisfies me greatly: I wanted to hear that Hugh Laurie fooled viewers, because his real accent must have therefore come as a huge surprise to many; also that you didn't know about Damian Lewis and that he convinced you...