‘It’s like being made a prefect’: Actor Damian Lewis is awarded his OBE from fellow Old Etonian Prince William
But Damian Lewis has called being awarded an OBE by his fellow Old Etonion the Duke of Cambridge a ‘huge surprise’.
The 43-year-old actor compared the honour at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday afternoon to being made a school prefect, as he felt it put him under pressure to be extremely responsible and to prove himself.Â
Chuffed: Damian Lewis is awarded an OBE at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday afternoon for his contribution to acting
His performance as Major Richard Winters in the 2001 Second World War epic Band Of Brothers made his name but more recently Homeland, in which he played returning prisoner of war Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody, confirmed his star status.
Speaking after the Buckingham Palace investiture ceremony conducted by Prince William, the actor said about being nominated for the OBE: ‘I was stupified, I had no idea, so it was a big, big surprise.’
The actor, who was joined at the Palace by his actress wife Helen McCrory, added: ‘I remember when I heard I was being awarded it, it was a little bit like “now you’ve got to prove it”,’ he added laughing, ‘It was a bit like being asked to be a prefect, now I have to be extremely responsible.’
An honour: The Homeland star said the honour came as a complete surprise as he was met by the Duke Of Cambridge at the palace
Starstruck? Damian’s fellow old Etonian Prince William admitted to Lewis that he and the Duchess of Cambridge were big Homeland fans
With 11 years between 43-year-old Lewis and Prince William, 32, the pair did not cross paths at Eton, the English public boarding school located near Windsor, which they both attended.
Eton has educated 19 British Prime Ministers, generations of aristocracy, [including William and his brother Prince Harry], and a number of actors including Eddie Redmayne, Dominic West, Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston.
Speaking about the educational establishment previously, Damian told Esquire magazine: ‘Suddenly all these little kingpins arrived from their own schools. You’re surrounded by the best of the best.
‘Eton is an extraordinary place. And it’s interesting because unless you’re going to Oxford or Cambridge, you feel a bit like you’ve been to the best university already. Because the facilities are second to none. The history, the place, the sense of belonging to a tradition – you can’t beat it.’
Delivering the honour at the palace, Prince William revealed that he and Kate, the Duchess Of Cambridge, were avid Homeland fans.
The popular drama follows Lewis’ character, a US marine rescued after being held captive in Iraq, and CIA officer Carrie Mathison, played by Claire Danes, who believes he has been turned by Al-Qaeda.
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Speaking about his brief chat with the Duke, Damian said: ‘He said “Catherine and I are huge Homeland fans”.
‘He said “‘you appeared again the other night briefly, and we all got very excited,” which is true but it was also on Sunday night which means he is absolutely up to date with the latest episode and I’m amazed they have time for that.’
The US drama has won five Golden Globe awards since it first aired in 2011 and describing its appeal Lewis said: ‘I think people watch Homeland for different reasons.
‘There’s a compelling thriller at the centre of it, but I think people also got very engaged in the relationship at the centre of it between the CIA officer and this turned soldier.
‘And how damaged they both were made their relationship compelling, (they were) co-dependent and needy and un-trusting at times and romantic and explosive at other times.
‘Set against a backdrop of a plot to blow up the United States it was heady stuff.’
The Duke hosted the investiture and not the Prince of Wales, as had been previously announced.
