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dl - suit, looking down







My thing about Damian Lewis might sound a little blasphemous at first, so bear with me, ok?  You know how much I love him.  But it's not really about his looks.  He’s not perfect-looking.  Shut up, hear me out.  I love the hair, love the eyes (!), the body (hello), and the overall impression is very pleasing to the eye.  And he’s tall, which we tall girls like.  But his face is otherwise just very nice and he has some dental issues.  Sorry. It’s fine, it’s fine!  I have come to see it as cute.  YMMV, that’s just me.  Let me put it this way.  If he were stupid and not talented, but looked exactly the same, I could take him or leave him.

 

So how is he one of the hottest men I can think of?  I think it’s everything together.  The gestalt of him.  First, he’s got mojo for daaaays.  He seems beyond comfortable in his skin and has just the right amount of confidence.  And it's clear that he’s smart.  Not just smart smart, but he really knows what to do with what he’s got, in front of any kind of camera.  You’ll see what I mean, if you don’t already, in the pics.  I would imagine that photographers like him.  Based on what I see, my guess is that he’s not in need of booze and fluffing.

He's got a wonderful physical presence.  Each of DL's characters walks and moves just the way he should.  I get most excited about how Crews moves, on Life, because he gets to really take the bod out for spin in a way that he can't in some other pieces.  The walk, the leans, the cocking of the head, the way he holds himself, the way he holds a gun.  Most of you read my enthusiasm for one of the episodes of Life this season, where I was all clappy over his makeout scene.  I said, "You kiss just like Charlie Crews!"  And, IMO, he did.  It's a gift, the physical side of acting, and he has it.  It doesn't come from the muscles, it comes from the head, and it's dead sexy. 

Am I making my point?  I feel like I'm not making my point.  Which is...ok, you know that thing about how the brain is the most important sex organ?  Yeah, he’s the worldwide spokesmodel for that. 

 

There’s a lot going on in there, and that’s precisely why I love him as an actor, not just as icon material.  He’s got a fantastic range:  Life, Band of Brothers, Forsyte Saga, Keane, The Baker, Dreamcatchers *g*, etc….  So his characters are very different, but what many of them have in common is that there is something unseen.  Something that the character is acting upon --- and we’re meant to know that --- but it’s something not spoken. 

Think about how powerful a performance Dick Winters is, and how minimal it is.  (You know how I love minimal.)  Soames Forsyte is just made of repression, yet we “get” him somehow and even sympathize.  Charlie Crews is often outwardly goofy and cheerful, but we never forget his depths and his motivations.  Damian, as Charlie or Winters or Forsyte, stares into space and I’m riveted.  No dialogue.  Who needs it?  Sometimes it's a look or a pause or a cock of the head or a minute change in expression.  Sometimes you can't even really identify what it was that told you what you needed to know.  In any case, it's always beautifully pitched.  DL has that thing where he seems to know that if he thinks it, if he is it, it will come through on-screen.

 

So I’m saying the package is magnificent. Hey now, that’s not what I meant.  Although...

 

Still reading and not scrolling?  You really are my peeps, aren’t you. *sniff*  Ok, go on, get outta here.  Have fun….


 


I feel a little creepy for putting someone's little kid pictures up, but look at the way he's standing there!  You can see it already.


Big Movie Star


Or a rock star.  Hard to say.


This picture KILLS ME.  It's my men in motion thing.  A lean like that is what I live for.


*whimpers*   I'm going to run out of flail before this thing is over.


Mr. Nice Guy


Cute.  Is that Rhys Ifans? 


Aw. 




adorkable *g*


SWEATERS!


Well, mostly devastating eyes, but sweaters.


Why do I love this so?  Somebody explain it to me.




Tease.  He's a tease.  That there is the definition of teasing.  And I guess it's sorta his job.  And it just gets worse, watch.


Unh.

LEATHER.  Do you like my categories?


Look at all that ginger and all that ATTITUDE!  It's like no one has ever tried that combination before.




HATS AND GLASSES.


Holy mother of god.




SUITS!  This might be my favorite category. 






One.


Two.  OMFG.




Sex on a chair.


This photo responsible for many Impure Thoughts


Jackets. Come. Off.




Epic Collar Pop.


Walls.  Just me?  Ok.


NOW THAT'S JUST MEAN.


DID SOMEONE TELL YOU YOU'RE NICE, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT.


Don't give me those eyes, YOU ARE NOT SOULFUL AND INNOCENT.  You are an EYE FUCKER AND POSSIBLY SATAN.


Innocent?  UNCONVINCING.  Though you look kinda sweet just there.


Yeah, ok, I'm sorry.  The Satan thing was over the line.  

 

 


Comments

( 45 comments — Leave a comment )
[info]newredshoes wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2009 10:48 pm (UTC)
YES, I like your categories! And THIS, and -- and all of it. Yes. Mm. (And three cheers for tall girls! *fistbump!*)
[info]marymary wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2009 10:57 pm (UTC)
OMG, so hard to choose my favorite, but that's one of them. *g*

So glad to see you here! *hugs*

Yeah. I love his wife, but she's teeny. We tall girls want to just line up all the couples in the world and rearrange everybody so there are enough tall boys for US.
[info]tuesday_suit wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2009 11:23 pm (UTC)
Sex. on a chair.

No fucking kidding.

Walls. Not just you. That is all.
[info]marymary wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 12:17 am (UTC)
Hee. I'm glad it's not just me.
[info]mary_the_fan wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 12:20 am (UTC)
Walls? Are you guys talking about walls?
[info]tuesday_suit wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 12:43 am (UTC)
You know what really makes a good wall? Paint. Otherwise it's just bare.

Well. You know what I'm saying.
[info]omphale23 wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 03:23 am (UTC)
JFC. I had seen most of them (my DL photo folder is a little alarming, given that it's only been filled in the past month or so) but somehow I have never run across anything with the cowboy hat and the sunglasses.

I keep trying to finish this comment and getting distracted. It really is the whole package with him, isn't it?
[info]marymary wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 06:11 am (UTC)
Yeah, my galleries are getting pretty fat too. I fill them up as I do picspams. And my computer...well as you might imagine, [info]mary_the_fan likes to collect CKR. We have many...

The cowboy hat's nice, huh? Bonus: neck porn.
[info]omphale23 wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 06:15 am (UTC)
*g* I'm not complaining, mind. There can never, ever be too much pretty on my hard drive. But that shot just stops me in my tracks. I can't decide if it's the hat or the neck or the way his mouth is open just that tiny bit.

*fans self*
[info]mary_the_fan wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 06:23 am (UTC)
I agree! When I found it I had the same reaction -- one of my absolute favorites. For me, it's the neck and the attitude.

Hee. Billy and Joe share a cowboy hat.
[info]omphale23 wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 06:25 pm (UTC)
Def. the attitude. I've said before, there is NOTHING sexier than arrogance that's entirely warranted. And he has it in spades.

They do! It's because sexy punk rockers can't afford more than one. Also, they're fucking like bunnies.

ps. Can I snag a couple of these for icon making?

Edited at 2009-02-01 06:28 pm (UTC)
[info]marymary wrote:
Feb. 2nd, 2009 12:17 am (UTC)
Sure, snag away! They're not mine. :-)

Speaking of which, I'd love to include credits but I don't have them. If anyone knows the photographers or publications, let me know. I need to make more of an effort to find out whose they are, cause I don't like feeling like I'm stealing.
[info]omphale23 wrote:
Feb. 2nd, 2009 02:14 am (UTC)
For some of them, at least, there's a whole list of articles and scanned photos here. I've seen the ballroom photos with credits there, for sure. And also a couple of the sweater photos. They're from 2004? Something like that, although I read through the article portal so fast that I might be getting them mixed up.
[info]marymary wrote:
Feb. 2nd, 2009 04:17 am (UTC)
Thank you!
[info]aunt_deen wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 05:07 am (UTC)
I am SO with you on the lean. And the flail picture right after it.

Sigh. I miss Life.
[info]marymary wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 06:06 am (UTC)
FOUR DAYS! Four days, baby. :-D
[info]gatsbyfan wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 09:31 am (UTC)
The leaning thing... woo boy. And I love the man in green. It really works for him. Even when its sort of silly golf attire.

I totally get what you mean. He's got that thing.

And I love that in almost every photo he's got that look... you just know he's thinking naughty things. And you really wish they involved you.

Damn, him.
[info]marymary wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 03:45 pm (UTC)
And I love that in almost every photo he's got that look... you just know he's thinking naughty things.

Precisely what I'm talking about. He takes his looks and makes them so much more.

And, given that many of his characters are pretty straight-laced or reserved or at least under-served (sex-wise), I consider it a gift that he works the camera for us like that.
[info]caersmane wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 11:01 am (UTC)
*sits down* Oh, good lord. I remember him in Forsythe Saga (omphale reminded me yesterday) but goodness, I've never seen these before. The, the cowboy hat and shades.... and the chair...and, and, oh my.
[info]marymary wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 03:48 pm (UTC)
Hi! Yes, you should always be sitting down for a DL picspam. *g* Glad I could provide.

Compared to other actors, he has a lot of photos out there, and they're good, huh?

There's actually a pretty good fansite/gallery out there. I'll look for the link and post it here.
[info]omphale23 wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 06:27 pm (UTC)
See? See what I mean? This is why the DL/CKR ficlet is so hard to write. How in the hell am I supposed to make it hotter than they each are all on their own?
[info]caersmane wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 06:29 pm (UTC)
Oh, I don't, I really don't know if that fic would be wise. It may kill people. Heart attacks, spotaneous combustion just at the seeing the pairing. It's...oh.
[info]omphale23 wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2009 08:06 pm (UTC)
And let's just say that Mary's not the only one with a Thing about walls. DL/CKR is officially my ultimate crackish RPS pairing, just because of the utter unbelievable chemistry they would have.
[info]jennlavigne wrote:
Feb. 2nd, 2009 06:15 pm (UTC)
My students are wondering why my eyes are watering right now...
Between the laughing at your comments and the ridiculous hotness of the pix themselves, I'm not sure I should say anything. This is the icing on my day - thank you, thank you, thank you....
[info]marymary wrote:
Feb. 2nd, 2009 06:19 pm (UTC)
Re: My students are wondering why my eyes are watering right now...
Now I'm laughing thinking of you laughing. :-)

Ridiculous hotness is exactly it! I love the way you put that. Some of the pics are just pretty, but some of them make me want so say to him, "Oh COME ON!"

He has no pity. Satan, I tell you.

Edited at 2009-02-02 06:22 pm (UTC)
[info]misreall wrote:
Feb. 3rd, 2009 04:45 pm (UTC)
Oh Christ if that is Satan I just hope I can be bad enough for him........I bet I can......

There is a contained quality to most of his performances that I find deeply compelling. Weird as it may sound while I find him to be at his hottest playing Charlie, and his most lovable as Winters, I find him the most desirable as Soames. Clearly I am unwell, but there is something about the painful need of the character (and the hatefulness of Irene) that makes me want to, um, do something for him.
[info]marymary wrote:
Feb. 3rd, 2009 04:59 pm (UTC)
Ha. Well said.

Though I'd take Charlie over Soames, I do know what you mean. Forsyte is so interesting to me, mostly because of Soames/Irene's deeply disfunctional relationship AND because of their relationships to the viewers. I think the piece messes with us a little bit, in terms of our emotions and allegiances, culminating with a certian scene involving a bed and clothing. Given the that kind of depth and complexity, I think he was the perfect person to play that role.
[info]misreall wrote:
Feb. 3rd, 2009 05:05 pm (UTC)
Whenever I watch it I think of the MaryMary rule about the way to make an unlikeable character likeable is through casting someone that the audience is going to instinctively side with. Soames is often like some kind of reptile man, and yet I find myself desparately wanting him to break free of his contraints, and be the human being inside. And that is a reflection on the acting, not on his physical beauty.

I agree, by the way, that he is not exactly gorgeous in a conventional way. Which is good, as I have little use for pretty boys, and I think makes him more beautiful. It is like Christian Bale, feature for feature his face is not great, but put it together, and put some ideas behind it, and you have that rarest of commodities in film, masculine grace.
[info]marymary wrote:
Feb. 3rd, 2009 05:20 pm (UTC)
*g* It's called the Ted Danson Effect, and I didn't invent it, but I did name it. (Obviously, after listening to an interview with the creators of Cheers on why they cast him.) Yeah, I think that often if a character is mostly mean and does mostly bad things, and yet you still find some part of you sympathizing with him, they've probably cast someone who is innately likable.

I think it can also be purposeful --- an actor skillfully creating a multi-layered character --- but when you have both a good guy and a subtle, complex performance that's the best. You get something like Soames Forsyte.
[info]marymary wrote:
Feb. 3rd, 2009 05:23 pm (UTC)
Another good example.
[info]misreall wrote:
Feb. 3rd, 2009 04:52 pm (UTC)
By the way, as the daughter of a life long golfer, I can tell you it takes supernatural powers to make golfing hot, and yet he has acheived this.

Can finding the sex in knitting be far behind? I think not.
[info]marymary wrote:
Feb. 3rd, 2009 05:03 pm (UTC)
:-) I had my feelings about men and golf challenged sometime last year, when I discovered that a certain Canadian is an avid golfer. Yes, it is now hot to me. especially when played in kilt

There's actually another really cute shot from that same golf tournament. Must find.

And I really need to post the radio interview...you'll like it.
[info]kathyv wrote:
Aug. 28th, 2009 04:13 am (UTC)
What category would you put this photo into? I think this one is all about "the eyes!" It was taken (with permission) by an amateur photographer who bumped into the Lewis Family enjoying a day at the zoo. What a lucky photographer and what a lucky shot!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rschapplephotography/3838110874/
[info]marymary wrote:
Aug. 31st, 2009 03:50 pm (UTC)
Hey! Sorry it took me so long to reply.

What a great shot! He is amazing in front of a camera, isn't he? Thanks so much for bringing this here!
[info]cinnamongirl74 wrote:
Aug. 31st, 2009 03:57 pm (UTC)
Love it!
Very cool montage of deliciousness! I love DL! He is, by far, my favorite actor, just above James Cagney (another redhead, hmmmm...). I just got Season 2 of Life, and I almost don't want to watch it because I know there will be no more of it, and I'm truly going to miss that wonderful little gem! I've seen many of these pics, but you put them together so nicely. :) Thanks for posting!
[info]marymary wrote:
Sep. 10th, 2009 01:27 am (UTC)
Re: Love it!
Thank you! What a lovely surprise to see your comment in my inbox. (Sorry it took me so long to get back here to say thanks!)

Yeah, I just broke open my Season 2 DVDs and watched some of it -- sad but worth it. I actually saw things I hadn't seen before. I'll really miss that show.

Thanks for coming by!
(Anonymous) wrote:
Sep. 19th, 2009 06:39 pm (UTC)
Love it and a great thanks!
Dear Marymary,

I just want to say thanks for this great and enjoyable read! Am German but watched Life in original language. So, your thread helped me through it! And: If I haven´t been a fan before I would have been it now!

Thanks so much!

[info]marymary wrote:
Sep. 20th, 2009 03:52 am (UTC)
Re: Love it and a great thanks!
What a nice surprise! Thanks for all the kind words! It was great that you took the time to comment. If and when Damian Lewis comes back to TV, I'll start typing about him again. :-)

This is why I leave my journal unlocked, so wonderful people like you may wander in. <3
(Anonymous) wrote:
Sep. 20th, 2009 05:45 pm (UTC)
Re: Love it and a great thanks!
Then I hope for a soon and fast TV-presence (a Life series 3 would be to much to hope for I guess) of Mr. Damian Lewis to get more of your comments and interpretation!

When I read about the flattering pants exactly that was the moment you got me!

Again, thanks for all the pleasure!
[info]buffyaddict_fic wrote:
Oct. 1st, 2009 07:24 am (UTC)
OMG THIS IS GORGEOUS. and by "this" i mean HE IS GORGEOUS.

thank you for this. *saves to memories*

*drool*

p.s. his eyes should be illegal. but i'm glad they're not.
[info]marymary wrote:
Oct. 8th, 2009 02:39 pm (UTC)
Hi! Sorry it took me so long to reply. I'm glad you found my journal and I'm glad you liked the picspam! DL is always a mood-enhancer for me. :-)
(Anonymous) wrote:
Dec. 13th, 2009 06:07 pm (UTC)
It's nice to know that there are people out there that understand!
Thanks!
[info]imagines wrote:
Mar. 9th, 2010 03:16 pm (UTC)
HELLO. My friend just hauled me into Band of Brothers, and when I started freaking out over WINTERS, she showed me this post.

I love you so much, even if I have to blame you for making me want to do nothing but stare at him all the time. Holy god.
[info]marymary wrote:
Mar. 9th, 2010 04:04 pm (UTC)
HI! You're so sweet! I'm really flattered that someone suggested you come here, and delighted that you like the post. :)

Ha ha, yes, I know about getting lost in a picspam. Sorry about that. :)
(Anonymous) wrote:
Apr. 19th, 2010 08:10 am (UTC)
What can I say. This man is magnetic. The first time I saw him was in Life and have been hooked ever since.
Love love love the pics you have put up of him.
( 45 comments — Leave a comment )