Damian Lewis left one journalist incredulous when he cut an interview short unexpectedly.
The British actor and musician, 53, was doing press to promote the return of BBC’s historical drama Wolf Hall after almost 10 years.
Lewis portrays well-known Tudor monarch King Henry VIII in the series, which also stars Sir Mark Rylance, 64, as Thomas Cromwell.
However, it appears he wasn’t so keen to stick around chatting, as a Radio Times interviewer discovered.
‘So this is a first,’ the write-up from reporter Ginny Dougary began. ‘My interviewee has walked out.
‘Not in a flounce or in uncontrolled anger but dead casually, as though it’s no real biggy.’
Dougary went on to set the scene, explaining that the one-hour interview was agreed in writing and to be done remotely with cameras on so the publication could use video clips to promote Wolf Hall’s revival.
Lewis, however, joined the call 10 minutes late with his camera off. When Dougary asked if he would mind making up the time at the end, he informed her that would not be happening.
She also wrote: ‘As a matter of fact, as he mentioned just before the interview started, he will have to “bail” 15 minutes early, thereby cutting our agreed time by half (reduced yet further when he pulls the plug).’
Dougary branded Lewis ‘cunning’ for doing so on the spot, when not much could be done to rectify the situation.
She went on to compare the traits evident in Lewis’s behaviour with those of Henry VIII, forcing her to question whether it was ‘method acting in reverse’.
Although, Dougary noted that Peter Kosminsky, whom she had also interviewed earlier in the day, behaved far more ‘reasonably’.
Reciting some of the things that left her with a sour taste after chatting to Lewis, she shared that he asked her to adjust her camera positioning, because he ‘wasn’t happy’ with it.
‘That’s better,’ he then told her.
Before speaking to Lewis, she asked director Wolf Hall director Kosminsky what the relevance of King Henry VIII is in 2024.
He replied: ‘Damian should probably speak since he’s playing Henry…’
When she put this question to Lewis, though, it didn’t take long for him to ‘turn’.
‘Well, I think that someone as historically significant as Henry VIII will always remain significant,’ he told Dougary, adding: ‘Unless your question is suggesting such an un-woke character as Henry VIII, shot through a sort of contemporary prism, should no longer be on TV?’
‘But I’d obviously have to reject that idea,’ he declared.
Lewis went on to profess his love of history and how he ‘read extensively’ about the Tudor period in preparation for the role.
Alas, when quizzed on his personal beliefs, he refused to elaborate.
He told the publication: ‘I was very clear that I wasn’t doing any profiles and it’s starting to feel a bit like a profile, so I’m going to jump off.’
And, well, that was that.
When the magazine piece surfaced online, readers branded Dougary’s takedown of Lewis ‘brutal’.
Others called Lewis ‘pompous’, while on Threads user said that while Lewis’s acting is ‘fantastic’ he ‘does seem like a p***k’.
Lewis’s half-interview comes after the BBC confirmed Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light would be returning to screens.
The first series was a major success and received eight nominations at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as three at the 73rd Golden Globes.
Commencing on Sunday, November 10, the second six-parter adapts Hilary Mantel’s third Wolf Hall book, 2020’s The Mirror and Light.
Watch Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light on Sunday, November 10 on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : British pop royalty made secret cameo in one of 2024’s biggest music videos
MORE : 90s pop icon hasn’t aged a day as appearance shocks fans on The Masked Singer
