He"s at his dastardly best as Soames in the ITV adaptation of the second part of The Forsyte Saga -- and actor Damian Lewis loves playing the villain. ...

Daily Star, June 1, 2003

Q: would you say Soames is really all bad?

A: He's a misogynist who raped his wife -- but it's not as simple as villain and victim. I like to make my baddies complex -- and I like the audience to have sympathy for evern the worst of bastards. It's more challenging.

Q: But he's hardly a likeable character, is he?

A: No -- but he always provokes a reaction -- and that's exactly what I wanted. Some people come up in the street and say: "Oh poor you, wasn't she a bitch!" and others come up and tell me I'm disgusting!

Q: So who would be your favourite baddie?

A: Fagin in Oliver Twist -- so I can go "Bullseye!"

Q: Was it odd playing someone much older?

A: It is a worry to see what you might look like. I find the whole question of the passing of time very emotional -- watching older people and hearing about their shared experiences. Nostalgia is very bittersweet and moving.

Q: How was it with gorgeous Emma Griffiths Malin as your daughter?

A: I thoroughly enjoyed playing opposite Emma. It's not hard to look lovingly at her in lots of different ways! I had to make sure I came across as paternal. I just imagined her as 19 and him as 60 and I was fine.

Q: We hear you are fast becoming a heart-throb in America.

A: Ha, obviously! I must say the first series of The Forsyte Saga has done well in America. I get recognised for it as much as Band Of Brothers and Dreamcatcher. Yes, I think I'm a heart-throb -- but there's been no knickers in the post as yet.

Q: So, what is going to be coming up next for you?

A: I've been working on An Unfinished Life with Jennifer Lopez, Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman. It's the story of 700 mail-order brides who were sent out to the new world in 1922. I play the lead bride -- no, I actually play an American war photographer.

Q: And how is working with J.Lo?

A: She has a very big trailer -- a mobile mansion in fact -- and I don't. But then, she has a perfect arse! She's very sweet and there's no sign of any diva behaviour so far.

The Forsyte Saga is on ITV on Sunday nights at 9 pm.

Callout: "There's been no knickers in the post.".