Damian Lewis Dishes On First Fan President Obama And The UK State Dinner

A sensational night: The Homeland star was surprised to be seated at the Head Table, and reveals that the President sneaks his TV time...
Homeland star Damian Lewis says that being seated across from his #1 fan, President Obama, and Prime Minister David Cameron at last week's State Dinner made for "a sensational, unforgettable evening." (Above: Lewis arriving for the dinner)

The President, Lewis told TV Guide Magazine, had "a great sense of humor," and promised to give insider details about foreign policy so Season 2 of the critically acclaimed Showtime series will be accurate.

While aware that the President loves his show, the British actor said he had no idea he'd be dining on Bison Wellington while seated across from the President and beside billionaire Warren Buffet. He attended with his wife, Helen McRory.

"I went down onto the South Lawn into the marquee with my wife and we were looking for Table 20, and we thought we'd be by the toilets or something," Lewis said. "And it turned out we were sitting directly opposite the President at his table." (Above: Lewis is third from left, across from the President and Cameron, and beside Buffet)

The toilets, as it happens, were very fancy port-o-lets, complete with running water, located behind the huge dinner pavilion, which featured a 150-foot window looking out onto the dramatically lit South Lawn. The theme of the decor was "America's Backyard."

The President wanted to discuss Homeland, Lewis said.

"Not in any great detail, but I did sort of joke with him that the creators of the show had asked him to give us a heads up on any foreign policy moves so that we could just stay current with Season 2," Lewis said.

"And he looked me straight in the eye and said, 'I'll be sure to do that.' Didn't bat an eyelid. I found he had a great sense of humor."

The President sneaks time for his Homeland viewing...
As he arrived for the dinner, Lewis told the press corps that he was going to ask President Obama when he actually has time to watch Homeland. The star got his answer.

"He said 'Michelle goes out with the kids and they play tennis on a Saturday afternoon. I tell her I'm going to work and then I go in my room and watch Homeland,'" Lewis said.

TV Guide reported the plot points the President can look forward to in Season 2 of Homeland: The action picks up about six months after the finale, said executive producer Howard Gordon, and Carrie (Claire Danes) is pulled back into the CIA. Saul (Mandy Patinkin) is working in Beirut. The relationship between Carrie and Brody will continue to be explored, said executive producer Alex Gansa. (Above, as he chatted with reporters during his arrival, Lewis pointed to his wife's gown and announced that it was designed by British couturier Jacques Azagury)

The full guest list. For links to all posts about the Cameron Official Visit and State Dinner, CLICK HERE.

*Lewis photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama; tent photo by Pete Souza/White House

Damian Lewis: When Does President Obama Have Time To Watch TV??

UPDATE: Lewis tells all
Damian Lewis, the UK-born star of the Showtime series Homeland, a show President Obama has dubbed a favorite, said he was very excited to be on the list of more than 326 guests for Wednesday's State Dinner. He brought his wife, actor Helen McRory. They chatted with reporters as they arrived at 7:00 PM through the Booksellers entrance in the East Wing.

Lewis said it was "thrilling" to know that his show is one of the President's must-views. He plays a US Marine sergeant who is a suspected terrorist.

"When does he have time to watch TV?" Lewis quipped about President Obama, adding "that's what I'm going to ask!"

McCrory's gown was designed by Jacques Azagury, which Lewis pointed out to the reporters.

The guest list had a major contingent of luminaries, including George Clooney, who was seated beside First Lady Obama at the Head Table, Sir Richard Branson, Warren Buffett, Anna Wintour, Harvey Weinstein, Rory McIlroy, Elizabeth McGovern and Hugh Bonneville, and Justice Antonin Scalia. THE GUEST LIST.

The "Winter Harvest" dinner was served in a huge dramatically pavilion at the bottom of the South Lawn; THE MENU, and CLICK HERE for links to all posts about the Official Visit of Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Mrs. Samantha Cameron.

*Photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

President Obama Invites Damian Lewis, Star of Terrorist Thriller "Homeland," To State Dinner

Lewis and PM Cameron share an alma mater...
UPDATE: Lewis dishes on his evening
After overseeing the death of Osama bin Laden last year, President Obama revealed that one of the TV shows he loves is Showtime network's Homeland, a drama/thriller about a Marine sergeant who becomes a terrorist after 8 years in captivity in Iraq. British actor Damian Lewis stars as the turncoat Marine, and he has announced that he's been invited to Wednesday's State Dinner in honor of British Prime Minister David Cameron. Lewis said he'll be bringing his wife, actor Helen McCrory, to the White House. (Above: Lewis in a Homeland publicity shot)

Lewis, 41, revealed his Presidential invitation on Friday during a TV appearance with BBC chat show host Graham Norton. He said he landed a coveted spot on the guest list because President Obama is a huge Homeland fan.

"It turns out it is his favorite show," Lewis said. "But the big news is that he has invited me to the White House for dinner. I am going with Helen my wife to dinner next Wednesday. I am going to fly to Washington, have dinner and fly back."

Homeland cleaned up at the Golden Globes awards in January. Lewis plays Sergeant Nick Brody, who is running for Congress after returning to the US and being hailed as a war hero. His co-star is American actor Claire Danes, who plays Carrie Mathison, a bipolar CIA agent who is on a mission to expose Brody as a terrorist. Danes will likely be at the State Dinner, too. The show won Best TV Drama at the Globes, and Danes won Best Actress. The White House will reveal the full State Dinner guest list on Wednesday afternoon. (Above: The co-stars at the Golden Globes telecast)

Of the State Dinner, Lewis added: "There will probably be a 1000 of his [Obama's] closest friends but I don't care. I am going."

The guest list will more likely run between 150-200 people. Lewis' first breakout roll on screen was in filmmaker Steven Spielberg's acclaimed World War II drama series Band of Brothers, and the director, a longtime Obama supporter, could be on the State Dinner guest list, too.

Lewis describes his invitation in this clip:



President Obama last year told People magazine that his TV tastes are "a little darker" than those of his wife and children, and named Homeland and Boardwalk Empire as his must-sees, in addition to sports programming. Damian Lewis attended Eton, Mr. Cameron's alma mater, reports The Independent, where he was five years behind the Prime Minister.

Mr. Cameron arrives in Washington on Tuesday, and the President will be taking him to watch an NCAA mens' college basketball tournament in Dayton, Ohio, ahead of Wednesday's formal events. They'll watch Mississippi Valley State vs. Western Kentucky in the first-round of competition. First Lady Michelle Obama will host Mrs. Samantha Cameron for a special Let's Move! mini-Olympics event at American University in Washington, DC, on Tuesday afternoon.

The President and Mrs. Obama's most recent formal dinner was the "A Nation's Gratitude Dinner" in February, in honor of veterans of the Iraq war.

*Top photo courtesy of Showtime