Damian Lewis has been criticised for his conduct during an interview plugging his new BBC series, Wolf Hall.
The British actor, 53, was scheduled to chat with Radio Times’ award-winning journalist Ginny Dougary to promote the return of the historical drama after nearly a decade off air.
As the show’s star, playing well-known Tudor monarch King Henry VIII in the series, Damian is said to have agreed to an hour-long chat.
But according to Ginny, the actor abruptly cut off his remote interview after turning up 10 minutes late.
When asked if he could make up the lost time, he decided to leave 15 minutes early.
Damian Lewis has been criticised for his conduct during an interview plugging his new BBC series, Wolf Hall (pictured on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg)
The British actor, 53, was scheduled to chat to Radio Times’ journalist Ginny Dougary in a bid to promote the return of the BBC’s historical drama after nearly a decade off air
Unimpressed with the actor’s abrupt behaviour, Ginny scolded him in her writeup of the chat, branded him ‘cunning’ and ‘controlling’ and comparing his behaviour to that of Henry VIII.
Documenting her experience, she penned: ‘So this is a first, My interviewee has walked out. Not in a flounce or in uncontrolled anger but ᴅᴇᴀᴅ casually, as though it’s no real biggy.’
Read More Damian Lewis reveals taking on the role of Henry VIII ‘wore him down’ but was also freeing 
She went on to reveal that the interview was organised remotely but pre-agreed to have cameras on as it was supposed to be recorded to promote the return of the series.
Ginny continued: ‘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).’
She went on to compare the traits evident in Damian’s behaviour with those of Henry VIII, leading to her to query whether his behaviour was ‘method acting in reverse’.
Despite her sour interview with Lewis, Ginny noted that director Peter Kosminsky, who she interviewed earlier behaved more ‘reasonably’.
MailOnline contacted Damian’s representatives for a comment.
Lewis’ scolding from Ginny came after he revealed that taking on the role of Henry VIII in the BBC’s adaptation of Wolf Hall wore him down.
Unimpressed with the actor’s abrupt behaviour, Ginny scolded him in her writeup of the chat, branded him ‘cunning’ and ‘controlling’ and comparing his behaviour to that of Henry VIII.
The actor confessed that he usually finds acting very therapeutic but found the role of the Tudor monarch exhausting.
The Homeland star explained that acting a character who can seemingly do whatever they please had moments of fun because life is not usually like that.
He told The Radio Times that it was a welcome contrast as he often found life could be grey and dithering.
He said: ‘Well, acting is therapeutic, for sure, but I don’t think you’d want to be playing these kinds of people too often because they do wear you down over time.
‘So, yes, there is a freedom, there is something therapeutic to be able to behave in whatever way you want, because any good drama most of the time explores us in extremis – our excesses, our greatest conflicts and our greatest triumphs – and life isn’t always like that. Life can be a bit more grey and a bit more dithering.’
Damian plays an increasingly paranoid King Henry in the hit BBC series
The star made the candid confession three years after the death of his wife Helen McCrory.
The Peaky Blinders star tragically died of breast cancer at the age of 52 in April 2021 and Damian channeled his grief into music.
The star wrote some deeply personal songs that have featured on his debut album Mission Creep which was released last year.
And the Billions star has been enjoying the change of creative outlet, spending time with other musicians and performing.
But Damian added that he will only continue with his music as long as there is public appeтιтe for it.
The star said: ‘It has to wash its own face,’ and added he would like to keep going if he can.
He also revealed that his new music career is a step up from his early days when he would perform on the street as a teenager outside tube stations.
Damian said: ‘I did a smorgasbord of greatest hits from back in the day. The Elvis medley went down very well.’
Lewis’ scolding from Ginny came after he revealed that taking on the role of Henry VIII in the BBC ‘s adaptation of Wolf Hall wore him down
The star made the candid confession three years after the death of his wife Helen McCrory (pictured together in 2020)
And the star has more than one string to his bow.
He told the publication he enjoyed the role of Henry VIII because it allowed him to immerse himself in the history of the period.
He said: ‘I enjoyed history very much. I enjoy the university of acting. You can continue to put yourself through an education if you’re careful and clever in your choice of roles; if you’re fortunate enough to have choice in the first place.
‘So, yes, playing someone like Henry VIII does open an opportunity to read extensively about Tudor history and that is certainly partly what interests me about the roles I take.’
