You’ll know Damian Lewis, 52, from award-winning roles in shows like Homeland, Band Of Brothers and Billions, but you won’t know him in his new incarnation as a singer/songwriter about to do shows with his own band. When his wife, actress , died he turned to music and came up with a bluesy, rocky, self-penned album called Mission Creep and – with the support of his children – he’s getting it out there.
Were people surprised when they heard you were releasing an album?
Er, yes… is the short answer. My close friends and people I’ve grown up with know that I play the guitar and sing.
I have a history of busking in and I used to go round Europe on my motorbike with my tent and play the market squares of the south of and Spain, but I’ve been a professional actor and very focused on that for many years and I think it will be a big leap in people’s imaginations.
When you were busking, what songs would you do?
Old classics.
I loved listening to 50s rock ‘n’ roll when I was a teenager sandwiched in amongst all the 80s synth pop.
I was down Kensington Market buying my drainpipe jeans and my paisley shirts and winklepickers with a quiff that was about three storeys high, because I thought I just might be and no one had noticed.
Busking, it was jeans and leathers because of the motorbike.
You’ve written the songs yourself?
I have. There are three covers on it but the majority of the album is mine.
I had attempted to write songs before when I was younger and busking but they were frankly appalling and none of them have seen the light of day.
Maybe that was a confidence thing, or maybe I was right and they were just rubbish.
You can’t come in at the top…
You definitely can’t. I want to be a proper gigging band. I want us to play smaller venues, get better, practise, learn what it’s like to be in front of a live audience.
Is it more nerve-racking to be out there as yourself?
Weirdly, I don’t feel more exposed as myself than I do sublimating myself to a role. When I’m on stage, I feel totally exposed.
I’ve been on the end of one or two reviews when the critics aren’t always kind so being out there as myself, I don’t feel more vulnerable. I might be lacking nerve endings.
Are you going to have a rock ‘n’ roll rider when you play Union Chapel in Islington?
Who was it that asked for everything to be white backstage?
No. We know our place.
A small towel, some water and a bottle of tequila and I’m very happy.
What do your kids think of this latest venture?
The first thing to say when you’re a performer is they much prefer you just being dad.
They don’t particularly want to watch me on TV and there was quite a lot of teasing when I first said I was going to start writing songs and make an album and be in a band.
But now they can see that I’m taking it seriously they’ve been very supportive. Scepticism and outright mockery has turned to something a little more sweetly supportive.
And what’s the music like? A Kylie euro-pop disco thing?
Yes. and should be very worried because this is going to the top of the pop charts [laughs].
No, this is not , this is what came out of me.
I think it’s quite rootsy because there’s a lot of storytelling in it and it’s quite bluesy and quite rock ‘n’ roll-y.
We’re influenced by JJ Cale, Neil Young… I would say Bowie and T Rex and obviously Elvis and Led Zeppelin.
If it’s a storytelling album, what are the stories?
There’s one about spies, there’s another one about meeting someone for the 
very first time and chatting her up on the streets of Soho and thinking I’d closed the deal 
and she got in the taxi and went home.
Is that based on a real experience?
Yeah, totally true story. And it makes me laugh to this day.
The album was written at a particular point in my life.
There will be people who know my history, so there are some tender personal songs in there as well, as you would expect.
It definitely reflects a period in my life. I don’t think you’d need to be Sherlock Holmes to figure that out.
But there’s a fun rock ‘n’ roll bluesy element in there that I hope people like.
And you’re coming back to Billions?
It’s out in August.
Acting’s not gone. I’m on my way to a film set right now.
I’m filming a comedy vampire movie called The Radleys, which is a lot of fun.
So, you’re keeping it fresh.
Sure. We’re not here for very long.
Mission Creep is out now on Decca.
Damian headlines Union Chapel in Islington on Tuesday (July 11)
