Homeland's Damian Lewis Meets His No. 1 Fan: President Obama

An encounter with Homeland star Damian Lewis may rattle the nerves of many a fan, but it was Lewis who had to keep his composure when he met one of the show's most unabashed admirers: President Barack Obama.
"It was a sensational, unforgettable evening," Lewis tells TV Guide Magazine of his recent visit to the White House. The British actor was invited to attend a state dinner honoring England's Prime Minister David Cameron on March 14 and was surprised to get some quality face time with the president, who made headlines when he admitted that Showtime's critically hailed terrorism drama was one of his favorite shows.
"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. And it turned out we were sitting directly opposite the President at his table," reveals Lewis. "We were sort of like guests of honor. The whole thing was very surreal and remarkable."
Lewis says that President Obama asked him about the series, "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. 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."
Some plot points the President can look forward to next season: The action picks up about six months after the finale, says executive producer Howard Gordon, and Carrie is pulled back into the CIA. Saul is working in Beirut and the relationship between Carrie and Brody will continue to be explored, adds executive producer Alex Gansa.
While appearing on stage at an evening celebrating Homeland at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Lewis told the audience that he asked the President when he found time to watch television. "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.'"
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