Tommy Tiernan Show recap: Actor Damian Lewis opens up about the death of his wife Helen McCrory
Damian Lewis spoke with Tommy Tiernan about his career in acting, losing his wife to breast cancer, and his move into the music industry. Picture: RTE One/Instagram.
Saturday night’s explored overcoming the grief of losing a partner, the fragility and importance of traditional Irish folk songs, and one TV host’s impressive career in chat shows.
Tiernan’s guests included actor Damian Lewis, singers Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill and presenter and comedian Clive Anderson.
Tiernan’s first guest of the night was actor and singer Damian Lewis, best known for his roles in and
The actor, who has a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of U.S. Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody in the series , spoke to Tiernan about his 25 years in drama and his recent foray into music.
Tiernan described Lewis as "the real deal”, asking him if he is aware of that, to which Lewis responded: “No, I don’t think so”.
Lewis said he feels confident when he does what he has been doing for the last 25 years but that he is very aware of when he has given his best and when he is falling short.
“I do have a great confidence as an actor that I can give something real and honest, if that’s the real deal. I don’t know,” he said.
Their conversation touched on Lewis' recent interest in music and his experience of writing and performing his own songs, with Lewis describing authorship as “empowering”.
Lewis reflected on the therapeutic aspect of acting and the emotional challenges of playing roles such as King Henry VIII in
“It is therapeutic to be other people, to pretend to be other people, and to live out scenarios in a different storyline through someone else that you might be less good at in your own life,” he said.
Lewis shared personal stories about his late wife, Helen McCrory, highlighting her bravery and generosity in facing her cancer battle.
Lewis said he was staying at a hotel in Dublin that he had last stayed in with his wife, and he had forgotten until he walked in the door and realised “the air is thick”.
“She was the best. She was incredible,” he said of McCrory, who passed away at the age of 52 after living with breast cancer for four years.
He spoke of facing the reality of death while keeping the show on the road and creating normalcy for their children.
“Helen’s incredible act of generosity was to normalise death for everyone around her, particularly for our children,” he said.
Lewis said her heart must have been breaking, but that she did that out of “incredible bravery”.
He spoke about his first acting job after his wife’s death, a show called , which he produced with his friend Alex Carey, and which went on to be nominated for a BAFTA.
Lewis described how he got into music, starting with a radio appearance and being introduced to jazz musicians by his manager, and spoke about how he feels his wife’s presence through making and performing music.
Lewis announces his upcoming performances in Limerick, Cork, and Dublin in October, inviting people to come and support him.
He later closed out the show with a performance of alongside the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, describing it as one of ten great joys in his career.
Tiernan’s second guests of the night were sisters, singers and composers, Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill.
Tríona spoke about how their parents met in the 40s, and growing up in a musical family influenced by traditional Irish songs and stories.
They spoke of their love for music and folklore, and a childhood where their father collected songs, stories, and prayers.
The pair spoke about forming a band in 1971, releasing their first album performing with notable acts such as the Chieftains, and touring England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, and the United States.
Maighread spoke of the serendipitous timing of their band's success and the influence of other musicians such as Andy Irvine and Lonnie Donegan.
Despite the band's success, they disbanded after a few years due to personal commitments, including balancing band activities with their studies and careers.
Having recently reunited and recorded 10 new tracks, they spoke of enjoying their music again and the enduring bond and unique harmony in their singing.
Showcasing their unique harmony, which they attribute to their sisterly bond, the pair sang some of their songs for Tiernan in the studio.
They touched on the unique stories behind their songs, with Tiernan describing their talent as “a rare thing we have access to”.
Tiernan’s final guest of the night was TV show host and comedian Clive Anderson.
Anderson discussed his career, highlighting his 10-year chat show on Channel Four and four years on BBC One.
He spoke about his transition from being a lawyer to hosting improvisation shows like and described the initial concept of his chat show as a spoof, gradually evolving into a more serious format with a focus on humor, as well as challenging guests.
Tiernan noted the element of disdain in Anderson’s interviews, to which he said he didn’t want to treat every actor and every author like this “holy person that has to be treated with kid gloves”.
He spoke about his enjoyment of hosting but said he has always done “too much preparation” for interviews, which he said he rarely used during the short conversations he has had with people throughout his career.
Anderson also mentioned his radio show on Radio Four, which he said he has hosted for about 15 years.
When asked by Tiernan if he is easily bored, he said he finds other people's lives more interesting than his own, humorously comparing himself to Tiernan’s other guests.
Anderson recounted a memorable interview with the Bee Gees, where a joke about their past name, The Les Tossers, led to tension.
He spoke about how the lead of the band, Barry Gibb explained that they had not always been called the Bee Gees, which Anderson said was news to him at the time, and went on to explain that they had previously been called The Les Tossers, to which Anderson responded: “Well, nevermind, you’ll always be tossed to me”.
Anderson discussed the challenges and rewards of hosting a chat show and what makes a good chat show host, noting that each host brings their flair and personality to the table, mentioning influential hosts such as Graham Norton, Michael Parkinson, and Frank Skinner.
Tiernan described Anderson as “gifted”, but Anderson humbly denied the acknowledgement and said he has “a very narrow range of skills”.
The conversation concluded with Anderson expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to be interviewed by Tiernan.
