As the year draws to a close, it is time to look back at all the incredible projects and performances we’ve loved and appreciated from our favourite actor and all the goodies we have been lucky enough to enjoy along the way.
The year also brought exciting announcements of new projects for Damien, including not one but two feature films, Kill Your Friends and Tiger Raid, a brand new TV drama Clean Break (all of which he filmed and completed this year and are due for release next year!) and new Tom Stoppard play The Hard Problem, a National Theatre production due to run from 21 January – 16 April and broadcast to cinemas across the world on 16 April next year.
The end of the year brought one final treat in the form of Damien’s first audiobook Raven, a whole 5 CDs of his narration released in time for Christmas.
We’ve truly been treated to a veritable feast of Damien delights and magical Molonian moments over the past twelve months that have frankly left our faces grinning and our heads spinning – please enjoy our round up of them all below.
2014 has been another year of incredible performances from Damien, a most gifted actor in many fields.
Here at the Damien Molony Forum it has been an honour to witness the ever growing recognition of our favourite actor’s versatile talent and to bring all the latest news and exclusives to our fellow fans across the world.
We could not have done this without the kindness of some very lovely people who have shown huge generosity in allowing us to share these with you all, most notably Suspects Series producer Kara Manley and the Newman Street Production team, FremantleMedia, Channel 5, BBC Radio 4 and Fantom Films.
As always, our biggest gratitudes go to Damien for continuing to share his talent with the world and allowing us to celebrate it and to his fans, who continue to appreciate it.
Huge thanks to all who have continued to read and support the Forum in 2014, here is to another year and the promise of exciting new projects and new characters brought to life by Damien in 2015.
Do you have a favourite Molony moment of 2014? Maybe a favourite TV episode or perhaps you were lucky enough to see Damien at the theatre of give a reading this year? Come and share your thoughts below and vote for your favourite Damien moment in our 2014 POLL!
I've voted for The Body of an American although Suspects series 2 was very close. It was the most incredible, moving, thought-provoking play and to get to be in the same room as Damien, seeing how talented he is in person was really special.
This feature took me two days to write - a testament to the sheer volume of work Damien has delivered this year. He has touched upon every area (no not like that, stop it) TV, Theatre, Radio, Audio, Film... such a variety, what a versatile talent. And not just quantity but quality, every project he is involved in.
Thanks for voting Rosie! It's understandable that TBOAA is your favourite moment - let's hope many more fans have the same experience in 2015 with The Hard Problem
I am yet to vote because it is so hard to pick an absolute favourite................
There were more personal special memories for me too, so it is hard to choose!
My virtual Suspects set visit with Kara Manley series producer is right up there - the invitation to "visit the set and meet everyone" itself was a top, top moment for me as a webmistress! While gutted I couldn't be there physically to meet everyone due to my health condition, the virtual set tour with Kara was one of the best moments of ...ever!
I was shown the whole building where Suspects is created, the different floors and sets, the rooftop (with Jack's step) the main office, Martha's office, Jack's desk (and jacket and pen! oh my god! Can you imagine! Yes I did squee!) the suspects boards (with storylines!) the hospital set, the reception car park and that fenced area, and other top secret areas. I also had a brief glimse of Clare (who was on her lunch so we didn't disturb..)
But the highlight? saying hello to Jack Weston himself!!!! It was an exciting moment - Kara said something along the lines of "here is someone you might want to say hello to" and my heart was beating fast because I heard a woman's voice say my name and I thought it might be Fay Ripley, of whom I am a bit of a fangirl, so was trying to keep it together, (looking back it may just have been Kara saying who she was talking to) but when Kara swung around the camera, there he was, standing full length right there. It was just a very quick hello but what a moment.
The experience was made even more precious by the fact that it was the penultimate day of filming and the schedule was more intense than any of us could possibly imagine, to say they were frantically busy would be an understatement, I felt humbled and extremely honoured.
I guess this is my top personal moment of 2014... I shall think on my favourite Damien project moment.
I have to agree with Rosie on this one and vote for The Body of an American.
1) For personal reasons. It was the impetus for me taking a whirlwind 8 day trip to the UK, partially ticking off one item off my bucket list (I say partially because in reality the bucket list says "move to the UK") I met 19 friends I previously only knew online (all brought together by Being Human/Damo), met Miss domino herself, which was a very special time despite the obstacles getting to her... and met Damien himself. 2 1/2 times. (that third day he was off in a hurry, only had time for a quick goodbye). And he turned out to be as gracious, down-to-earth, and personable as everyone has ever said and everything I've ever read suggests. The kind of guy you just want to naturally be around. And yes CLEARLY GORGEOUS. And William was a delight. I could have happily stood there listening to these two men speaking in their natural accents for hours. Everything surrounding the trip to go see The Body of an American was just an incredible experience for me, one of the highlights of, well, my life actually. I would probably rank it #4, after my wedding and the birth of my two children. Seriously. There was so much excitement, friendship, and warm welcome. It felt like coming home, like seeing old friends, like being enveloped in "rightness".
2) The production itself. In 2013 when Damien was in If You Don't Let Us Dream... I probably could have pushed for going to England, especially since I sent him quilt and would have wanted to be there to give it to him personally. But the details of that play just didn't appeal to me. However, as soon as people known to me left that first viewing of The Body of an American, singing accolades and exclaiming at what an incredible experience it was, I KNEW I HAD to go. Part of me was thinking "If I only meet Damien Molony once, I really don't want him to be so hairy." But, the details of how this play unfolds were just too tempting. And boy was I BLOWN AWAY. The setting - to have two incredibly talented actors weaving their magic mere inches from you, to be immersed so wholly in the story, in the moment. No distractions. At times mesmerizingly staring directly into your eyes; quite literally in your face! "I WILL OWN YOU!" The pace - such a roller coaster ride of emotions, the glimmers of humor in the face of horrors, the development of friendship, the go, go, go energy from the very first word uttered to the last. The talent - I at once wanted to touch these two men, to cuddle them when they wept (watching Damien cry in person is even more heartbreaking than seeing him cry as Hal), to ease the pain they convincingly portrayed, and yet at the same time I felt a transfixed reverence for them as they seamlessly wove in and out of accents, in and out of characters at a dizzying pace. I can tell you that this play, this production, still haunts me. I watched it 3 times (hey I had to make the most of a small window of time) and I could have watched it a dozen more.
See what you guys do to me, what this fandom does to me. I'm feeling a bit emotional now...
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papillon... pamplemousse... bibliothèque... un baiser A lilt in his voice. Every sentence like music... #kisskisskiss A terrible beauty is born. Love me some #Jacksass
For me it was Suspects S2. I was really excited about after seeing it filmed and meeting Damien, also because I fell in love with that show after S1. And the Jack chats was so much fun! I wish I would have seen Body of an American cause after all feedback it sounded so amazing experience! But I think after my first trip it's lot more easier to start to come by more often, now when I know how much it cost to travel there and everything.
My second one would have been Casting of NT project THP. It was sing for me that this is your change to see him on stage and you can't miss it!:)
after I've dried my eyes, i'm all emosh myself after reading your favourite moment from the year. I am so very glad and happy that you had the perfect most amazing trip to the UK this year, saw Damien performing live and met Damien himself...! And met so many of us! but most of all I am glad you and I had that brief but wonderful time where we met in real life!
Jozie, what a once in a lifetime experience you had this year when you came to the UK, the only fan who got to see some Suspects filming and meet Damien Fay and Clare in real life! just WOW! So exciting to hear about it, and for me it was a delight chatting afterwards (via facetime).
I think of all Damien's projects, Suspects has to be the most excited I have been this year.... do you all remember the build up to Suspects S1? and when we started seeing photos and promos for Jack Weston for the first time? and then when Kara M tweeted the forum all those BTs pics from Suspects 2 filming? and Fay and Clare? On a personal level, negotiating, receiving and sharing Channel 5 promo pics, and exclusive clips for the fansite was a total thrill. I know one is supposed to be all professional and aloof about such things but... truthfully, every single time Channel 5, fremantle or Kara sent something in our direction it felt such a privelege and an honour, so exciting and so many treats!!!
Wow, domino! That's a fantastic article! It's amazing to see all of this year's DaMo moments listed like that - he really has had a busy year! Every one of those events has had it's own little bit of magic......and it's wonderful that we still have the results of so much of this year's work to look forward to in the new year.
I doubt it'll be a surprise to anyone that my vote goes to TBOAA. To be honest I think it'll be difficult for anything to ever beat it! (except maybe if Hal was to return to my tv.....)
Whimsy has already said it all really - it was an incredible experience (even tho I didn't have quite so far to travel as she did!)......and a brilliant showcase for Damien's talent! I'd be hard pushed to say which time I saw it was my top moment, though - all three performances were different....and all three were excellent. Each visit was special in it's own way. The first time I had so little idea of what to expect, and the whole experience was really quite overwhelming...and I met Dan....and it was the first (I hope not the only!) time I actually spoke to Damien. The second time I met up with the BH bloggers - which is always fun - with the added excitement of meeting whimsy!! Hopefully it won't be too long before that happens again....I am sure it will one day! The third time I took my mum....and it was the aftershow talk, which I really wanted to attend - it was great to see Damien talking about his work! My mum wanted to see William Gaminara and I had the satifaction of seeing her totally convert to damoism! (she's not really been into anything he's done on tv - tho she had listened to him on the radio) And now I'm looking forward to taking her to see The Hard Problem at the cinema!
I do have to give a special mention to Raven - an audiobook narrated by Damien has been so long talked about and wished for that I can hardly believe that it's finally happened! And the fact that it arrived as a fully completed package....ready to pre-order, without any prior hints or clues or breadcrumb trails made it the perfect end to an exciting year.
There's just one more thing I'd like to add - although Damien wasn't directly involved he was definately involved tangentially! And that's spending a day in Cardiff and Barry with Jozie. I could never tire of visiting BH filming sites, and it was fantastic to be able to share it with you, Jozie. I had a great day - thanks!
Thank you fifi, I am happy you liked it
And thank you for sharing your favourite moment of 2014 and voting in the Poll - it sounds so magical! TBOAA certainly has left an indelable impression on those who were lucky enough to see it - the sign of good art.
It is wonderful to read the individual experiences from you all last year, Damien contines to be a generous and gracious man with fans, the play itself could not have been more intense or more gruelling to perform in night after night, Damien and WIlliam must have been exhausted.. I am grateful that he took moments to meet with fans.
The fandom as a collective also had quite the journey together and here at the forum as a group, didn't we?
The article list doesn't cover every nuance of the roller coaster ride we all had in 2014, every new photo, every new bit of news, every DaMo clue to a new project. We truly have much to look back on with a smile this year!