Interesting question. I guess I've never thought why Damien as opposed to other actors. For me, my Damien fandom started with Flight in Ripper Street but it was when I saw him in The Body of an American that I realised what an incredible actor he is. Damien brings an intelligence and sensitivity to every role I've seen him in or heard him perform. I admire how he has worked hard to achieve his dream of being an actor and shows that in the passion, emotion and commitment he brings to his roles.
And on a shallow note, he is pretty easy on the eye!
But why Damien and not someone else? Hmmm...perhaps no other actor has moved me to tears so many times as Damien has. Or that he makes even the tiniest gesture or facial expression become full of meaning and intensity.
Similar reasons, Certainly has made me laugh, cry and have butterflies as well as many emotional feelings. Commitment to role regarding researching to make character his own. Playing different characters which such emotion and vulnerability... As in Good Hal in turmoil in "No care, all responsibility" and Bad Hal in the opening scenes of "The Last Broadcast". First time I admired Damien was seeing Travelling Light on a whim, a random play as I was pasding loved it, and thought so talented.... I could go on, but will give other folk a chance...
I'm a Halcoholic. Pretty much all there is to say there. ;)
And I've loved many actors through the years. But I generally fall in love with a character, not an actor. The same actually holds true for Damien. I adore Hal. Because of this and the fact that I enjoy Damien's other work, I will support him in other endeavors, but nothing touches Hal for me. Which is good, because Hal will never change. ;)
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I am in agreement with wabbit. I usually fall in love with the character first and then the actor that plays that character. There have been several over the years for me. I think I've fallen hardest for Hal though. Losing Hal was like losing a loved family member for me. It sounds a bit crazy but it's true.
I will always admire Damien for helping to bring me Hal and I enjoy his other work too. He's super talented and as others have said, easy on the eyes. That face! The accent doesn't hurt either.
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"I should have left a clue. Like, I don't know, locking him in a cellar and tying him to a fucking radiator!"
I remember first seeing Damien in Travelling light and that was the end of that. It wasn't until a while later that when i saw something else Damien in that i remembered what i thought of that play and how good i thought he was, then once someone is in my radar i looked for other things that D had been in, and saw how conscientious, hard working and how the people he plays can make me feel. Of course easy on the eye but thats a given. I admire people who play diverse characters, and the research that goes into them...
As others have said it's the character you fall in love with then become a fan of the actor, but it was Albert Flight I fell for rather than Hal as I found Damien through Ripper Street first, then watched Being Human. I wonder if things would have been different if it had been the other way round! I always tell people that I'd marry Albert Flight if only he weren't a fictional character ;0)
I'm fan of many actors, but there's something about Damien that deserves special place in my mind and heart.
I first saw him in being human, I had to stop the first episode of the season 4 in middle cause I had to google him and found this forum. Then I found him on twitter and had courage to join in here and learn more.
I think the first thought in my head was that he's different. I mean, he seemed so real and there was many elements in his acting style that you don't see every day. He cherish atmosphere in the scenes, he takes control of the room, he do little things that are so natural and makes him realistic character. If the character doesn't have a back round or history he creates it, he has lots of ideas and he is incredible in improv. And yes, he's very good looking man.
When I saw him in other tv-shows and on stage, this patterns continues. He's also very lovely in person, I don't think I have ever been this interested about any other actor. I mean, there are some great ones out there, but Damien is true diamond and rising star. I'm so interested to see where his career takes him, how he develops as an actor, support him on his way, where ever that leads..
