“When I’m Dick Winters, I can do anything”: Damian Lewis Immersed Himself So Deep in His Band of Brothers Role That He Even Conquered His Deepest Fear Like a Breeze

23 years ago, the esteemed HBO show, Band of Brothers elevated television to another level entirely. While the Damian Lewis-led group of men mirrored the real-life events centering around some of the most climactic, tide-turning battles of World War II, the making of the series hides a much deeper and emotional truth.

Recounting the stories of a fearless airborne infantry regiment that was on the vanguard of the Second World War, Erik Jendresen’s Band of Brothers did more than just give life to their story – it painted a factually true account of the events so vividly that the show resonates to date for being one of the most accurate depictions of war and its impact on men.

Band of Brothers Boot Camp Doubled as a Life Lesson

For the cast of Band of Brothers, the first stop on the line was at General Dale Dyer’s boot camp. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, both producers on the show, were already familiar with the experience due to their partnership on Saving Private Ryan. However, for Damian Lewis, the boot camp was more of an eye-opener rather than a miserable punishment.

According to his journal entry on his first day at the boot camp, Damian Lewis, who portrayed the real-life veteran who led the Easy Company aka Captain Richard Winters, wrote:

I’m the lead role in this show, which is going to be seen by millions of people worldwide and has a budget of £86 million. When I’m Damian Lewis, I’m nervous. When I’m Dick Winters, I can do anything. Now that’s drama therapy.

By Day 9, Lewis had all but mastered his inhibitions and taught himself to rein in his fear of heights.

Today I’m going to jump off a 60ft tower screaming from the top of my lungs ‘One thousand, two thousand, three thousand, four thousand. . .’ After this, you’re supposed to open your chute. Looking up, the platform doesn’t seem so high. Looking down, I want to cry. I can’t hold on to anything because I can’t get any grip. My palms are sweating too heavily. A jump trainer edges me out. I look straight ahead at the horizon and leap into the void. I land about five seconds later. I’ve done it. Parachuting becomes addictive. Apparently.

Damian Lewis’ transformation into Dick Winters fully manifested at the exact moment his feet touched the ground. Later, the Homeland actor went on to pay tribute to his real-life counterpart by revealing how studying Winters helped him nuance his craft to serve justice to the veteran’s extraordinary story.

Band of Brothers is a Shade Apart From Other World War Stories

After spending the majority of the mid-20th century looking to the galaxies far, far away for answers, Hollywood turned over a new leaf in its cinematic history during the 90s by looking back at the world’s war-torn past. The years that followed echoed similar sentiments – the futility of war, the loss of life, and a shroud of hopelessness and despair.

Among such tragedies as Schindler’s List, Full Metal Jacket, and The Pianist, dramas like Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan stood out for bringing a sense of camaraderie and optimism even in the face of utter loss and misery.

While the Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks production led by Damian Lewis set a new bar for the war genre, the legacy of the series has left a lasting mark on the historical, cultural, and social memory of an entire generation of audience who witnessed the sheer morale needed to survive the atrocities that shaped the entire world less than a century ago.

Band of Brothers is available to stream on Netflix.