'It looks like I'm deep in thought, but I'm just trying to remember my next line': Damian Lewis on his Emmy-winning Homeland role

PUBLISHED: 13:58 EST, 26 October 2012 | UPDATED: 16:36 EST, 26 October 2012

He's won plaudits for his role in Homeland and now Damian Lewis has revealed the secret behind his award-winning acting.

The 41-year-old star insists that his brooding intensity as Agent Brody is actually a result of his bad memory.

What a bomber: Homeland actor Damian Lewis models five variations of the bomber jacket in the latest GQ

He told the November issue of GQ magazine: 'I know it looks like I’m thinking deep thoughts on the show, but I’m probably just trying to remember my next line.'

He plays a former U.S. Marine-turned-terrorist in the Showtime hit and earned a best actor Emmy for the part earlier this year.

Of his character, he said: 'He’s a lot of fun to play because he behaves badly in extremes.'

Let them eat cake: Damian dons a classic brown bomber jacket for the GQ shoot

New issue: Damian appears in the November issue of GQ

His co-star Claire Danes also earned an Emmy gong for her role as troubled CIA agent Carrie.

The British-born actor revealed that playing an American on screen is starting to rub off on him in real life.

'At this point, I don’t know what accent will come out when I order coffee in the morning,' he said.

Lewis puts his modelling skills to work in the glossy magazine, posing in a fashion spread for bomber jackets.

Lewis, who also starred in Band of Brothers, has previously said he's enjoying his success after years in the industry.

'I just feel incredibly lucky,' Lewis told HuffPost TV of the critical reception of Homeland.

'And also at the same time a little bit smug because a lot of hard work paid off.

'That the show was a success so immediately I think it surprised us all. It was right out of the gates, everyone was talking about it.'

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*Agent* Brody? I'm guessing that whoever wrote this piece hasn't watched Homeland.

- Chris , Peterborough, United Kingdom, 27/10/2012 03:07

Click to rate Rating 319

This reminds me of Friends when Joey shares his 'smell the fart' method of remembering lines for Days of Our Lives!

- perhapsaverage , Manchester, UK, 27/10/2012 01:23

Click to rate Rating 102

Vicious pixie, Tom Hiddleston is currently making ovaries explode over here (the term used in my daughters tumblr universe). As for Mr. Lewis, I love gingers and he is my favorite one.

- Lisa , Albuquerque, 27/10/2012 01:08

Click to rate Rating 71

vicious pixie; Don't forget John Mahoney (Frasier's dad). He was born in England and moved to the US when he was in his teens. He joined the US Army to speed up his citizenship process and forced himself to adopt an American accent so his fellow soldiers wouldn't harrass him. He's pretty much dropped entirely his English accent. Besides playing Frasier's dad on the show of the same name he's been in numerous other television shows and movies.

- Mike , Marshall, 27/10/2012 01:00

Click to rate Rating 42

Fabulous actor! He keeps you completely enthralled when he's on screen. Homeland is a fantastic show made that much better by world class acting from Damian Lewis and Claire Danes.

- Audrey , Orange County, United States, 27/10/2012 00:24

Click to rate Rating 233

Sex on legs.

- Chloe , London, 27/10/2012 00:13

Click to rate Rating 129

Hello Damian ... mmmm .... nom.

- sarah , Tamaki Makaurau, New Zealand, 27/10/2012 00:08

Click to rate Rating 84

I find it funny that Damian Lewis in Homeland, Dominic West in The Wire and Hugh Laurie in House, all playing quite serious, intense very American Americans are all ex Etonians! All brilliant though!

- CharlieGirl , London, United Kingdom, 27/10/2012 00:01

Click to rate Rating 171

His clothes don't fit him.

- karezza , Belfast, United Kingdom, 26/10/2012 23:55

Click to rate Rating 36

DOES this seem odd - I could really see him a james bond but it may be too much like daniel ? :/ mmm not sure LOVE HOMELAND

- Thom , Leices, 26/10/2012 23:17

Click to rate Rating 56

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