A WORLD-renowned photographer’s visit to Tring has inspired pieces in her latest collection.

A photograph of a pigeon skeleton studied by Charles Darwin taken in the Natural History Museum at Tring is one of the 64 images in Annie Leibovitz’s exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Called Pilgrimage, the exhibition, on until May, features subjects that have shaped the view of her cultural heritage.

Her research took her the homes of icons including Thomas Jefferson and Elvis Presley to take photographs of things she felt moved by.

She visited Tring in 2010 to see the research collection by the museum’s bird group.

Curator Joanne Cooper said: “After visiting Darwin’s home in Kent, Annie wanted to see more of the specimens that had been so important to his work.

“It was fascinating to help her work with them, telling her the stories behind them and how they had helped in Darwin’s research, and then to see how she approached photographing them.”

Described as “24 for grown-ups”, Homeland has already won a Golden Globe and critical acclaim. As the show begins in Britain on Channel 4, its main star Damian Lewis talks to Shereen Low about portraying a US marine sergeant suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and why he really wants to play Don Draper from Mad Men.

Damian Lewis has been up since 7am, but is on remarkably fine form – and has an admission to make.

“You need to know I’m in my pyjamas, clasping a coffee,” he reveals, chuckling down the phone from America, where the working day’s just starting.

The London native, best known for being in The Forsyte Saga, Band Of Brothers and Life, has made North Carolina his temporary home for the past five months to film new US TV series Homeland.

In doing so Lewis has made the ultimate sacrifice – being apart from his family, actress wife Helen McCrory and their two children, five-year-old daughter Manon and son Gulliver, four.

“North Carolina is a beautiful place and I like it here a lot. But I miss my family when they’re not here with me, although they were with me all summer,” he admits in his clipped Old Etonian accent.

“I also miss London because I love London – it is the greatest city in the world. I miss the culture, the vibrancy and bombing around on my bicycle from one place to the next.”

Homeland, the Golden Globe-winning psychological thriller, which also stars Claire Danes and fellow Brit David Harewood MBE, was created by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa – the brains behind 24.

“The parallel with 24 is inevitable, but this is far more of a psychological, political drama. It’s something we don’t see often – plus you need a black man and a redhead on a show!” he quips.

Lewis, pictured, plays US Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody, who has been held as a prisoner of war for eight years by Al Qaeda and presumed dead.

He is celebrated as a war hero on his return, but mentally unstable CIA agent Carrie Mathison (Danes) suspects he has been ‘turned’ into a sleeper agent and is now a threat to Homeland security.

“Ambiguity is a complex thing to play. You have to be lightning quick and nimble, there’s a mental and imaginative agility in the performance which is really fun,” says Lewis, 41.

“Inserting a bipolar disorder into the heart of a paranoid thriller is a brave move, as it conveniently allows us to judge Carrie. Is this man a danger to the United States or is she over-reacting? It’s intense. You’re going to love it!”

The series, which has been renewed for a second season, already has famous fans, with US President Barack Obama and his cohorts reported to have called in four DVD box sets.

“It’s exciting when you’ve entered the cultural zeitgeist in such a way,” says Lewis, who last worked in the US on the short-lived NBC cop drama Life.

“The Clintons are now watching it, and it’s gone right through to the top levels of the American administration. They’re all asking for box sets so they can see what their bosses are watching.”

But it could all have turned out differently as Lewis admits: “I very nearly said no to Homeland.

“My experience on Life, which I loved, was at quite a lot of personal cost, from a family point of view. That sounds a bit melodramatic - we’re all still together - but it was long hours working, with Helen sitting in the house with the kids.

“I wasn’t prepared for quite the workshop hours you work on some American TV shows, so I said to my agent I would do this only if it’s extraordinary and is on cable TV.”

The actor particularly enjoys his scenes with Romeo And Juliet actress Danes. “Danesy is whip-smart, extremely committed and focused. She plays that interactive Scrabble game, Words With Friends, endlessly.

“She has about five or six games going on with different people, and got half the crew doing it as well. It’s her way of relaxing.”

Like the audience, Lewis is kept in the dark about his character’s plotlines. “The fundamentals of my character were discussed but the details weren’t fleshed out,” he says.

“It’s fun getting surprises with the episode each week, like reading a novel. It keeps it fresh and interesting.”

The British actor - who attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company - did what little research he could.

“I spoke to soldiers, read a lot of literature, looked at documentary footage and tried to understand what it is like to be held as a prisoner of war.

To be authentic in its portrayal of Afghanistan prisons, Lewis had to endure routine torture scenes in which he was stripped of his clothes and subjected to gruelling punishment.

The scenes don’t affect him though, and he jokes: “It leaves me needing a beer! I don’t take my work home with me. I’m not that kind of method actor.

Lewis seems content with his lot, but there’s one person he’d gladly switch places with - Jon Hamm of Mad Men fame.

“I wish I had got the Don Draper role. I’ve got a little bit of a man crush on him!” he laughs.

]]> 1.3546104 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:04:20 +0000 http://www.tringtoday.co.uk/it_s_the_final_countdown_the_big_strictly_dance_off_is_this_weekend_1_3545202

THE final countdown to the big Strictly dance-off has officially begun and, with just a few days to go, practice sessions have gone into overdrive.

I was pretty impressed when I totted up the hours dedicated to dancing last week – 40 minutes on Monday, two hours on Wednesday, an hour on Thursday, an hour on Saturday, an hour on Sunday morning followed by almost two hours at the regular Sunday night class with our fellow enthusiastic dancers.

But as my ever reluctant dance partner Michael Carillo has put little effort into dancing for the last five weeks – that’s when he’s not trying to get out of it all together – we had a lot to catch up on.

And there’s been plenty of help – a private lesson with dance teachers Shirley and Brian made a big difference and we’ve had the benefit of rehearsal space thanks to professional fighter Denniston Sutherland, who has allowed us to twirl around his Hemel Martial Arts gym, and Boxmoor Lodge Hotel owner Andrew Rickett who has offered up the venue’s dance floor whenever we require it. This has saved us from many bumps around the living room.

And it looks like the dancing drive is about to get ramped up further – Michael woke me at 5am on Monday morning to suggest we rehearse before he headed off to work. I won’t tell you the reply he received before I turned over and returned to my slumber.

So far this week, we’ve practised together on Monday night and then attended a jive class on Tuesday evening in a bid to pick up some fancy footwork.

Dancers were given a run down on how the big night at Berkhamsted’s Centenary Hall will work during Sunday’s practice, which set the nerves off but we were all given a boost with some kind words from the lady who will be the lead judge on Saturday – director of nursing and clinical governance at the Hospice of St Francis, Alison Briant.

She told us: “You have been transformed from clumsy ducklings into graceful swans.

“To be able to dance two complex dances within a few weeks’ practice is amazing – you should all rightly be very proud of yourselves.”

She reminded us that we are all doing this for a fantastic cause and encouraged dancers to enjoy the night.

Senior community fundraiser Fran Martin, who is in charge of organising the event, is also full of praise.

“Not only have our lovely dancers had to learn their steps, they’ve also had to raise sponsorship money for the Hospice of St Francis too, and I’m thrilled to say they’ve excelled in both.”

The others making up the judging panel are Linda Venables, a former winner – along with husband Frank – of world, European, British, UK and international championships, competing in both Latin and ballroom dancing; Katherine Coburn, who teaches dance across South Bucks and is studying for a BA in dance; and Daniel Fox, a morning presenter on Heart Breakfast.

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