'Homeland's' Damian Lewis: 'My biggest fear is the audience turning'

Zap2it: You have a posh British accent, which is nonexistent on "Homeland." Do you have to work hard to keep an American accent?

Damian Lewis: I wake up in an American accent, and I don't lose it until someone says "wrap!"

It is easy for me. I have played Americans so often since "Band of Brothers." I hope you don't think that's presumptuous, but I have an American skin. My accent is standard Received Pronunciation.

Zap2it: What part of England are you from?

Damian Lewis: I am a native Londoner. I went to a fancy boarding school, one of the posher schools, Eton. And I affected this mock one; I am not really that posh. It became known as "mockney" (mock Cockney), a fake accent. It was middle-class boys trying to be street.

Zap2it: "Homeland" is such a critical and audience success. Do you have any worries about the show?

Damian Lewis: My biggest fear is the audience turning and how fickle an audience is, and that in some way they will turn on us in a vicious and unforgiving way.

Zap2it: Could you characterize Brody's intentions?

Damian Lewis: Brody's mission statement at the end of Season 1 is "I want to use nonviolence." He has an earthly, corporeal love for his daughter. Hers is the voice that pierces through the mist; he has been a man under water. He chooses life at the end, and he thinks he can effect change in a nonviolent, political way. What Brody will discover is he is a man not in charge of his own destiny.