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Damian Lewis has been appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday Honours list.
The accolade recognizes both his contribution to drama and his charity work. During the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, Lewis and late wife Helen McCrory helped to found Feed NHS, a nonprofit that provided free meals to frontline health workers. Sadly, Peaky Blinders actress McCrory died of breast cancer on April 16, 2021.
Lewis told The Guardian after news of his CBE was shared Wednesday: "What a great honor to be awarded the CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to drama and for the charity work that I have carried out over the years and during the pandemic with my late wife, Helen McCrory. Thank you very much. She and I are both thrilled."
This is Lewis' second accolade from Queen Elizabeth II. He was previously appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2014.
Elsewhere in Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday Honours list, Coronation Street actors Helen Worth and Antony Cotton were both appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Meanwhile, author Sir Salman Rushdie and illustrator Sir Quentin Blake are both welcomed to the highly prestigious Companions of Honours list, which can contain no more than 65 members at any given time. They join current members including Sir David Attenborough, Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Judi Dench, and Dame Maggie Smith.
Are you pleased to see Damian Lewis being recognized by Queen Elizabeth II?