TV and stage star Damian Lewis was cheered by thousands of fans as he performed with his band at the Latitude music festival on Friday.

Lewis, 53, played his guitar and sang his own songs at what he described as his ‘biggest ever gig,’ proving there was more to his talents than just his thespian skills.

The actor’s band had star billing on the first day of the annual festival at Henham park, near Southwold, Suffolk.

Lewis put in an accomplished performance, sharing jokes with fans in an hour long set in a giant tent, called the event’s Second Stage.

He earlier said that he was ‘really excited’ about playing at the festival where the line-up this year includes Duran Duran, Kasabian, London Grammar, Keane and Rick Astley.

TV and stage star Damian Lewis was cheered by thousands of fans as he performed with his band at the Latitude music festival on Friday

Lewis, 53, played his guitar and sang his own songs at what he described as his ‘biggest ever gig’ proving there was more to his talents than just his thespian skills

The actor’s band had star billing on the first day of the annual festival at Henham park, near Southwold, Suffolk

Lewis, whose TV credits include the US series Billions and Band of Brothers, said he was already booked to camp at the festival with his two children when he got invited to play.

He said: ‘It’s a huge privilege, I feel really grateful. There are potentially going to be up to 8,000 people there, that’s the biggest gig I will have played, so I’m really excited.’

In a statement on the festival’s official app, he said: ‘Latitude Festival holds a very special place in my heart.

‘It’s a festival we have attended as a family for years. There is something very magical about the festival; the site itself is glorious, and I’ve seen so many amazing artists there.

‘From busking on the streets of Europe to gracing the stage at Latitude Festival, this musical journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.

‘It’s a testament to the power of music and the unwavering support of my fans. This is undoubtedly the biggest show I’ve ever done, and I’m very grateful for this opportunity.

‘The Latitude audience is incredibly special, and I cannot wait to perform with my brilliant band!’

Lewis, whose wife Helen McCrory, died aged 52 in April 2021 has previously spoken about how music had ‘always been in the background’ of his life.

Lewis put in an accomplished performance, sharing jokes with fans in an hour long set in a giant tent, called the event’s Second Stage

He earlier said that he was ‘really excited’ about playing at the festival where the line-up this year includes Duran Duran, Kasabian, London Grammar, Keane and Rick Astley

Lewis, whose TV credits include the US series Billions and Band of Brothers, said he was already booked to camp at the festival with his two children when he got invited to play

He said: ‘It’s a huge privilege, I feel really grateful. There are potentially going to be up to 8,000 people there, that’s the biggest gig I will have played, so I’m really excited’

He told the BBC earlier this year: ‘I used to hop on my motorbike and go around Europe and busk in the summers when I was starting out as an actor.

‘I was approached… I was singing on the radio, something a few years back, and got approached – ‘would you be interested in doing something?’

‘Before I knew what was happening, I was writing a record and then I had a band and was going on tour. It’s been a happy series of accidents.’

Lewis played King Henry VIII in the BBC drama Wolf Hall, and is due to appear in the forthcoming sequel The Mirror and the Light.

He described his band’s debut album, Mission Creep, as a ‘rootsy, jazzy, rock’n’rolly, singer-song writery-type’ record in an interview with The Guardian in 2022.