NEW YORK, N.Y. – Those who found themselves glued to the TV for the first season of “Homeland” don’t have to worry. At the show’s second-season premiere on Friday, the cast promised more intensity, twists and turns.

“The paranoia, anxiety quotient is cranked way up,” actor Damian Lewis said.

On “Homeland,” Lewis plays a U.S Marine named Nick Brody who was a prisoner of war in Afghanistan. The federal government and the public see Brody as a war hero, but a CIA operative named Carrie Mathison, played by Claire Danes, believes he was turned by the enemy and is now a threat to the U.S.

The show won the 2011 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series Drama. It’s also up for a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Drama Series. Lewis, 41, and Danes, 33, also are nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress for their work.

Danes said no matter what happens at the Emmy Awards, it really is an honour to be nominated.

“It is. It really is, and it really is an honour for the show to have been acknowledged in such a big way so soon after its release,” she said. “Usually it takes time for people to discover it and appreciate it so I think we all felt particularly lucky in that respect.”

Besides the obviously compelling story about whether there’s a domestic terrorist on American soil, many fans still find themselves rooting for a possible relationship between the show’s lead characters. Lewis and Danes said they can understand why.

“It’s a kinky romance, but it’s pretty sexy,” Danes said. “It’s a little star-crossed-lovers-ish. It always works.”

Lewis added: “I think they see these two broken-winged birds just sort of hobbling around, circling around each other and they want them to be happy.”

“Homeland” returns for its second season Sept. 30 on Showtime.

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Alicia Rancilio covers entertainment for The Associated Press. Follow her online at http://www.twitter.com/aliciar

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