‘It’s treated like a joke’: Jamie Dornan reflects on Fifty Shades and admits he was ‘relieved’ when he first lost out on leading role to Charlie Hunnam
Jamie Dornan has discussed his mixed feelings on the Fifty Shades Of Grey film series, admitting he was initially ‘relieved’ when he lost out on the leading role.
The Irish actor, 39, starred as Christian Grey in the trilogy from 2015 to 2018 and admitted he was well aware of the bad reviews from critics, though takes issue with the franchise being treated as a ‘joke’.
Jamie was not the first actor to have won the role, with Charlie Hunnam, 41, originally cast opposite Dakota Johnson, 32, as Anastasia Steele.
Surprise words? Jamie Dornan, 39, was relieved when Charlie Hunnam, 41, was first cast as Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey, with Jamie saying the part was a ‘strange ride’
Yet when Charlie pulled out at the last minute due to scheduling conflicts, Jamie was the next star in line.
Speaking in the December issue of British GQ, he said: ‘I felt a certain amount of relief when he got it, to be honest. I thought, “This would have been fun, but it would have been a strange ride. Better not to be on that ride.”
‘But he pulled out and then I got a call. And I got it. And there we go. I had to confront that choice again.’
Brit pack: Charlie Hunnam was first cast in the role of Christian Gray but Jamie later won the role when the part was recast
Jamie added that he was warned that taking the role in the steamy movies would ruin his career, and he became very aware that many considered him taking the part to be a ‘bad choice’.
However, things worked out well for Jamie, with the actor saying it did ‘no harm to my career to be part of a movie franchise that has made more than $1 billion’.
Jamie explained the film, which grossed $569.7 million (£413.3m) worldwide at the box office, transformed the lives of him and his family.
Setting pulses racing: Jamie starred alongside Dakota Johnson in the trilogy from 2015 to 2018, which made $569.7 million (£413.3m) worldwide at the box office
While Jamie said he’s happy to brush off the bad reviews, he noted: ‘I take issue with the whole thing being just a bit of a joke. Everyone involved worked as hard as they could on those films, including myself.’
Speaking out: Jamie made his comments in the December issue of British GQ, out Nov 5
For his next role, Jamie is set to play Pa in the upcoming film Belfast, directed by Kenneth Branagh.
The project is a semi-autobiographical film inspired by BAFTA winner Kenneth’s early childhood growing up in Northern Ireland surrounded by a large extended family.
It is billed as ‘chronicling the life of a working class family and their young son’s childhood during the troubles in Belfast, Northern Ireland in the late 1960s.’
Jamie plays the character Buddy’s father in the new film, with Outlander star Caitriona Balfe taking on the role of mother.
Belfast will be released in be in the United States on November 21 and in the UK on February 25.
See the full feature in British GQ’s December/January issue available on newsstands Friday 5th November.
One to watch: Belfast – directed by Kenneth Branagh – is a semi-autobiographical film inspired by his childhood growing up in Northern Ireland, starring Jamie and Caitriona Balfe (pictured)
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