There’s a lot of pressure resting on Irish actor Jamie Dornan’s shoulders, as he has been tasked with bringing domineering, yet beautiful bondage practitioner Christian Grey to life in Universal’s “Fifty Shades of Grey” adaptation. But he’s not “scared” by the process or the risqué material.
“I certainly don’t fear it,” Dornan told Entertainment Weekly. “I already got a glimpse into working with [director] Sam [Taylor-Johnson] at the test, and I’d met [co-star] Dakota [Johnson] by then. So I had a glimpse into how I felt it would be if I got the part. None of it scared me.”
Also read: ‘Fifty Shades’ Author E.L. James on Her Book to Big Screen Success: ‘You Don’t Expect This’
Dornan, who stars opposite Don Johnson‘s daughter as Anastasia Steele, nabbed the high-profile part in October after “Sons of Anarchy” actor Charlie Hunnam unexpectedly exited the project. Dornan, an underwear-model-turned-TV-star, had already auditioned on tape, but never met with producers in person.
When his second chance arrived, Dornan flew to Los Angeles for a day-long audition opposite Johnson. He says the two re-enacted the initial meeting between Grey and Steele in author E.L. James’ book, followed by the books most climactic scene.
“There’s quite a lot going on in both scenes,” Dornan said. “The interview scene is sort of a condensed version of the journey that the two of them go on. There are so many layers in it. It’s a beast.”
See photos: Jamie Dornan Is Christian Grey: Meet the Sexy Star of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’
The movie hasn’t even entered production yet, but it has already given Dornan more exposure than ever. While he’s on his way to becoming a movie star, and has achieved every actor’s dream of gracing the cover of EW, he’s also beginning to face every movie star’s worst nightmare — the paparazzi.
“It’s happening, but not in an unmanageable way at the moment,” Dornan said. “I’ve been around it before and it’s ugly, but I’m glad I’m 31 and not 21, and married. I feel very settled. I’m not running in and out of clubs at 5 a.m. anymore.”