Jamie Dornan gives a candid response to being recognized as Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. Based on E.L. James’ Twilight-inspired books, the story of Christian and Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) was eventually adapted to the big screen by Universal Pictures. Fifty Shades of Grey was released in 2015, followed by Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed in 2017 and 2018. While the movies were profitable for the studio, they were criticized for their screenplay and pacing. Unfortunately, it was also panned for the cast’s acting.
Five years since he last played the enigmatic billionaire Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, Dornan opens up about his perspective whenever he is mostly remembered for the said role. Speaking with Movieweb in light of his new Netflix project, Heart of Stone, the actor says he doesn’t really dwell on it because he can’t do anything about it. Read his full quote below:
“I honestly just don’t think about that. You know, I just don’t. If I thought about that, it would be sort of detrimental to everyone else around me and what we’re trying to do. I can’t control if other people have some sort of pre-ordained perception of me, what kind of characters that I’ve played, or the ones that they know of. If they can’t shake off other characters that I’ve done before and get themselves into what they’re watching, that’s on them. I don’t know. So, I certainly don’t worry about myself or give any thought to [that].”
What Jamie Dornan Has Done Since The Fifty Shades Franchise
Before starring in Fifty Shades of Grey, Dornan has already starred in a handful of movies, such as Marie Antoinette and Shadows in the Sun. However, he was mostly known for his work on the small screen, playing the Huntsman/Sherriff Graham Humbert in ABC’s Once Upon A Time and The Fall, opposite Gillian Anderson. Once he signed on to the Fifty Shades trilogy, Dornan focused on making the movies.
Once Dornan finished his three-picture contract with Universal, he starred in more major projects. In 2018, the same year that Fifty Shades Freed was released, he was in Untogether, A Private War, and Robin Hood. For the next several years, he appeared in Endings, Beginnings, Wild Mountain Thyme, Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar, and Kenneth Branagh’s critically-acclaimed Belfast. He currently stars and executive produces The Tourist.
Dornan’s approach is perhaps the best way to handle it. Unfortunately, the public will just associate him with Fifty Shades of Grey, considering that it is his most mainstream project in his career. However, seeing everything he has done before the critically-panned trilogy, it’s clear that he has so much more to offer than just playing Christian Grey.
