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Jamie Dornan 'felt relieved' when he didn't get Fifty Shades role

Jamie Dornan 'felt relieved' when he didn't get Fifty Shades role

Fifty Shades leading man Jamie Dornan breathed a sigh of relief when he initially didn't get the role of Christian Grey in the raunchy franchise.

After auditioning for the role, Dornan wasn't the studio's first choice for the sadomasochistic businessman, as Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam was instead cast in the part.

But when Hunnam dropped out, due to scheduling conflicts and coming close to experiencing a "nervous breakdown", Dornan's name was back in the game, despite the actor previously being relieved he didn't get the role.

Photo credit: Universal
Photo credit: Universal

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"I was beaten to it the first time by Charlie Hunnam and I felt a certain amount of relief when he got it, to be honest," recalled the Northern Irish actor in an interview with GQ. "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."

Ultimately, Dornan went on to star in all three of the franchise's instalments opposite Dakota Johnson's character Anastasia Steele.

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

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The actor went on to mention the impact these movies had on his life and career, admitting that even though they were pretty much universally panned by critics, he does not regret taking on the role.

"Look, put it this way: it's done no harm to my career to be part of a movie franchise that has made more than $1 billion. Every working actor would say the same thing. It's provided – a lot. There's no shame in saying it's transformed my life and my family's life financially."

Before starting in Fifty Shades of Grey, Dorman was best known for his role in the show Once Upon a Time as well as being a Calvin Klein model.

Photo credit: Universal
Photo credit: Universal

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"I am very, very grateful for this and always will be," continued the 39-year-old. "And the fans loved it. Kevin Maher [the film critic] at The Times didn't love it – what a surprise!

"But 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."

Next up, Dornan will appear in Kenneth Branagh's new movie Belfast, due to hit screens in the UK at the start of next year.

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