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Ben Barnes Takes Interview Magazine

Ben Barnes Takes Interview Magazine

Narnia’s crowned prince Ben Barnes will soon be filling the shoes of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde’s handsome protagonist who sells his soul to the devil to stay looking very much like Ben does today.

The British actor, who turned 27 last week, sat down with Interview Magazine to talk about upcoming films. Here are some highlights:

Looking at 15-story high posters of yourself (for Prince Caspian) seems like the perfect grounding for playing a character like Dorian Gray. There have been some very interesting parallels. I don’t really see the point in making a film unless you can think of a good reason to do it. We live in this celebrity-obsessed, youth-obsessed culture, and it just seems to make a lot of sense to make this Dorian Gray film right now. Especially for me, as somebody who’s…I don’t know if “on the brink” is the right term, but sort of at the beginning of getting attention from the media and from other people. Dorian Gray is also somebody who, at the beginning, doesn’t want to be looked at, doesn’t really want to be noticed, but then begins to realize the power of youth and the power of people wanting to be around him. Obviously it goes very dark, which I’m hoping in real life my part won’t. I suppose you have to be aware, on some level, of the attention being focused on yourself even to accept a part like Dorian Gray.

You’re really going for the iconic gay writers, aren’t you? Alan Bennett (History Boys), Noel Coward (Easy Virtue), Oscar Wilde… Sexuality is a topic that has huge shifts in society. Attitudes toward different sexualities change, but the actualy sexuality of a human being is something that consistent, and it’s consistently interesting, and so people write about it. But having said that, I think for all the characters I’ve played–obviously Caspian–sexuality hasn’t been the most interesting thing about them.

Then what was it like playing the husband of Jessica Biel in Easy Virtue? Actually, we were in the recording studio together just this morning. We were signing some songs together in this sort of ’20s jazz vibe, and it was so much fun. My character has to be in love with Jessica’s character like a puppy, which is not a very difficult thing to act.

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85 Comments

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I like him but he looks so ugly here.

OooH he is so sexy!! He is my 2nd man after Colin Farrell ^^

iLoveHIMTHOUGH @ 08/29/2008 at 4:18 pm

i agree 48,
Poor Ben, This pictures are terrible!!! -but no mention gay-
He must ask advice to Colin Firth and say no to ******* photographer XD, But I love him though…and still l think he is hot <333

Still a hot little piece of ass. And he’s far from gay. Trust.

Oh dear God. I’m In love.

daaaaaaaaaaaamn! <33

Trying too hard what!!!???? it’s the magazine’s and photographer’s fault he looks like that!!! and even with that ridiculous styling still he manages to look sexy and his face looks beautiful

GTFO with OB comparisons

My first reaction was he;s trying to copy Rob Pattinson. Its all a bit fake to me. But then he’s not a real star like pattinson. Rob radiates charisma and sex appeal. Barnes is a poor watery substitute.

how is he trying to copy robert pattison. ben is beutiful,much more better looking than robert pattison.

the_boyfriend @ 08/30/2008 at 9:54 pm

I didn’t know he was 27.

Can’t wait to see Dorian.

He’s gorgeous but the pictures are terrible. They made him look like every wannabe actor in LA, which he isn’t. They should have taken more gentlemanly photos…that’s what he seems like to me…a HOTTTTTTT english gentleman.

he isnt dating any1 he is married!

I heard that he is colorblind and married!

I heard that he is colorblind and married!

Well you two heard wrong.

LOL @ #58 that’s even worst than the Orlando Bloom or trying too hard comments! i’m agree Robert radiates charisma and sex appeal but he’s not more ~real~ than Ben WTF are you talking about? if by real you mean he’s capable of a better acting or he’s more appealing to the audience that’s merely your perception and has nothing to do with Ben as an actor or even as a man

Substitute of what? they’re both actors trying to make it and there’s room for both i don’t think Ben is a substitute for anybody! if you prefer Rob that’s fine but it’s ******* stupid how you’re implying he’s trying to copy Rob, have you ever seen Ben before this photoshoot? he’s not exactly a copy of Robert Pattinson they’re very different from each other

**** i’m bored i like those pictures more everytime i see them even if they’re bad

samanthastar @ 09/01/2008 at 3:52 pm

58
is Robert Pattinson a real star??- I think is apresured to affirm this.
I only saw him in HP Globet of fire but he doesnt impress me. Maybe he becomes a star when Twiligth opens in December.But i dont think so. I saw the trailer and the movie looks awfull..Sorry Twilight fans

I heard the “ben is married” rumor at a Disney party a few weeks ago. Haha! If it’s true…how lame that he has to lie to the universe about it. : /

Too old for this @ 09/02/2008 at 11:32 am

#54 comment - how do you know he is far from…?

BYW, he is a Leo, of course, with that hair what else could he be?

With a screen name like “Too old for this”, you seem real immature, worrying about his sexuality instead of his talent.

really too old for this @ 09/02/2008 at 9:27 pm

Gosh, you are so touchy.

#54 claimed to have known Ben Barnes in the straight Biblical sense, as it were, and implied his only talents were not on the screen or stage. Clearly, anyone looking at the Interview photographs knows that this man is one-of-a-kind. I can see him on film any time, however knowing him biblically requires another experience that I and millions of others are unlikely (really, really, really unlikely) to have. I was just wondering how heart-stoppingly sexy he really is. My bad.

hauoligrl @ 09/04/2008 at 3:10 am

So far as acting goes, he seems to show good potential. Comparisons to other actors seem silly. OB was in pointy ears when girls really started swooning, and KR has only one line he can do convincingly: Whoa. Dude! BB has more on the ball than either, one can tell from just one movie and all the interviews.

I fell in love with him instantly during the first few minutes of Stardust, which is still my favorite thing he’s been in, and the pictures are excellent. ^_^

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