New Interview of Jamie with News Australia

Jamie Dornan, star of Fifty Shades of Grey was chosen to play Christian Grey based almost entirely on his considerable sexual allure. But the 32-year-old former Calvin Klein model and face of Dior Homme, who appears naked for much of the movie, is apparently suffering from body dysmorphia.

“I have massive hang-ups about my physical appearance,” he admits. “I was a very skinny kid and I was always fighting against being small.”

Nowadays, Dornan is 1.83 metres tall. “I have the same insecurities I always did. When I see an image of myself, all I see is this skinny kid, and I don’t like it. It doesn’t matter how many times you’re filmed with your top off and photographers are shouting things like, ‘Oh you look great! Add more oil!’, all that s**t,” he laughs.

“If you have these things ingrained your head, insecurities about yourself, all the people in the world saying [flattering] stuff isn’t going to alter how you feel.”

The handsome Irish-born and still relatively unknown actor appeared in Marie Antoinette (1996) and the TV series, The Fall, as well as Once Upon a Time, and hopes this role will finally elevate his status in Hollywood to the next level.

Arguably, the success or failure of Fifty Shades of Grey will rest on the onscreen sexual chemistry between Dornan and his co-star, Dakota Johnson (daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson).

Clearly, he had to do his best to put any trepidation about self-image behind him. “I knew what I was getting into. I would be pretty foolish to go into this film thinking that I am going to get away with people not seeing my torso at least,” he laughs. “And yes, there’s the naked thing, but we signed things to make sure that they didn’t see the whole shebang.”

Dornan took over the role from Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) who, after much controversy concerning whether he was right for the role, abruptly left.

Dornan, with only four weeks to prep, had to get in the best shape of his life. “I would have liked more time to work out for the role but I did my best.” Hailing from a modelling background, it’s surprising he’s not more comfortable with his body. “Yes, I should be, but I’m like anyone about that kind of thing. And then again, no matter how much I would have trained, I’m never going to be happy.”

As for the sexually explicit scenes — which even the most seasoned actor will tell you are not a walk in the park — Dornan says he and Johnson got through it with humour.

“I think it’s really essential when you are kind of dealing with the subject matter that we were dealing with and you are put in those sorts of positions where it’s often an uncomfortable environment, especially for her. There were times where she is literally in extremely vulnerable positions, and naked. So, you needed humour to get you through those days.”

Married nearly two years to British actress Amelia Warner, 32, the couple are raising their 14-month old daughte Dulcie. Dornan says of new fatherhood, “It’s the best thing that has ever happened to me, and to us. It’s an extremely joyful situation and every day seems to get better.” He grins. “I know it’s my most important role in life.”

Did Dornan, learn any life lessons from his alter ego, Christian Grey? He considers briefly. “In terms of how he is in his love life, I don’t think I learned too much there. And I certainly don’t hold Christian Grey up as some kind of moral figure that we should sort of aspire to. There’s a lot of how he handles himself and how he treats women and I don’t necessarily agree with.”

Looking unrecognisable from his starring role, Dornan is donning a full beard and is casually dressed in jeans and a navy blue shirt. “I’m just an actor and maybe there needs to be a reminder that I’m not Christian Grey,” he says. He adds with a laugh, “There’s an element of laziness involved too.”

Now that the much-hyped movie is about to hit theatres (February 13), how much pressure does he feel? “My whole thing about this film is that Christian is such a fantasy, he’s unfathomable, he’s like a super hero; he doesn’t exist. He gets described as the epitome of male beauty. I can’t live up to everybody’s idea of what that is and it doesn’t exist.” He pauses. “But I guess George Clooney is pretty f***ing close.”

Source via @Shades_Blog