Barnes's dreams 'came along in the same month' · 2008-06-23 17:01
Ben Barnes will become a worldwide star with his lead role in the second adaptation of the C.S. Lewis story – The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian. But the actor doesn’t feel comfortable with the fairytale of fame.
Ben only made his film debut last year as Young Dunstan in Stardust. And his decision to quit his role in London’s National Theatre’s drama The History Boys to take the part of Prince Caspian attracted some criticism.
”I did feel guilty about it but it was just unfortunate that two of my dreams – to work at the National Theatre and to be a Hollywood star – came along in the same month,” he said.
Ben is refreshingly free of the Hollywood curse of pomposity and self-importance. He’s desperately keeping his feet on the ground.
Ben Barnes started singing and acting when he was 15 and the National Youth Music Theatre auditioned at his school. His first job was playing drums in a West End performance of Bugsy Malone.
While he’d be interested in doing a Hollywood musical, for the moment his mind is focussed on the fantasy epic Prince Caspian.
The makers of Prince Caspian had been looking for their lead actor for 13 months before they saw Ben Barnes, Glasgow Daily Record reports.
”It was all very, very, very quick. I heard about the audition the day before I did it,” he said.
”I think they were running out of time. I think they said, ‘Whoever walks in the door next we hire,’ and it was me,” Ben added.
• Amy Winehouse 'has got emphysema'
• Angelina Jolie: 'I’m very lucky'
|