Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Celebrity News

    Charlie Hunnam Struggled With Fifty Shades Of Grey Role, Says Scriptwriter

    It's set to be the most talked-about movie of 2014 – so why did Charlie Hunnam consider turning down the role of Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades Of Grey movie?

    By Rebecca Martin
    Published 4 October 2013 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Charlie Hunnam wears a grey suit on the red carpet
    Charlie Hunnam wears a grey suit on the red carpet
    (Image credit: Rex)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    It's set to be the most talked-about movie of 2014 – so why did Charlie Hunnam consider turning down the role of Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades Of Grey movie?

    Charlie Hunnam didn't immediately accept the role of Christian Grey in Fifty Shades Of Grey, despite it being the most talked-about movie in Hollywood.

    While plenty of US actors have allegedly turned down the role in the adaptation, due for release in August 2014, Charlie was almost one of them, according to his Sons Of Anarchy writer and creator, Kurt Sutter.

    Charlie Hunnam on the red carpet

    Charlie Hunnam on the red carpet
    (Image credit: Rex)

    Talking about the moment Charlie discussed the role with him, Kurt told US magazine, Vulture: 'We had a couple long creative conversations about what the role was, what it meant. He struggled with it because obviously there's a lot of noise around that role.'

    Fifty Shades Of Grey author E L James announced that Charlie would be portraying the S&M-obsessed CEO Christian Grey alongside Dakota Johnson on her Twitter feed in September.

    You may like
    • Wicker husband: Alexander Skarsgård and Olivia Coleman in the new film Wicker Move Over Regular Men and AI Boyfriends, The “Wicker Husband” Has Arrived
    • We Finally Know What To Expect From Leighton Meester’s Character in Nobody Wants This One Surprising A-Lister Is Joining the Nobody Wants This Season Three Cast
    • Caucasian woman caressing face of man - stock photo What The Invite Gets Right About Open Relationships, According to the People Living Them

    Kurt added: 'There's a lot of predetermined expectations. At the end of the day, and my advice to him was: "Look at the material. Don't look at the history. Don't look at where it potentially could be going. Look at the material and look at the people you're working with. If it makes sense, then move forward."

    'I think that's what he did. It was a very thoughtful process, I think based on all the right decisions. It was not about notoriety. It was not about money. So I think it's cool, man.'

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Fifty Shades Of Grey producers praised Charlie and Dakota's chemistry from their very first audition. It's not known how X-rated the film's producers plan to make the movie, but one thing's for sure, there's no backing out now, Charlie...

    15 things you need to know about Charlie Hunnam

    44 hot photos of your new Christain Grey, Charlie Hunnam

    Fifty Shades Of Grey move cast contenders

    Got a tablet? You can now download Marie Claire magazine straight to your iPad, Kindle (just search the store for 'marie claire magazine'), Nook or Google Nexus.

    Rebecca Martin
    Social Links Navigation
    Read more
    Wicker husband: Alexander Skarsgård and Olivia Coleman in the new film Wicker
    Relationships Move Over Regular Men and AI Boyfriends, The “Wicker Husband” Has Arrived
    We Finally Know What To Expect From Leighton Meester’s Character in Nobody Wants This
    TV and Film One Surprising A-Lister Is Joining the Nobody Wants This Season Three Cast
     
     
    Caucasian woman caressing face of man - stock photo
    Life What The Invite Gets Right About Open Relationships, According to the People Living Them
    Alisha Boe
    Fragrance "If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It": Actor Alisha Boe on Why She'll Never Give Up Her Signature Scent
     
     
    Latest in Celebrity News
    Olivia Rodrigo performing on stage in a babydoll dress that sparked online debate, later prompting the singer to speak out about the sexualisation of girlhood and double standards facing young women.
    Celebrity News “We Really Normalise Pedophilia in Our Culture”: What Olivia Rodrigo's Babydoll Dress Backlash Reveals About Girlhood
    Meghan Markle in 'With Love, Meghan'
    Celebrity News Meghan Markle’s Sweet Glimpse Into Sussex Family Life Is Going Viral
     
     
    Anne Hathaway attends the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada 2
    Celebrity News Anne Hathaway Has Spoken Out About Her 10-Year Health Battle
    The Prince and Princess of Wales visit the Isles of Mull and Iona
    Royal News Royal Experts Predict a Major Milestone From Princess Kate This Autumn
     
     
    Latest in News
    Kinda Chic Trend
    Shopping Is "Kinda Chic" Kinda Cringe? Everyone's Favourite Fashion Word Just Went Completely Out of Fashion
    Beauty Digest
    Beauty The Beauty Digest: The Foundation Using Exosome Technology, the Treatment That Transformed My Skin Texture—Plus, the Ever-Earlier Advent Calendar Race
     
     
    Kaia Gerber
    Shopping Everything Kaia Gerber Wears Is a Masterclass in Minimalism—These Are the Pieces and Brands She Always Goes Back to
    Copenhagen Fashion Week street style
    Shopping Kitten-Heel Sandals, Lace Dresses and the Season's New Favourite Shade of Blue— These are the Copenhagen Fashion Week Street Style Trends to Note
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.