Ben Barnes for FAULT Issue 15 – something extra to celebrate Labor Day weekend!
Ben Barnes‘s potted history reads like a textbook guide on “how to make it in Hollywood”. After studying Drama and English Literature at London’s Kingston University, Ben was quickly snapped up by director – and fellow Englishman – Matthew Vaughn, to star in his first feature film as the young Dunstan, a key character in 2007 fantasy epic Stardust, alongside luminaries such as Sir Ian McKellan and Robert de Niro.
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FAULT is pleased to feature this enormously talented young actor as our front cover star for our Summer 2013 issue. Relaxed, witty and charming, it was an absolute pleasure to spend the day with this down to earth star on-set for our exclusive LA photoshoot, where we discussed two of Ben’s upcoming projects in particular – a return to the fantasy genre in The Seventh Son and an exciting first foray into playing ‘the bad guy’ in God Only Knows. We also got the chance to find out Ben’s thoughts on fashion and the role of public perception in the film industry, in addition to speaking about his training and preparation for his latest roles.
FAULT: Throughout your career you’ve played so many beloved fictional roles from iconic novels – as an actor, how do you prepare for a role like that? Do you feel the pressure from readers and fans who all have their own opinions and expecations of how the character should be played?
Ben: Absolutely I feel that pressure, not least because I have usually been a fan myself of the source material that these characters have featured in. I have learned that you certainly can’t please everyone as the beauty of a great novel is that everyone will picture their heroes or anti-heroes differently….I have definitely been guilty of accusing the director on set saying, ‘but that’s not how it is in the book!’ That rarely goes down well.
In God Only Knows, which is coming out later this year, you play Nick Tortano – a wannabe gangster. What sort of direct inspiration did you have for the development of Nick? Did you get a chance to improvise and have your own say when it came to developing the character?
This was maybe my favourite role I’ve played. I have rarely been afforded the opportunity to play the tough guy so it was very rewarding. I was very involved with the script and definitely got an opportunity to re-work scenes with the writer and director [James Mottern]… I had tattoos and a goatee (of sorts) and it was interesting to walk around Providence, Rhode Island and see the reaction i would get from people I met. People definitely look at you differently or more suspiciously based on image.
FAULT MAGAZINE ISSUE 15 (SUMMER ’13) – THE EDGE ISSUE – IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW
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