Prince Caspian star Ben Barnes.
With Prince Caspian billboards plastered all over town, Ben Barnes is hard to miss. However, despite all the ubiquitous publicity Disney can give him, he’s still a pretty fresh face. He doesn’t have a publicist…yet. And his approved bio is just five paragraphs long.
That will probably change this weekend when the second Chronicles of Narnia hits theaters. If it’s anything like its predecessor, which made nearly $745 million at the worldwide box office, this 26-year-old’s life of obscurity is about to be catapulted out the window.
Here’s all you need to know to be Ben Barnes-savvy in 10 minutes or less.
Life Before Narnia:
- Ben Barnes was born August 20, 1981 in the U.K.
- He appeared in the BBC soap opera “Doctors” and TV series “Split Decision.”
- Does his handsome face look familiar? You might’ve recognized him if you saw Stardust last year. He appeared as young Dunstan Thorn (lead Tristan's dad).
- He starred as a Russian delinquent who runs riot in London in the indie film Bigga than Ben.
- He studied drama at Kingston University and was a member of the National Youth Music Theater. Can he sing? You decide. He was in a boy band called Hyrise. Yep, synchronized dance moves in all their cringe-worthy glory. Watch him hit some high notes in this 2004 clip, courtesy of YouTube:
- Before Ben got snagged for his role as Prince Caspian, he was in a production of The History Boys at the Royal National Theatre in London. A Narnia casting director saw Ben’s performance in the starring role of Dakin. He was asked to audition three weeks before filming, and the rest is, well, history. To take the part, however, he had to leave the production before his contract ended, royally angering the producers, who then threatened to sue. (In his defense, who in their right mind's going to skip the opportunity to be a Disney prince?)
Becoming Prince Caspian:
- Having seen a horse only once, Ben fibbed about being an “average” horse rider to get the role...and so began some riding lessons.
- He also underwent sword-fighting training and worked with a dialect coach to pull off a Mediterranean accent.
- Ben’s long locks were extensions. That plus a flowing white shirt, cape, armor and strapping belt buckles completed the royal transformation, which you can check out in the Caspian trailer.
What’s Next:
- Ben will star in the rom-com Easy Virtue with Jessica Biel and Colin Firth, set for 2009. He plays an Englishman who marries Biel’s character in a shotgun wedding in France. The newlyweds travel to England to meet his parents—who are less than thrilled with their new daughter-in-law.
- He’s also set to reprise his role as Caspian in the third film of the Narnia franchise, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, slated for 2010. Filming begins this fall, and this time, he’ll be king.
Related Links:
Buy Tickets to Prince Caspian
Ben Barnes Filmography
Prince Caspian Featurette
Caspian’s Summer Road Trip
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Synopsis
Easy Virtue Synopsis
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