Ben Barnes was around 26 when he got his non-catapulted fame after his role as Prince Caspian. Though I am very much fond to Ben Barnes, I tried to be logical. Ben Barnes was not entering the big screen without preparation. He graduated from Kingston University where he studied drama and English, specializing in children’s literature. He wrote several drama scripts, and was one of the talented pupils there. His multi-talents and knowledge was a strong combination to support his acting career.
Ben, as noted in one of his interview, also has an ability to speak in different accents. If you have seen Prince Caspian, you would agree that Ben’s Spanish accent was bold and convincing. I was also amazed by his almost perfect Russian accent in Bigga than Ben.
As a dedicated actor, Ben Barnes, for his role as Caspian, a young and naive prince evicted from his kingdom and must lead thousands of soldiers to win his throne back, got 6 weeks of full training for sword fighting, horse riding and archery. He also worked with a dialect coach to pull off his Mediterranean accent. link to video
By the time of filming, Ben — rode a horse only when he was 6 years old and it was a Shetland Pony not a real horse and never hold any weapons especially sword, was able to swim horses through rivers, slalom through pillars and mastering the sword fighting ^_^
Again, I could be bias, because these days, when I wrote this blog, I was in the period of freaking crazy overdosed by Ben Barnes. But still, I try to be logical, sincere and genuine to bring out the facts.
On his role as Caspian, though he was playing the same role from a chronicles, Ben was luckier. For the next installment of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, he would play King Caspian. Physically, he could look as his age for that role, because the story was set years after Caspian became the King. As for the character, Ben could develop his character from a naive young prince to a mature, self-assured and strong personality king of Narnia.
Because the filming breaks between Prince Caspian and Voyage of Dawn Trader was ridiculously long, but he could signed and finished his projects as the leading role in three movies. Easy Virtue, Dorian Gray and Locked In (formerly known as Valediction).
Though Prince Caspian was well-promoted and his 15 storeys posters were everywhere, but Ben Barnes was not a darling and most wanted figure for magazines and photographers. The list of his photo shoots for magazines was short. He’s not received any award yet. (He even loses the popular MTV movie award for Best Breakthrough Male to Robert Pattinson). But for me, it was his lucky charm. Being not too famous, could make him more assured, that the roles offered to him was not because of his famous face would make any movie worth watching and bring cash back to producer’s pocket but because the directors thought he has talent. Though, sometimes he lost jobs because people have said that he’s too good looking, his face was not suitable enough for the “everyman character”.
But the road to a great acting career is often paved with the classics — and that’s a path that’s working so far for Ben Barnes, by taking a role in Easy Virtue, adaptation from Noel Coward’s play and Dorian Gray from a novel by Oscar Wilde. Barnes’ choices indicate that quality stories are a top priority for him as an actor, rather than taking the easier route of doing work that cashes in “flavor of the month” trends. I think he’s on his path to become a serious award-winning actor.
Both Easy Virtue and Dorian Gray were already on theater this year, so actually I could find reviews on his acting on those movies. Locked in (Valediction) is scheduled to be released next year. I will wait for 2010 international award events, Will his role as the mama’s boy John Whittaker in Easy Virtue, the corrupt narcissist Dorian Gray or for his role as tormented father, Josh Sawyer in Valediction resulting an award for him or not ^_^
I write so I can share what I see through my heart, my personal point of view and my own analysis
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Finish. And now, i’m waiting for part X =)