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

Disclaimer: All photographs used in this blog are belongs to their rightful owners. No infringement intended

When I decided to share a piece of my Little Heart for Robert Pattinson & Ben Barnes, I didn’t have any purpose to compare the two British Actors and choose who’s better between these astonishing hunks. I didn’t intend to influence others to change their minds and fanatism to Robert Pattinson.

As stated in my first blog, both of Rob & Ben were rocking my little world in different times. I wish to see them acting for long time. I wish both of them are not just dashingly handsome faces. Because both actors reached their fame almost in the same year, I tried to be realistic, pouring my personal opinion about their talents and personal life which I think, could influence their career. I decided to write it separately.

I will start from my first star crush, Robert Pattinson. Rob, for his role as Edward Cullen, did so much personal work to create a character that has been emotionally dead for hundred years but reawakened by Bella. Weeks before filming, he took a transparent cocoon around himself, did himself an exploration to get into Edward’s head including writing a pained letters to his vampire father (from the Complete Illustrated Movie Companion).

Because Twilight consists of 4 books, he signed contract for the other three books, New Moon, Eclipse and (I think the decision came later) Breaking Dawn. It was great to have a long lasting contract, at least for around 2 – 3 years, he will still have a job. But in conjunction to his role in Twilight saga, Rob has to keep his youthful looks as the 17 years old vampire while his actual numbers are adding. I see this as problem number one, a dilemma of forever young versus aging for his role ^_^

Because of the age dilemma too, the breaks between movies were very short, so the film still could capture Rob’s youthful 17 years old face. In my opinion, it gave him problem number two. This situation would limit his opportunity to take variety roles. As we knew, during the breaks of New Moon and Eclipse, Rob could only take a role in adaptation movie, Remember me, because the filming needed only few weeks for filming. I wished, during the filming break of Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, Rob could get enough time to explore various roles in other movies.

Not only the age dilemma, but being in the same character of a drop-dead gorgeous brooding vampire in four movies could trap him in. It’s possible, as problem number three, Rob would take his role as Edward to deep and make him not able to get out of his Edward Cullen’s character easily.

Though he got a chance to play Tyler Roth in Remember me, but I think the role was not too much different from his other roles before. I am a bit relieve and glad that next year he would get the opportunity to filming Unbound Captive with Hugh Jackman and the rumored movie, Bel Ami. Hope he could jump into another totally different character smoothly, so after Twilight, he still has the opportunity to say goodbye to the family-friendly franchise characters and move onto different roles.

Twilight movie was a big hit. It catapulted Rob to stardom in just one night. I couldn’t deny, because of his role in Twilight, Rob’s face were shockingly famous across the universe. His fame as Edward Cullen, brought him huge amount of magazine covers and articles, and money too :D. I have posted several blogs before, about his journey to fame and the magazines most wanted couple

But I don’t see it as a lucky charm for him. On this stage, I was not sure, when directors offered him a role, it was because he is a talented and award-winning actor or simply because his famous face would make any movie worth watching and bring money to the producer’s pocket. I try to be sincere and genuine in my opinion about this.

He proved that he could be brooding, tormented, awkward, cynical, eccentric. His role in How to be, even gave him several awards.

But after that, most of the awards received were popular awards, based on votes and more to his hyperventilating appearance as Edward Cullen, not to his acting talent. More to his uber-handsome appearance, his polite demeanor, his hot British accent and his captivating charm. I still think that he could win lots of another popular awards within the coming years, as long as he has the devoted fans to support him. I know it sounds rude, but again, I try to be logic.

Rob still need to proof his talent after Twilight if he really wants to be an award-winning actor. His fame as Edward Cullen could bring him lots of movie offers. People would and must give him the opportunity to explore more of his talents. It’s up to him to decide, would he choose an award-winning role or taking the easier route of doing a work that cashes in “flavor of the month” trends. I am longing to watch his future movies, Remember me and Unbound Captive. He should win an award for his acting talent not only for his physical appearance and his affable charm.

I write so I can share what I see through my heart, my personal point of view and my own analysis.

Disclaimer: All photographs and manips used in this blog are belongs to their rightful owners.