Jamie Dornan Explains the ‘Ridicule’ He Experienced After ‘50 Shades of Grey’ Success

Declan Gallagher
·2 min read

Jamie Dornan is still smarting from the scathing reviews he received for the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy. On the BBC’s Desert Island Discs podcast, Dornan recalled the singular “ridicule” he experienced after the first installment’s box office success in 2015.

The Haunting in Venice actor came into the 50 Shades franchise fresh off of rave reviews, and multiple awards nominations, for his role as a serial killer in The Fall. He says those accolades turn “to ridicule” when the first adaptation of E.L. James’ steamy trilogy hit screens.

“It made so much money [that] films two and three were greenlit overnight,” Dornan recalled. “It was a strange thing, because there’s a bit of ridicule here, and I’m now contracted to do two more, knowing that there will be much more damnation to come.”

50 Shades of Grey, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, made $570 million worldwide. 50 Shades Darker (2017) and 50 Shades Freed (2018), both directed by James Foley, made $381 million and $372 million worldwide, respectively.

Dornan has led a varied career since completing the trilogy. He played against type in the antic comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, and was nominated for 2022 Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards for his somber turn in Belfast.

Still, Dornan says critics have been hesitant to completely forgive him for Christian Grey’s sins. “I’ve had very glowing reviews for recent work,” he admitted. “And there won’t be any that don’t mention Fifty Shades in them. A lot of reviews are like: ‘He’s great, but lest we forget when he wasn’t great here,'” Dornan lamented.

Earlier this month, he told The Independent that his 50 Shades experience taught him what types of roles he wanted to take moving forward. “There are obviously other jobs that bring insane scrutiny, like superhero stuff, or f--king James Bond—any of that stuff. I’ve done pretty well to avoid that sort of s--t so far,” he said.

But despite the public bruising he continues to take for his 50 Shades role, Dornan told Desert Island Discs that he wouldn’t do anything differently. “Regret that I did them? No,” he said bluntly, dismissing the suggestion.