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The Price Of Immortality: Why Ben Barnes 'Regretted' His Iconic Role In Dorian Gray (and His Surprising Return To The Text)

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Few roles in literature are as coveted and complex as Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray, a character whose beauty is a curse, and whose soul is captured on canvas. For English actor Ben Barnes, taking on the title role in the 2009 film adaptation, *Dorian Gray*, was a career-defining moment, transforming him from a fantasy hero (Prince Caspian) into a dark, hedonistic anti-hero. However, despite his physical suitability and committed performance, the film's mixed reception and controversial themes led to a surprising revelation from Barnes years later: a profound sense of regret over the experience, a sentiment that has only recently come to light as of late 2025. This deep dive explores the film’s lasting legacy, its explicit content, and Barnes' unexpected modern-day return to the source material.

The 2009 film, directed by Oliver Parker, aimed to bring a fresh, visually striking take on Wilde's timeless novel, *The Picture of Dorian Gray*. It remains a pivotal, if divisive, entry in Ben Barnes' extensive filmography, showcasing his ability to embody profound moral decay beneath a veneer of aristocratic charm.

Ben Barnes: A Biographical Profile of the Aesthetic Anti-Hero

Benjamin Thomas Barnes, born on August 20, 1981, in London, England, is a versatile English actor and singer. His early career began in musical theatre, making his theatrical debut at the age of 15 as a member of the National Youth Music Theatre.

  • Full Name: Benjamin Thomas Barnes
  • Born: August 20, 1981 (Age 44 as of late 2025)
  • Birth Place: London, England, United Kingdom
  • Education: Kingston University (Drama and English Literature)
  • Key Early Roles: Young Dunstan Thorn in *Stardust* (2007), Prince Caspian in *The Chronicles of Narnia* film series (2008-2010)
  • Major Television Roles: General Kirigan/The Darkling in *Shadow and Bone*, Logan Delos in *Westworld*, Billy Russo/Jigsaw in *The Punisher*
  • The Dorian Gray Connection: Starred as the title character in the 2009 film adaptation and later narrated the Penguin Classics audiobook of *The Picture of Dorian Gray*.

Barnes' casting as Dorian Gray was a deliberate move to challenge his clean-cut image from the Narnia franchise, proving he was capable of handling darker, more adult material. The role required him to portray a man whose physical beauty remains untouched while his soul rots away, a performance that demanded both stunning looks and deep emotional range.

The Controversial Allure: Hedonism, Explicit Scenes, and Moral Decay

The 2009 adaptation is arguably the most sexually explicit cinematic version of Oscar Wilde’s classic, leaning heavily into the themes of hedonism and corruption. The film’s marketing and content did not shy away from the darker aspects of Dorian’s immortal life, which was a significant departure from the novel’s more subtle allusions.

The Explicit Nature of Dorian’s Corruption

The movie is notorious for its "raunchy scenes" and explicit portrayal of Dorian Gray’s descent into debauchery. Critics and viewers noted that the film used the narrative as an "excuse to show sex scenes," a controversial decision that generated significant buzz and criticism upon its release. Barnes’ portrayal of Dorian was not only physically compelling—often featuring "Ben Barnes shirtless scenes" to emphasize his unchanging beauty—but also delved into the character's fluid sexuality. The film explicitly portrays Dorian as bisexual, engaging in various forms of decadent and group sex, aligning with the novel's undertones but magnifying them for the screen.

This focus on the aesthetic and the sensual was central to the film's visual identity. The contrast between Barnes' flawless appearance and the horrifying, physical transformation of the portrait—a visual spectacle achieved through complex digital effects—was the film's primary hook. Special effects teams used camera projections of Barnes and the original painting onto the geometry created for the erupting, decaying portrait, making the moral decay a tangible, visual horror.

The Corrupting Influence of Lord Henry Wotton

A major strength of the 2009 film was the compelling dynamic between Ben Barnes’ Dorian Gray and Colin Firth’s Lord Henry Wotton. Firth, a celebrated actor, delivered a "great turn" as the debauched aesthete whose cynical philosophy corrupts the young, innocent Dorian. Lord Henry's influence is the catalyst for Dorian's transformation, encouraging him to pursue a life where beauty and pleasure are the only virtues. Many critics argued that while Barnes was well-suited physically for the role, Firth’s performance as the complex and arguably more interesting villain stood out, making Lord Henry's dark side one of the most memorable elements of the adaptation.

The Modern Retrospective: Regret and Redemption through Narration

Over a decade after the film's release, Ben Barnes offered a surprisingly candid retrospective on his experience, revealing a key piece of information that makes this role a complex point in his career.

Why Ben Barnes 'Regretted' Dorian Gray

In a recent interview, Ben Barnes revealed that he is "not proud" of the 2009 film adaptation, specifically citing the negative reception it garnered. This sentiment of regret stems from the critical backlash and the feeling that the film did not fully honor the nuances of Oscar Wilde’s classic text. While many critics acknowledged that Barnes was perhaps the most suitable actor to play the role physically, the film itself was often deemed disappointing due to its significant departures from the original narrative and its overt focus on sensationalism. This negative experience shifted Barnes' perspective on his career choices, pushing him toward roles that offered deeper character development, such as his later acclaimed performances as Billy Russo in *The Punisher* and General Kirigan in *Shadow and Bone*.

The Surprising Return: The Dorian Gray Audiobook

Despite his regret over the film, Barnes has recently returned to the world of Oscar Wilde in a surprising and redemptive way: by narrating the Penguin Classics audiobook of *The Picture of Dorian Gray*. This move, which was released in late 2019 and remains a current, popular entity for fans, offers a unique full-circle moment. It allows Barnes to engage with the source material on a deeper, more intellectual level, free from the constraints and controversies of the visual adaptation. His narration is widely praised, leveraging his deep, charismatic voice to bring a fresh interpretation to the novel's themes of aestheticism, morality, and eternal youth.

This dual history—starring in a controversial film adaptation and later lending his voice to the definitive literary version—cements Ben Barnes' unique and complex relationship with the character of Dorian Gray. It serves as a powerful reminder that while the film may have been a source of regret, the timeless power of Oscar Wilde's story continues to shape his career, allowing him to offer a new, more intimate performance to a modern audience.

ben barnes in dorian grey
ben barnes in dorian grey

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