Jamie Dornan says negative 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' reviews drove him on

Jamie Dornan has opened up about the negative reviews he received for his performance as Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades Of Grey trilogy.

Grey was cast as Grey opposite Dakota Johnson after Charlie Hunnam had to withdraw from the role due to a scheduling conflict with his TV series Sons Of Anarchy.

And while Fifty Shades Of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker, and Fifty Shades Freed grossed a combined total of around £1 billion at the box office, the reaction to Dornan’s efforts were mixed.

Watch: Jamie Dornan received ‘freaky’ fan mail

In fact, he was awarded the Worst Actor and Worst Screen Combo prizes at the Golden Raspberry Awards for Fifty Shades Of Grey, and he was nominated in the same categories for Fifty Shades Darker too.

Read More: Movie Rights to ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Author’s ‘The Mister’ Land at Universal (EXCLUSIVE)

During an interview with Variety, Dornan admitted that he “went through a bad stage with Fifty Shades” where he read “a couple of really bad” reviews. One review that clearly left an impression on Dornan said that he had “the charisma of oatmeal”.

But rather than letting this criticism dent his confidence, Dornan said he ultimately started to find “them funny” and, even now, they “drive” him on. Especially since, “some people like oatmeal”.

Dornan has managed to put the character behind him after Fifty Shades Freed brought the franchise to an end in 2018.

Since then, he has appeared in A Private War, Robin Hood, Endings, Beginnings, and provided a voice in Trolls World Tour.

Read More: Why it is impossible for Jamie Dornan to be typecast by 'Fifty Shades Of Grey'

He will next be seen in Wild Mountain Thyme, which is an adaptation of writer and director John Patrick Shanley’s play Outside Mullingar, and in which he will star opposite Emily Blunt, Jon Hamm and Christopher Walken.

Wild Mountain Thyme is scheduled for a US release on 11 December; no UK date has been confirmed yet.