Ben Barnes talks Dawn Treader filming vs. Prince Caspian

Just an FYI about the entirety of the interview, Barnes recently starred in an adaptation of Dorian Gray, which is an old novel with adult subject matter. The interview got interesting though, for Narnia fans when the subject turned to The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I’ve censored the interview a bit to keep it family friendly, but if you want to, you can read the whole article at the source.

Have you finished the new Narnia film?

Yes, a few weeks ago. It was great. The character’s more grown-up and, because I’ve had more film-making experience myself, I was able to bark orders at the sailors in the film with conviction. There’s more joy and fun in this one. It’s a better story than Prince Caspian, which maybe took itself a bit too seriously.

Prince Caspian won you a fan base of teenage girls. What’s that like?

I’m not consciously trying to do anything to change it. I just go for the best stories I can find and do the things I’d watch myself. It’s great to have people supporting me. It gives me the opportunity to do other stuff. It might draw an audience who are fans of the bigger films to things they might not otherwise watch.

So you’re not looking for a vampire project to keep in with the fans?

No, although I’ve been offered a few. I never have any clue what’s going to be next. I don’t know what I want to do until I read a script, which is one of my favourite parts of the job. I’m doing a comedy called Killing Bono now.

One reviewer called you ‘Britain’s drippiest leading actor’. Does that bother you or do you take it in your stride?

No, it bothers me. The art of critical film appreciation has really gone down the toilet. You either have to champion a small film to be noticed or smash other films to pieces in the most cruel way you can think of. But if you don’t believe the really good things people say and don’t believe the really bad things, it all balances out. You make the film for the people who want to go to see it, not for people who are going to write about you.

What’s been your most extravagant purchase?

I collect original 1980s film posters, which is a bit of an extravagance. It took me ages to find one for Back To The Future, there are loads of Back To The Future II.

If you were a kangaroo what would you keep in your pouch?

We shot Voyage Of The Dawn Treader in Australia, where we met loads of kangaroos. The joeys don’t look very comfortable. Their legs and arms stick out of the pouch and you can’t see their heads. I’d keep my iPod in there. I’m listening to loads of 1970s and 1980s punk stuff at the moment.