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Narnia star set to break many hearts, says teacher
By Splash
He had women falling at his feet at school and now sexy British newcomer Ben Barnes is set to break a million more hearts as he hits the big screen.
The handsome actor, 26, left a string of admirers in his wake and was always destined for stardom, according to his drama teacher and friend Frank Whately.
Ben landed the title role in the new Chronicles of Narnia film, Prince Caspian, the sequel to the highly successful movie The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
He has reportedly signed a three-picture deal that will also see him in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Silver Chair.
Hollywood bigwigs are now rushing to work with him and sign him up for their movies, said Mr Whately.
"There was never any doubt he would do well and be successful," he said.
"He grew up with a generation of people like (Harry Potter star) Chris Coulson who obviously were going to do well.
"We're still in touch and I had a couple of messages from him at Christmas.
He is really pleased about the role.
"He's not only doing Prince Caspian, he's been over in Hollywood and in talks about pursuing his career there."
Mr Whately first met Ben when he was starting out his acting career aged 11.
"I knew him as a young lad when he was with the National Youth Music Theatre," he said.
"He was extremely self confident and articulate and intelligent.
"He played with the NYMT for a number of years."
The Wimbledon-born actor, who still lives in the area, was years later reunited with his favourite teacher at Kingston University, London, where he studied for a drama degree.
"Ben is a very good player," said the university head of performing and screen studies.
"When he came to Kingston and I was setting up the drama degree, one of the things I was most concerned about was students should do their own productions.
"Ben was right at the forefront of both acting and producing plays and being very much a driving force behind things."
With his haunting brown eyes and classic good looks, it is not surprising that Ben was a hit with the ladies on the course.
The head teacher remained tight-lipped about whether Ben had a girlfriend, but admitted: "He was extremely popular with the ladies."
Ben had good preparation for being a Hollywood heartbreaker at Kingston university, playing the lead role in the drama department's production of Don Juan.
Mr Whately said: "He played a gigolo who has ladies dripping off him.
"He found that invigorating," he laughed.
"He is very self confident but not brash in any way. Because he was doing so much and engaged in so much he obviously got on terribly well with his peer group."
With his obvious talent and sexy good looks, some might expect Ben to be cocky or arrogant.
But Mr Whately said: "He isn't an exhibitionist at all.
"In fact he is quite serious. He had a huge group of friends at university and they are still very close and very loyal.
"He is a good friend to people."
Despite his popularity, Ben knuckled down and relentlessly pursued his passion of acting.
No stranger to hard work, he juggled performing, directing, a drama degree - and a brief flirtation with a pop career.
As lead singer of Hyrise, also starring Anthony Scott Lee, brother of Steps singer Lisa, the boy band made it to the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004.
Sadly their song Leading Me On failed to make the grade and Ben's 15 minutes of fame - as a singer at least - was over.
Mr Whately said: "He was doing that while he was at university. He is a very good singer and a percussionist too.
"If he had aspirations to be a pop singer, I am glad to say he had more substantial things to achieve in his life.
"He flirted with the idea."
Embarrassing evidence of Hyrise's performance can still be found on video sharing website YouTube.
Acting was Ben's first love and he would fill his time with every aspect of the trade.
"He was constantly at it," said Mr Whately.
"He directed a production in Edinburgh for the university while playing in a production for the NYMT the same year and working on his academic work.
"Not only did he get a first class honours in drama, he won the best student of the year in English Literature, despite only taking it as a minor student."
But despite his busy schedule, the charming actor was never late.
"He never missed a lesson or workshop," said Mr Whately.
"I rarely had to make allowances given that he was doing all these things.
"He was dead easy to work with."
Within months of gaining his degree, Ben was snapped up to play the lead role of Dakin in the stage version of the Alan Bennett hit play The History Boys.
But he reportedly angered the National Theatre by leaving the West End production early in January 2007 when he was offered the Prince Caspian job, prompting an unscheduled cast change.
A National Theatre spokesman said at the time: "Ben Barnes has decided to leave The History Boys early, before his contract is finished.
"It is something we are taking very seriously. He has accepted an offer to be in a children's Disney film and we have had to fly Jamie King back at extremely short notice."
Mr King, who had been in Los Angeles at the time filming a TV docudrama The Tudors, took over the role of Dakin.
But Ben was always destined for big things, according to his drama teacher.
"He has the 'know-how' and an ability to see what needed to be done," said Mr Whately.
"He is a highly intelligent guy and understands the vagaries of what is a very difficult profession.
"He had no doubt himself that he would make it."
With Hollywood at his feet, it is just a matter of time before Ben is inundated with other lead roles in blockbusters.
"I imagine he will get offer after offer in film and it will be very difficult to turn it down," said Mr Whately.
"Ben loves the stage. He likes acting because he gets that sort of curious buzz that actors seem to like.
"But I suspect what will happen is he will become a very successful film actor and the stage will be put to one side.
"It will be a pity.
"I would love to see him return to the stage. He is a great stage actor. He would know exactly what I meant in saying that."
And with Hollywood calling, the former King's College student is well equipped to handle life in the limelight.
"He is very grounded," said Mr Whately. "He will cope very well with fame.
"He wouldn't let it go to his head. He is very shrewd and very ambitious.
"He's no-one's fool."
Ben grew up in Wimbledon with Mum Tricia, Dad Tom and brother Jack.
He still lives in the area and has a loyal group of friends from school and the NYMT.
"His family are really proud of him," said Mr Whately.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is due to open in the UK on June 26.
The role is a far cry than his small part in the opening sequence of Matthew Vaughn's fantasy flick Stardust.
The film also stars A-listers Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sir Ian McKellen, Peter O'Toole and Sienna Miller.
Ben also starred in television programmes Doctors and Split Decision.
He recently began work on Easy Virtue, a romantic comedy with Justin Timberlake's girlfriend Jessica Biel.
the best praise coming from the teacher, not a Hollywood critic, not some interviewer, not even from us who just admire his work and do not know him personally! that's the best award ever given to a young actor! if i were Ben i would be really moved by this article! (i still am but as an admirer! count me out!)
proud member of the BARNES IS NOBLE society
 Ben Barnes as Prince Caspian? I'll be Barned!
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