Charlie Hunnam has been quietly dealing with a tremendous amount of backlash since being cast as Christian Grey in the movie "Fifty Shades of Grey." E.L. James announced the decision on Twitter and almost immediately fans were upset and felt like he wasn't right for the role.
James and "Fifty Shades" executives and producers all defended the decision telling fans to give the actor a chance and that he and Dakota Johnson, who will play Anastasia Steele, had excellent chemistry. They all feel he will not disappoint fans in the movie.
E! News caught up with Taryn Manning, who starred in the "Sons of Anarchy" with Hunam, to see how she felt about the casting decision. Unlike millions of fans, Manning had no idea Hunnam had been cast as the kinky billionaire but she felt like he would be "perfect" for the role.
"Wait... what? That's so amazing! Really? Wow! That is total news to me," Manning said. "I love Charlie. Working on 'Sons of Anarchy' with him, I mean he has a full accent and just watching him act on set, he is amazing."
She went on to tell a story about a time she was with her mom at a Hollywood diner and Hunnam was there all by himself reading a novel he was going to star in about the book. She didn't say how long ago this was but he could have been reading "Fifty Shades of Grey."
"He was sitting alone just reading it and, I don't know, at that moment, I looked at him in a different light," she said. "I had already seen him on set so dedicated, and then seeing him sitting alone at breakfast just working on his craft, he is just a true actor."
Doesn't he sound like Christian Grey already? In the books, Grey is a perfectionist and takes his job very seriously. It sounds like James and the producers picked an actor with a very similar personality. And fans can't deny that Hunnam is a hottie.
Manning told E! that she was surprised by all the backlash and didn't understand what fans were complaining about. According to the actress, he is a definite hit with the ladies and a "total babe."
"Do you realize every single woman that is my friend is, like, 'Tell me everything about Charlie.' All the time," Manning said. "He is just a heartthrob, so I don't understand why anyone would question that casting decision. I think he is perfect for the part."
What do you think "Fifty Shades" fans? Could Charlie Hunnam be the perfect Christian Grey?
