The smoking-hot Irish actor who was cast as Christian Grey in the “Fifty Shades of Grey” movie was once a painfully shy no-name model and lowly folk rocker before landing the much-anticipated role.
Jamie Dornan, 31 — who more recently played a serial killer on the BBC’s “The Fall” and a sheriff on ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” — toured with the now-defunct band Sons of Jim and served as arm candy for actress Keira Knightley before scoring any serious acting roles, past interviews with the star reveal.
In fact, he suffered from crippling shyness, he told London’s Daily Mirror in 2006.
“I have just never been very good at meeting girls in general because I am quite shy,” he said.
“I have never been one for chatting someone up. And I think it is quite hard to meet someone special in London — there is a whole pool of attractive women in London, but I find it quite intimidating.”
Born in 1982, Dornan grew up in Holywood, County Down, in Northern Ireland with a doctor dad who once wanted to be an actor himself.
His mom died when he was 16.
Dornan went on to write songs and play rugby at Methodist College in Belfast, where he joined the drama department, fueling his passion for acting.
In the early 2000s, Dornan landed jobs modeling underwear for Calvin Klein, Dior and Armani, which led to meeting Knightley, who helped get his career off the ground by introducing him to her agent.
The couple broke up in 2005, and he was then said to have dated Lindsay Lohan, although he denied the press reports.
“I’m not dating Lindsay Lohan. I did read it though, and I thought it was funny . . . I know who she is. I’ve seen ‘Mean Girls,’ but that’s it. I am as single as they come. There’s no Mrs. Jamie at all,” Dornan told the Mirror.
The same year, he appeared briefly in Sofia Coppola’s flick “Marie Antoinette,” which stars Kirsten Dunst.
He told papers in 2006 that he wanted Hollywood to see him as more than just a pretty face.
“I want Sons of Jim to be a success, to still have a successful modeling career and succeed at acting, as well. I don’t see why I can’t do all three. If you try really hard to make all these things work, I don’t see why it can’t work out,” he told the Mirror.
His band broke up in 2008 — around the time his acting career started to take off.
He went on to play the role of Sheriff Graham on “Once Upon a Time,” as well as a serial killer who strangles and strips his female victims on the BBC crime series “The Fall.”
Fans of “The Fall” on Thursday said it may take a minute to get used to seeing him as anything but terrifying.
“Jamie Dornan is going to play Christian Grey but I can only ever imagine him as that creepy killer,” fan Laura McAughtrie tweeted on Thursday.
Others claimed his penchant for scary-sexy characters is just right for the S&M-loving Grey.
Actress Lena Dunham tweeted, “I’m a monstrous @JamieDornan1 fan. Wasn’t allowed to be attracted to him on The Fall bc he played a sexmurderer. 50 Shades is my big chance!”
Added Crystal Hefner, Hugh Hefner’s wife, “RT if you are excited for the ‘50 Shades of Grey’ movie starring @JamieDornan1!”
Die-hard fans much prefer him to actor Charlie Hunnam, who was cast as Grey before the filmmakers changed their minds.
“Way better then Charlie. Still not Matt Bomer but way more excited to see the movie now,” another fan tweeted.
Producers announced on Wednesday that Dornan will play Grey alongside actress Dakota Johnson, 24, who will play female lead Anastasia Steele.
Dornan replaced actor Hunnam, who squabbled with the filmmakers, including director Sam Taylor-Johnson, according to The Hollywood Reporter
The movie is adapted from E.L. James’ best-selling erotic novel.
Dornan also had roles in a 2009 short film titled “X Returns” and a 2009 UK movie, “Shadows in the Sun.”
Dornan now has 95,000 followers on twitter, adding 2,000 in a matter of hours on Thursday.