Fifty Shades Jamie Dornan reveals what naughty fans 'got off on most' in the sexy films

The movies were not a hit with critics but fans of the EL James books flocked to cinemas to see all three. In the end, the trilogy banked a spanking $1.3billion at the box office as Christian and Anastasia explored their sexual S&M peccadillos in between a spot of intrigue. The film made international stars and sex symbols of Dornan and Johnson, who fearlessly bared (almost) all in some of the sauciest scene ever shown on the big screen. But what thrilled fans most?

Dornan is currently promoting his new film, A Private War, about the life and death of war journalist Marie Colvin.

He acknowledges the Fifty Shades of Grey movies have given him a much higher profile and better opportunities in Hollywood.

He told Deadline: “I think it’s given me so much beyond finance-wise, I mean that opportunity to then do the movies that we’re talking about like Anthropoid and A Private War, movies like that have so much heart and mean so much to me. I would not have been given those opportunities if I hadn’t done Fifty Shades.” 

He also pays tribute to the fan response.

Dornan added: “It was a little bit bulletproof in terms of how it was going to be received from the likes of yourself and other critics.

“I think it had such a strong fan base so passionately supportive of it that…I almost think it being received as not great fueled them. I feel like they almost got off on that because it was such a strong example of movies that are made for the fans and these people who have devoured these books, and these characters mean so much to them.”

The Irish actor admits he is grateful for the boost to his career but worries it may come to define him.

Dornan said: “I struggle with that. I might be fighting this my entire career. I hope not. You just want to keep trying to improve yourself and better yourself.”

FULL INTERVIEW IN DEADLINE