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Translation from LoveyaBen

The life as a Prince began with a sore backside

Today “The Chronicles of Narnia – Prince Caspian” starts in Austrian cinemas. Handsome 26 year old Londoner Ben Barnes (“Stardust”) plays the title role.

OÖN: Is there any fateful relation between Prince Caspian and you?
Barnes: Yes I think so. I absolutely loved all the Narnia-Books of C.S. Lewis as a child, and as an eight year old boy Peter Pevensie was the first character I identified myself with. As a Teenager my sympathies changed to Prince Caspian. Now I found the books on the loft. And suddenly I’m allowed to play that character in the movie. l don't believe it.

OÖN: In your very first scene which was filmed in New Zealand you had to ride a horse. Could you ride before?
Barnes: That was the first question the producers asked me. I had no Idea how to ride a horse, but of course I was not that stupid to admit that immediately. As the’ve asked me if I had ever ridden a horse before I said “Yes!” and I had a clean conscience because once I was on the back of a horse. But I’ve never ridden a horse before. Of course the whole truth and nothing but the truth came out at some point, and I had to make crash courses in riding and fencing in Auckland. You can’t imagine how much your backside hurts after you’ve been on the back of a horse six hours a day.

OÖN: You thought about a career as a pop singer a few years ago?
Barnes: As I was 22 years old I was the oldest member of the boyband Hyrise which had four members. We had partaken on the preliminary decision of the Eourovision Song Contest 2004, but were kicked out right in the first round. I always say: My pop career lasted not longer than vour and a half minutes. I decided to study english literature and theatre-sciences on the Kingston University.

OÖN: You have had your stage-test already. Would you like to go back on stage?
Barnes: Fortunately I have many offers for the movies at the moment, there’s no time for the stage.

OÖN: So the movie is your number one?
Ben: I was always a movie-fan.

OÖN: Do you have paragons?
Barnes: Because I go very often to the cinema they are changing every week. Last week it was Robert Downey jr. whom I had the pleasure to meet.

OÖN: Is there a ideal Princess for Prince Caspian?
Barnes: Not private, I have no time. In the movie on the other hand you’ll see how she’ll look. Caspian marries at the end of part three.

OÖN: So there will be a third part and you’ve signed already?
Barnes: I’ve signed for all parts which include the character of the Prince.

OÖN: How much free time do you have at the moment?
Banres: In the last few weeks it was just one day. What I’ve done? I was just sitting on the couch closing my eyes.

OÖN: You’ll be 27 on the 20. August...
Barnes: Yes, but because everyone has the opionion that I’m looking younger I’m not allowed to play 27 year old characters. At the moment they just take me for characters which are about 20 years old, and before that I was always 18.

OÖN: Your future-destinations?
Barnes: My father gave me one principle:” Success is the most beautiful revenge.“ I also have a T-Shirt with that principle. Meanwhile „revenge“ is not that important to me. I would like to be a good actor and no girls’ idol.

OÖN: Meanwhile your new movie “Easy Virtue”, a Noel Coward novel, is finished. Your partners are Jessica Biel and Colin Firth?
Barnes: As I heard Jessica Biel is involved I signed without asking for the paymant.

OÖN: And now you will play another classical dream part, Oscar Wildes’ “Dorian Gray”?
Barnes: At the moment really one dream after the other comes true. Apropos Oscar Wilde: He once said a really beautiful sentence which I kept in my mind very well: As he was asked how he celebrates his birthdays he replied:” In mourning of the losing of another year.”