Charlie Hunnam Admits He's "Not What Everybody Imagined" for Christian Grey Role

Charlie Hunnam who is set to play Christian Grey in the film version of EL James's best-selling erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey, admitted that he is aware that he is not what some fans had in mind for the role.

In the film, the 33-year-old actor will be seen opposite Dakota Johnson, daughter of actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson.

"There are so many fans of that book and I know that on the surface, I'm probably not what everybody imagined," he told Entertainment Weekly, "Because reading is so personal and people bring a character to life in their imagination, they feel ownership over that character. That's daunting if I allowed myself to think about it too much. I'm taking it very seriously and intend to explore the nature of who this character is, what motivates him—and also dress up nice and look good in those suits."

Meanwhile, his Sons of Anarchy co-stars revealed that they were shocked when they heard the casting.

"When he told me that it was happening or that he was considering it I just howled. I mean I think we all did. We're all like, what?"" Maggie Siff, who plays Jax's wife Tara said, "And then I talked to him seriously about it. I think he's very brave to do it. He doesn't do anything unless he feels it deep down. He's not going to do something because all of his agents are telling him to do something. That's what makes me think it stands a chance of being really, really great. If he has that conviction going in, then you know it'll be great."

Previously, the show's creator Kurt Sutter had revealed that he and Hunnam had serious talks about the impact of appearing in the movie.

"I'm really proud of him," Katey Sagal (she plays Gemma Teller Morrow) added, "The choice was not an obvious one for him. But for good or bad, he will throw himself 100 percent in. I don't know if I want to see all that, but maybe."