Film’s new ‘Prince’

Ben Barnes is ready to ride into greatness

PROFILE. Ben Barnes is tired. His throat hurts and he wants to take a nap. And yet, through such obvious discomfort, the young British actor keeps smiling and pouring on charm.

“It’s nothing,” he says of his throat infection. “It’s just from doing so much press and traveling that I’m worn down. But really, let’s talk,” he implores.

And so we do.

Through alternating sips of tea and an energy drink, Barnes, 26, tells us about starring in the play “The History Boys” in London when a casting agent asked him to audition for the second installment of the Disney juggernaut franchise, “Chronicles of Narnia.” 

After what he describes as a “somewhat awkward tryout — they had me use an umbrella instead of sword and I kinda fell into a camera,” he was anointed the title role of Prince Caspian. Just four weeks later, he was in costume, on horseback, and swashbuckling through various international locations.

“I’m confident it’s better than the first one, if only because I’m in it,” he says cheekily when asked if he’s nervous being the newcomer now helming a popular series. His affable persona aside, Barnes is fully aware of the magnitude of his debut starring film role.

“The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,” based on the children’s books by C.S. Lewis, pulled in $700 million worldwide. And now that its sequel is about to hit theaters, it’s Barnes who is heading the charge to ensure the second film does as well (if not better) than the first. “There are so many more layers to this film,” he says. “I think it will bring in a whole new audience.”

“Prince Caspian” is set 1,300 years after the Pevensie children first found a magical wardrobe that led them to Narnia. Banished from the kingdom by his evil uncle, Prince Caspian wanders the realm’s woods and blows on a magic horn that, unbeknownst to him, brings the Pevensie clan back to Narnia to help him save the land.

When Barnes was 8 years old and read the “Narnia” books, he “wanted to be Peter” he says of the eldest Pevensie.

“But at 26, I know that Caspian is a much more fun role to play,” he adds. “Peter was the stereotypical hero — the oldest brother who is given a chance to redeem himself and look after his siblings. Caspian was always the slightly awkward, anxious boy who suddenly found all of these huge things asked of him. He’s daunted and unsure and he doesn’t feel like he is ready to be a leader, which makes him more interesting,” he explains.

Is that life imitating art in Barnes’ description of his epic role? He shares the anecdote of calling his brother when his face started popping up on billboards all over the world: “My brother said, ‘It’s not you. It’s Caspian! Just look at his tan. It’s definitely not you, so get over it,’” he remembers. “I have good people around me.”