Ben Barnes

Benjamin Thomas Barnes, known as Ben Barnes, was born on August 20, 1981, in London, England. He is the son of Patricia Becker, a relationship psychotherapist, and Thomas Barnes, a psychiatrist and professor. He has a younger brother named Jack.

Early Life and Education

Barnes grew up in a culturally rich environment, influenced by his mother’s Jewish South African heritage and his father’s scientific background. He attended Homefield Preparatory School in Sutton and King’s College School in Wimbledon, where he was actively involved in music and drama. Barnes sang in choirs and played percussion instruments, including drums and piano, in jazz orchestras and concert bands.

Barnes began his career in musical theatre, joining the National Youth Music Theatre at age 16. He performed in the West End musical adaptation of “Bugsy Malone” as a drummer. Before attending university, he spent two years working with entertainment mogul Simon Fuller, although their projects did not materialize.

He studied English literature and drama at Kingston University, where he graduated with First Class Honours in 2004. During his time at university, Barnes appeared in and directed several productions, including “Don Juan,” “The Golden Age,” and "The Zoo Story".

Career Beginnings

Barnes made his television debut in the series “Doctors” (2000) and his film debut in “Stardust” (2007), directed by Matthew Vaughn. His breakthrough role came in 2008 when he was cast as Prince Caspian in “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.” He reprised this role in “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” (2010).

Major Film Roles

Barnes continued to build his filmography with roles in “Easy Virtue” (2008), where he co-starred with Jessica Biel, and “Dorian Gray” (2009), where he played the title character. He also starred in “Killing Bono” (2011), “The Big Wedding” (2013), and “Seventh Son” (2014).

Television Roles

Barnes has had significant roles in television series, including Logan Delos in HBO’s “Westworld” (2016-2020) and Billy Russo/Jigsaw in the Marvel series “The Punisher” (2017-2019). More recently, he played General Kirigan, also known as The Darkling, in the Netflix series “Shadow and Bone” (2021-2023).

Music Career

In addition to acting, Barnes has pursued a music career. He released his debut single “11:11” in September 2021, followed by his debut extended play (EP) “Songs For You,” which includes tracks like “Rise Up,” “Pirate Song,” “Not the End,” and "Ordinary Day".

Personal Life

Barnes is known for keeping his personal life private. He has spoken about the influence of his family’s diverse cultural background on his life and career. Despite his busy schedule, he remains close to his family and values his privacy.

Trivia and Interests

• Barnes was one of the finalists for the role of Edward Cullen in “Twilight” (2008).

• He has a passion for music and can play the drums and piano.

• Barnes based his Prince Caspian accent on that of Inigo Montoya from “The      Princess Bride” (1987).

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