His profile has gone stratospheric since being cast as the main character in the forthcoming Fifty Shades of Grey movie - so it's understandable that Jamie Dornan has been in hiding.
The 31 year-old was spotted out in public today for the first time since the news was made official.
He was seen leaving a private residence in London, wearing a black overcoat and designer sunglasses.
Keeping it casual: The 31 year-old wore a white T-shirt with jeans and 'celeb' sunglasses
Wearing a white T-shirt with jeans and brown leather boots, he was casually cool as he dashed into the backseat of a waiting vehicle.
The 5ft 11in Northern Irish hunk, who dated Keira Knightley from 2003-2005, beat out a slew of stars to win the role after actor Charlie Hunnam pulled out.
Jamie, a former Calvin Klein model, was a favourite to land the role alongside Matt Bomer, Alexander Skarsgard, Theo James and Christian Cooke.
Career-high: Jamie's schedule has no doubt become intense now he is due to start work on the project
It's official: Jamie Dornan has landed the role of kinky billionaire Christian Grey in Fifty Shades Of Grey
Confirmation: E L James tweeted that the Northern Irish actor will play the coveted role
Film of the book: Fifty Shades of Grey became a bestseller with 70 million copies sold worldwide
His acting career has seen him play Axel von Fersen in Sofia Coppola's film Marie Antoinette, Sheriff Graham Humbert in the ABC series Once Upon a Time and more recently alongside Gillian Anderson as serial killer Paul Spector in crime drama series The Fall which has been renewed for a second series.
Jamie is also preparing to become a first-time father, his actress wife Amelia Warner is expecting their first child.
Thursday's announcement - which was confirmed by E.L.James - set Twitter abuzz, with celebrities including Lena Dunham tweeting their support for Dornan.
'I'm a monstrous @JamieDornan1 fan," Lena Dunham wrote. 'Wasn't allowed to be attracted to him on The Fall bc he played a sexmurderer. 50 Shades is my big chance!'
Jamie will star opposite Dakota Johnson, who is playing his leading lady Anastasia Steele.
Fifty Shades Of Grey is the first book in a three part series - it's followed by Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed.
Cillian Murphy, Ian Somerhalder and Alex Pettyfer were also apparently being considered to play Christian, while Robert Pattinson was said to be author EL James's top pick from day one but thought to be too A-list to want the role.
Hot favourite: The actor, seen in June beat several other stars to get the role
He's got the look: The former Calvin Klein model's impressive physique will surely please the book's legions of fans
While the official line given by movie executives was that Hunnam pulled out due to his 'immersive TV schedule', some reports suggested the shy actor was fearful of the amount of attention the role has already garnered.
'He dropped out of the project because he didn't want to be typecast. He didn't want the Robert Pattinson-esque attention that would come along with taking on this role,' a source tells People magazine.
Now and then: Jamie with wife Amelia Warner, and back in 2004 when he dated Keira Knightley
Leading lady: Dakota Johnson, pictured last month, is still playing Anastasia Steele in the movie
A source also confirmed to E! News that Charlie's decision to opt out wasn't 'a surprise', adding, 'What he was taking on with this role was not what Charlie wants in his future career. The attention and the pressure was intense.'
'More than anything, he hates attention, and being in Fifty Shades Of Grey would force him to do lots of media.
'That's really not his thing. Charlie doesn't want to be massively famous. Plus, he hates conforming and being told what to do. This role would force him to have to be something he is not.'
Meanwhile, according to reports, True Blood actor Luke Grimes has also signed on to star in the project - as Christian Grey’s brother Elliot.
The highly-anticipated movie is scheduled to be released on August 1, 2014 in the US.
Quick exit: Charlie Hunnam, pictured on set of
Sons Of Anarchy last week, dropped out of the project a month after he
was announced as Christian
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