Ben Barnes

Benjamin Thomas "Ben" Barnes is an English actor. He is known for his portrayal of Caspian X in The Chronicles of Narnia films Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, for playing the title character in the 2009 adaptation of Dorian Gray, and for his roles in the films Stardust, Killing Bono, Seventh Son, The Words, Jackie & Ryan, and The Big Wedding.

Barnes was born in London, to Tricia, a relationship therapist, and Thomas Barnes, a professor of psychiatry. He has a younger brother, Jack. His mother, who is Jewish, is originally from South Africa. Barnes was educated at Kingston University in Kingston-upon-Thames, where he graduated with a BA in Drama and English Literature in 2004. Barnes began his career in musical theatre. As a teenager, he spent a few years as part of the National Youth Music Theatre, and at 15 landed his first professional job as a drummer in the West End musical adaptation of Bugsy Malone. He was briefly a singer in the pop boy band Hyrise, which was in the running to represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004. Barnes returned to the West End stage in 2010, with a starring role in Birdsong.