Fifty Shades of Grey movie: David Gandy reveals why he left the part of Christian Grey to Jamie Dornan

The British male model explains he ticked all the boxes, but it just didn’t feel right for him

David Gandy at Milan Fashion Week (GETTY IMAGES)

British supermodel David Gandy was offered the part of Christian Grey in the upcoming film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey, but he turned it down.

In explaining his decision he told Square Mile: “It just didn't feel right, in any way. And in my gut, it felt right to say no."

Despite having the physique and brooding expression of the erotic novel’s leading man, and being worth an approximate £10 million, Gandy rejected the role and has no regrets.

He was never a big fan of the bestseller anyway. In an interview with Daily Mirror he criticised it by saying: “I thought it was badly written.”

The 34-year-old from Essex could have doubled his fame overnight by accepting the role, but he has re-asserted how he is happy to have turned down not only the film adaption of EL James’ bestseller, but other big Hollywood gigs too.

"I was offered Fifty Shades of Grey, 300: Rise of an Empire, Hercules, which a lot of people probably would have taken as actors but I'm in the fortunate position where I like what I'm doing. I don't feel the need to act," he said.

"I know if you're in a successful film, your status changes overnight. And I'm not saying I wouldn't, I've read many parts that I'd love to play, things that I've chosen, though, not things that've been sent. Critics and literary experts aren't fans of Fifty Shades of Grey but I respect it for what it is. But was it right for me? No.”

But Gandy, who’s one of the world’s top male models, is happy to take on other fictional roles.

He played a seductive shoe-stealing lothario in Bionda Castana’s steamy autumn/winter 2013 video campaign and Jennifer Lopez’s love interest in the racy music video for her single First Love in 2014, which gave Gandy celebrity status and instant name recognition in America.

Following the video success, Lopez described him as “almost perfect” and said on an ABC talk show: “If I had a celebrity crush, it would be him.”