Jamie Dornan has always been private about his struggles playing Christian Grey, but what fans didn’t know is that he nearly quit before filming Fifty Shades Freed.
During post-production of Darker, Dornan experienced a mental health spiral. The pressure of global attention, intense scenes, and fan obsession took a toll. He reportedly requested counseling through the studio and considered exiting quietly.
“Christian Grey followed him home,” said a friend. “He’d walk into his house and still feel trapped in the role.”
Dakota Johnson stepped in. According to crew members, she convinced him during a phone call to return—reminding him that they had built this world together. She also promised to help lighten the tone of certain scenes to protect his mental health.
Dornan agreed. “She saved the ending,” one producer said. “Without her, there may not have been one.”
The studio quietly brought in wellness experts during Freed’s production. Dornan later described the final shoot as “the hardest thing I’ve ever done—and the most cathartic.”
