Charlie Hunnam has a really weird feature in the new issue of InStyle. Weird as in… I don’t get the photoshoot, nor do I really understand why InStyle sent feminist author Roxane Gay to interview him. The editorial features a Canadian tuxedo, flip-flops, an oddly dated-looking Gucci sweatshirt and what appears to be a Christmas-themed vest. The interview reads as a little bit funny, because Gay seems to be studying Hunnam as an odd bird on a nature program. You can read the piece here, plus you can see the odd photos. Some highlights from the interview, including his nicer-sounding explanation for why he ghosted his girlfriend for months.
How he thinks he’s perceived: “I try not to think about that too much because I’m just attempting to shape my own perception of myself and feel confident in my own identity. But people recognize that I have some real ability and have demonstrated that. There will probably be those that still relegate me to being a pretty boy.”
How he feels about his physical beauty: “It’s both collateral damage and a huge opportunity. I mean, it’s a visual medium, and it makes it a lot easier to get roles if you’re a little easier on the eyes. But the reality is you get on set and every scene is a challenge to make work.”
Transitioning back to real life after being “nourished” by his career: “It’s brutal. Reintegration is a motherf—. I keep thinking it’ll get easier, but it doesn’t. It’s really hard for my girlfriend [jewelry designer Morgana McNelis]. There’s all this expectation and longing and hope for what that reunion’s going to be. For me, it’s always a process of trying desperately to get back to center, so I can be that person for her.” Just before Christmas of last year, he wrapped his next film, Papillon (a remake of 1973’s prison-escape drama with Hunnam in the role famously played by Steve McQueen), and McNelis gave him an ultimatum—do whatever you need to do, but don’t come home until you’re ready to see me. Hunnam took a trip back to England to decompress before returning to L.A., which gave him time to “exorcise the experience from my heart and soul” and reflect on “how fragile our connection is to anything.”
He’s an existentialist: “I struggled through my childhood as a bit of a weird, existential kid. I was constantly preoccupied with trying to understand what it all meant.” And now? “I’ve just grown up into a weird, existential adult.”
I’m confused by this statement: “It’s really hard for my girlfriend. There’s all this expectation and longing and hope for what that reunion’s going to be.” Is he talking about HER expectations, longing and hopes or is he talking about his own? Because in context, it sounds like he’s talking about her expectations. Like, he leaves a film and she’s ready for him to get back after four months of no contact and he’s still acting like a d-ck and that’s really difficult for her. That’s how I interpret it. The shorthand for this is that he does whatever he wants and it’s all about him and she just has to deal with that.
As for what he says about being pretty… his answer is a lot better than Kit Harington Says Words About Being A Hunk.
Photos courtesy of Billy Ballard/InStyle and WENN.
I used to love him, now not so much
He comes across as a narcissistic sociopath, like if it comes out years from now that he is abusive it wouldn’t surprise me.
Yeah, it’s like all those girl cliches that *starlets* used to say for effect:
“No one takes me seriously because I’m too good looking”.
“I’m more than this gorgeous face and body.”
“I have a mind too, so don’t objectify me.”
“Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.”
“My beauty is a curse.”
Ugh.
Also, he isn’t **that** pretty… I know that women find him attractive, but he does nothing for me and I bet a lot of the American audience has no clue who he is.
I saw him on Sons of Anarchy, I was not really impressed.
Ugh. He was hot as Jax because he’s buff and the character was strong, confident, and desperately in love with a badass nerd-girl. But Charlie Hunnam himself? Eh.
That GHOST story should have been kept to himself. It can’t be spun in a way that makes him look good. And regarding his “beauty” or looks. The thing I find so amusing is that this applies to women too. The women that I consider really beautiful and the men are the ones that you don’t see them talking about it. They don’t make it an issue. But these people that get some tiny recognition of their looks go on and on about how “hard it is” for them to make it in the business. I could make a list of women/men considered beautiful and ICONIC on that level. Charlie is not going to be one of them in the years to come.. nor that Kit guy so they both need to stop and just do the work. Neither of them or considered “beautiful” worldwide or talked about in that way. And I actually like Charlie a great deal.
I love it when actors talk like they’re going to war. That’s what he’s describing, right? Reintegration? No wait, he’s talking about a movie. For which he has to suffer like Leo? If his girlfriend accepts this kind of behavior, that’s her thing. They’ve been together long enough and she’s an adult. I wouldn’t. It’s unnecessary and indulgent. If you need to go THAT far for a role, maybe you’re not that great of an actor.
Having said that, the photos are fun and he looks hot as f*ck.
It was an intense battle between the Jaegers and the Kaiju. Maybe that’s what he meant?
Regarding his girlfriend, I’m not sure its as straight forward as “shes an adult”. Maybe it is but there is also a very high possibility that she is psychologically trapped in what seems like an emotionally abusive relationship. Whatevers going on, I hope she realises that she deserves better.
Well, in my experience you rarely get an insight into a relationship when only one person is talking to you about it. He might just be bragging about his … art, I guess. And didn’t realize what he was doing. And then he couldn’t turn back. OR it’s nothing like that and it was just a lie in an interview. Or he’s really a terrible boyfriend. I don’t know. But I do know how some of my male friends talk about their marriages and like to act like they’re wearing the pants. Dude, I know your wife. You’re lying. And they often backpedal when I point that out.
Oh I know. I remember hearing my sisters douchey bf dissing some guy for crying over a breakup. This from a guy who I know sobbed into my sisters shoulder when she left for college.
(He had good reason to sob, the distance and the hoardes of better guys around her made her realise that it was time to dump the douche).
I’ve listened to interviews with him on podcasts talking about how it’s really hard to let go of a character once shooting is over and about how he’s carrying around a graveyard of characters inside him. It does sound like each character he plays psychologically scars him for better or worse, in some way.
On one hand, I think it’s kind of a cool because I’ve never thought about it from that perspective. On the other hand, it sounds a bit silly coming from such a third rate actor. I wish I had heard it coming from, say, Daniel Day Lewis or Michael Fassbender or something.
Shh Charlie.
Less words about how you are a giant dink to your gf in almost every way and more words about your workouts. Also this editorial is a giant fail. He’s wearing clothing in everyone, and all the clothing is bad. If you need a laugh, check out the pics.
That gucci sweatshirt looks straight from the 90s. the canadian tuxedo is no good, ever, it looks even sillier with flip flops, and the comforter and grandma’s cast off knit vest? stahp. They actively normcored him. Just say no to normcore.
Final takeaway, not sure if I’m ready for the 90s again, sartorially.
Lol. Such a great comment!
Ugh. He sounds exhausting and selfish.
Its probably just me but that first photo kind of looks like a promo shot for a CW high school show (minus the Gucci branding of course) with the 30 year old actor pretending to be a teenager
why in the HELL would Gay’s talents be wasted on this doofus?
I don’t see anything wrong with Charlie Hunnam answer, I think that’s how you’ll have a relationship when you are a celebrity. He has fantastic girlfriend who’s willing to accept his job as an actor. He is very lucky to have a girlfriend like that. Props to you Charlie.
Did his gf get plastic surgery? Nothing about that face looks natural.
Also, he sounds annoying.
I wouldn’t blame her one iota if she did, not that you need a ‘reason’ for surgery, but she’s been getting flack from Hunnam stans for years about how she’s too ugly for him. So much so he released a statement at one point asking them to leave her alone.
Whoa – that’s sad that fans say that. They seem to keep a low profile because I rarely see anything on them, although i have to admit that I don’t seek it out either.
I think maybe she just has way Bigger features compared to his, which makes it look odd when they are standing next to each other. He has tiny tiny features. Small eyes and nose. She has massive lips and a larger nose. No worries just such a contrast in photos. Girl, get yourself a MAN!
He sounds really up himself. I kind of wish he’d done 50 shades now, just to hear how he would have talked about it.
All I can think of is “try acting my dear boy.” And get over yourself.
“There’s all this expectation and longing and hope for what that reunion’s going to be. For me, it’s always a process of trying desperately to get back to center, so I can be that person for her.”
I was prepared to be annoyed with him, but I was shocked to admit that this describes me to a T. I’m in a long-distance relationship, and whenever I dont see my partner for a longer amount of time – often because I have to work – I struggle to go to that place of being open and letting him in. Its often a process that takes a couple of days, sometimes weeks. I am so consumed with writing that I cant seem to let anything else in. Its gotta be hard for my partner.
Having said that, CHarlie still sounds so exhausting and yeah, he’s probably a douche.
It makes a lot of sense to me too. Sort of like, finishing a movie is a big adjustment emotionally. Totally switching your routine, the people you were seeing all day every day are now completely absent, the person you were pretending to be is over too…
Meanwhile your significant other is in a totally different emotional place, they’ve been missing you and can’t wait to see you and spend a ton of time together.
It makes a lot of sense to me that some time in between to decompress and get to the same place as them might be necessary.
I think it’s strong of her to make sure he understands that, and decent of him to put in the effort to be what she needs.
He sounds like a douche and I see no reason to ghost your partner during filming. Yikes
What a grade A douche. Such a loser. And can i say. He really isn’t that beautiful. You know what brit is beautiful? Dan stevens. Those eyes?! Swoon. Does he ever EVER talk about it? Hell know. Because he isn’t a d!ck wad.
And this guy trying to justify his ghosting?! Whoever thinks that is ever a great idea is A) a sh!t actor. And B) a sh!t person.
Second Dan Stevens, who’s starting to flex his acting chops on Legion, but I also offer Alfred Enoch, who’s always been a cutie patootie and will likely become a hunk. Also, Idria Elba, hello!
I love the Gucci jumper – it’s fire. He looks good.
Try reintegrating after a 6 months tour of Iraq Charlie.
🤔 ok… On a positive note: he has a way with words. Very dramatic. He should consider writing.
he’s an assh*le
#FreeMorgana
He’s gorgeous but completely insufferable when he opens his mouth. All I can say is that this is better than all the tough guy bullshit he was spouting when he was on Sons of Anarchy.
“There’s all this expectation and longing and hope for what that reunion’s going to be.” <- this sounds unhealthy as F— to me. Am I wrong or is that, “ugh she expects too much from me”?? I hope this isn’t one of those relationships where one person puts up with a ton of shit because they feel like they’re less than their partner, but it sure sounds like it is. He’s gross for ghosting on her. It’s one thing to support your partner in their endeavors but when he’s that reckless with your feelings and thinks that it is OK to continue to engage in that behavior and then run around giving interviews where he flippantly divulges that info like nothing is wrong with it, there’s a problem. He’s an asshole.
I can’t stand it anymore, does anyone else notice how tiny his head is?!? I do not mean figuratively, I mean the actual size of his head. For awhile when I saw pictures if him I thought everyone else had huge heads, until I realized no, it’s him! His head is itty bitty. Ok. Sorry. That has nothing to do with anything, I will go away now.
top photo he totally looks like Channing Tatum.
I’m not loving this interview. He sounds like a terrible boyfriend.
It’s so hard going back to real life after getting paid millions of dollars to do a movie.
…and it must be so jarring after being the center of attention for months, with hordes of people catering to every whim like the fate of the world depended on the latte from craft services being the optimum temperature.
What an asswipe. His gf needs to dump him. She can do such much better. She doesn’t even look happy in that picture with him.
There is nothing less attractive than a man who takes himself too seriously.
Also, his acting is mediocre at best.
I am not an actor so I don’t know how ‘draining’ a career it is. I can only imagine it’s quite tiring. Being on your feet all day, late nights, early starts. Hours waiting around…sigh. I do get that it is probably difficult to switch back to reality after being in an acting bubble for acouple of months. As a previous poster said, it’s hardly coming back from Iraq or Afghanistan though.
Wow, what a douchebag. First off, I’ve not seen him in anything where it ever occurred to me, “oh wow, Charlie Hunnam can act” and second of all how dare he be so far up his own ass that he ghosts his own GF. It’s only acting. Are you not able to distinguish acting from real life? I feel sorry for his GF.
We should rename this “Charlie Hunnam says words about being a boyfriend.”
Yeah, I’m not really feeling you that much anymore, Charlie. Seems like he’s pretty up himself. I didn’t care for his comment about buying his girlfriend some “cheap” emeralds either. Don’t refer to a gift for your girlfriend as being cheap, dude. Never thought his acting was that great, though he was pretty convincing as one of the villains in Cold Mountain. I hated him in that movie, so job well done, I guess. I know it’s not an exact comparison, but what he says about reintegration being “so brutal” in relation to his girlfriend’s expectations made me think of how an actual stellar actor phrased it once:
“My fellow nominees, my equals, my betters, I’m so proud to have been included as one amongst you. When we got married 16 years ago, or since we got married 16 years ago, my wife Rebecca has lived with some very strange men. I mean they were strange as individuals and probably even stranger if taken as a group. But luckily she’s the versatile one in the family and she’s been the perfect companion to all of them.”
Now, that’s nicely done. Strange I get, but acting like an a**hole, no. Take some pointers from Daniel Day-Lewis, Jax.
Kind of surprised the of the negative reactions here, but then it is Celebitchy. thought he was open and it was refreshing. I get what he’s saying, and I feel like he’s acknowledging his girlfriend has the patience of Job. As for everyone saying he’s full of himself, his fellow actors that have worked with him, and the fans that have been lucky enough to meet him all have said he is humble, and down to earth. Totally unaffected. Can’t wait to see the three movies he’s got coming out this year.
He looks like his Hooligans character, not in a good way.
I kind of feel that he’s being a douchey in a “we’re together when we’re together and not and when we’re not.” But if she did give him that ultimatum, that’s refreshing, it gives me hope that the rules apply equally to her and that she’s not just waiting around for him.