Westworld’s Ben Barnes talks first album after playing ‘manipulative liars’ on TV
He’s entering his second act.
Actor Ben Barnes, who has been a Hollywood staple for decades in shows like “Westworld,” “The Punisher” and “Shadow and Bone” and movies like “The Chronicles of Narnia,” has released his debut album, called “Where the Light Gets In” (now available).
His music video for his song “One Minute More” featuring Monica Martin is out Friday, Feb. 14.
“The fact that I’m doing this new thing in my 40s is something that people have really found that they can take some kind of comfort in. It’s never too late to try something new,” Barnes, 43, told The Post.
“As I’ve been doing shows [on tour], I found myself talking about that more and more — about just getting out and doing the thing that makes you happy, because our time is very precious on this planet.”
He added that it’s been gratifying to see his fans follow him into this new endeavor.
“They’ve gone with me through playing psychopathic murderers in Marvel shows,” he said, referring to his “Punisher” character Billy Russo/Jigsaw.
He continued: “All the way through to all different genres that I’ve done … And now I’m doing this music thing, which is so much more and about sharing something of my authentic self, rather than hiding behind a character or delivering someone else’s script.”
Barnes’ musical sound is a mixture of poppy and soulful. He cited Elton John, Ella Fitzgerald and the Rolling Stones as being among his influences, which he liked listening to during his childhood in England.
He also collaborated with Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine on his album through a happy coincidence, when he bumped into him at the gym.
“He had seen me in a show, and obviously I had seen him as part of one of the biggest bands in the world. And I just thought it was worth taking a chance. I ran after him in the parking lot, and I said, ‘I’m putting together some music. Would you ever be interested in writing a song together or anything?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, sure, why not?’” Barnes recalled.
“So we started to write a song together … and he ended up producing the album. Having that kind of endorsement felt really wonderful.”
Barnes hasn’t ditched his acting career, however. He’s still got an upcoming starring role in a Stephen King adaptation (“The Institute,” coming to MGM+ on an unannounced date).
“I think my career started out — there was a lot of ‘boy with sword’ kind of arcs,” he said, referring to his roles as Prince Caspian in the “Narnia” franchise and in “Stardust.”
He said after that, he had fun playing “naughty” characters, like the sleazy Logan on “Westworld,” the “murderous and narcissistic” Jigsaw in the “Punisher” and then “just sort of a pure villain” in “Shadow and Bone.”
Barnes tried “to find an element of charm” in his recent villain roles.
But now in “The Institute,” he’s looking forward to circling back to “playing a character that you’re rooting for.”
“I play an ex-cop [and] you’ll be either very disappointed or very relieved to hear that this is a man with a moral compass!” he told The Post. “It was fun after quite a few years of playing manipulative liars to play someone who tells the truth.”
One of Barnes’ earliest projects, 2008’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” is also getting an update, as “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig is making a “Chronicles of Narnia” movie.
“It was one of the best things that ever happened to me,” he shared. “So, this new version is going to be the best thing that’s ever happened to somebody else. I think Greta Gerwig always makes really fresh feeling, exciting films … I’m excited to see what that is.”
About whether he’d participate in the film if asked, Barnes quipped: “Probably if I could voice some kind of beaver or something, why not?”
