“I’d just walk around at night”: Charlie Hunnam Couldn’t Get Over Sons of Anarchy, Snuck Into Set to Relive Old Memories to Get Emotional Closure
Charles Matthew Hunnam is a 42-year-old British actor. The renowned actor is most recognized for his performances in Green Street Hooligans and as Jax Teller in the FX series Sons of Anarchy. He was nominated for the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actor twice for the latter role. The Sons of Anarchy pilot episode was aired when the actor had already established himself in the entertainment industry. He became famous after appearing in a number of big-budget films, including Nicholas Nickleby (2002; his first movie in which he played the lead character), Green Street, Triple Frontier, Jungleland, The Gentlemen, The Legend of the Sword and many others. He has been working in the entertainment business for more than two decades and has amassed millions of followers worldwide.
Charlie Hunnam Was Never the Same After Sons of Anarchy: What Happened to His Career?
Hunnam was a fan favorite for the whole seven-season run of Sons of Anarchy, which aired from 2008 to 2014. Viewers who have followed his work have undoubtedly noticed that, since the series finale aired approximately five years ago, the actor has taken his career in a different direction. In addition, he made several questionable choices that led some to worry if his career would ever recover. The actor underwent some significant life changes following the conclusion of the titular show that made him rethink his goals. In 2013, he lost his father, which compelled him to further consider his future. The actor felt completely lost.
Actors exert considerable effort, not only physically but also mentally, after years of playing one role and then switching to a completely different one. It was difficult for Charlie Hunnam to bid farewell to his most adored and long-running role as Jax Teller. In fact, the way he recalls the experience implies that he went through stages of grief. According to reports, Apple TV+ has decided to discontinue Shantaram, the Charlie Hunnam-led drama based on Gregory David Roberts’ novel. The show aired for only one season and has since been canceled for future seasons.
Charlie Hunnam recalls his time on Sons of Anarchy and how the show has impacted his career
The Tripple Frontier actor has been candid about his life after the titular film, claiming that landing the role wasn’t easy. He was excessively nostalgic about his time on the show, and he admitted to making up excuses to visit the set and remember his days on the show. Hunnam said,
“I recognized the security guards and for a few days said, Oh, I forgot something. So they’d let me onto the set, and I’d just walk around at night because I needed to be in that environment and go through my personal goodbye process.”
During an interview with People in 2020, the Papillon actor claimed that he was frequently asked if he would ever recreate his most famous role. The Gentlemen actor stated that he would never, ever go back to his previous cut. He says, “I would never put his rings back on. Not even for Halloween.” He continued,
“It was a very deep experience, and I lived with that character inside me for years, like, in a very real sense, in ways I never expected.”
He continued by adding that the character is now dead for him and that he will never be brought back. He shot the final season of Sons of Anarchy in 2014, and the actor recalls that he was ready to undergo a transition period in his career. But then something unexpected happened in his personal life. When his father died, he was compelled to consider his career choices. This was one of the reasons for Hunnam’s decision to leave the character of Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey.
Source: People
