VIDEO: E. L. James' Husband Niall Leonard: Christian Grey Is 'A Mess'

by UInterviewSeptember 11, 2012, 12:00 amNews >

As much as women all over the world might want Christian Grey from the enormously popular novel, Fifty Shades of Grey, by fanfiction author-turned-mommy-porn-trailblazer E. L. James, to be real, life just isn't imitating art (art?) this time around, says James' (whose real name is Erika Leonard) husband of over 20 years, Niall Leonard.

"He's a deeply damaged fantasy figure," Leonard told CNN about the anti-hero in Fifty Shades of Grey, who strikes up a bondage-heavy relationship with the young, impressionable Anastasia Steele. In a way, Erika very quickly realized that you couldn't sustain a long story with a guy who was perfect and perfectly happy — you're not going to go anywhere. So she very quickly realized that … this character had a difficult time, and there was a lot of healing to do."

Getting around to the point, Leonard clarified, "So I'm very happy not to be Christian Grey, 'cause that guy is a mess." He did, however, lend a hand in helping his wife with Fifty Shades of Grey. "I wouldn't say I was her editor. I was a proofreader." And, while there's very little of him in the book, Leonard says he can recognize his wife Erika "in the emails that they [Ana and Christian] exchange, 'cause that's very much my wife's amazing ability to flirt via email."

Apart from that, "for all intents and purposes, we're just a regular family," he said.

Leonard, who also describes himself as a writer, has penned a book of his own. Crusher, about a boy searching for his father's killer, hits bookstores in Europe and Asia this week.

Names being tossed around for the role of Christian Grey in the movie version of Fifty Shades of Grey that will, no doubt, be cast soon, include Matt Bomer, Chris Pine, Chris Hemsworth, Henry Cavill, Ian Somerhalder, Bradley Cooper, Alexander Skarsgard and Ryan Gosling.

Watch the interview here:

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For more on Fifty Shades of Grey:

Ryan Gosling Cast In '50 Shades Of Grey,' Says E.L. James' Husband

'50 Shades Of Grey' Casting: Bret Easton Ellis Votes Against Matt Bomer

Bradley Cooper Talked Up For 'Fifty Sades Of Grey' — But Hasn't Read The Book

Mark Wahlberg Discusses '50 Shades Of Grey' Movie

William Levy Discusses '50 Shades Of Grey' Casting On TV's 'Extra'

'American Psycho' Writer Bret Easton Ellis Wants To Adapt '50 Shades of Grey,' Cast Skarsgard

Chris Pine Would Join '50 Shades Of Grey' Cast 'If It's A Good Script'

WATCH: Ellen DeGeneres Reads '50 Shades Of Grey'

WATCH: Selena Gomez In '50 Shades Of Grey' Parody