Ben Barnes has watched his music inspire a range of reactions—everything from heartfelt singalongs and warm embraces to unexpected pole dancing.
“There’s been an awful lot of pole dancing. I have no idea where that comes from, but it’s been incredible to see people taking inspiration from me,” Barnes, 43, shared in an exclusive interview. “If I can make pop music as a man in his 40s, then people can absolutely pursue whatever it is they want to do.”
The actor, widely recognized for his roles in The Chronicles of Narnia, Westworld, and Shadow & Bone, recently released his debut full-length album, Where the Light Gets In.
The record showcases his emotive vocals, uplifting lyrics, and piano-driven melodies—something that wouldn’t have been possible had Barnes not rediscovered his love for the instrument after abandoning lessons decades ago.
“I had one lesson when I was about 8, and the teacher was a horrible old witch. She completely shamed me by the end of it,” he recalled. “I remember it so vividly and just thought, ‘Well, I’m never going back to the piano. Piano is stupid.’”
Despite his belief in appreciating life’s journey without regrets, Barnes admitted he sometimes wonders what could have been. “I know it’s important to value every experience that’s led you to where you are now, but I do think, ‘What if I had just gone back the next week…?’”
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His return to the piano, more than 25 years later, was sparked by a conversation with his mother, Tricia, who was battling ovarian cancer at the time.
“In my mid-30s, I was talking to my mom about priorities. She wasn’t very well, and I told her, ‘My priorities are to do this, this, and this.’ And one of them was playing more music,” Barnes shared.
“She’s incredibly wise, and she told me, ‘Those aren’t your priorities. Those are things you’d like to see yourself doing—dreams, not priorities. Priorities are what you actually make time for.’”
Ben Barnes Reveals the Advice from His Mother That Helped Him Make His Debut Album
Her words struck a chord, prompting Barnes to dedicate himself to music seriously.
“It really was just one conversation—one short conversation—but it hit me hard,” he said. “I realized that if these were things I truly wanted, I had to make a conscious effort to move them to the top of my list.
Ben Barnes
So, I took a few lessons, started practicing, and now playing the piano has become a real source of solace for me. After a long day of filming, I love just sitting at the piano, playing a few chords—it’s an incredibly peaceful experience. That advice was invaluable.”
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Though Barnes began learning to play later in life, he soon realized he had already been honing his songwriting skills for years.
“I would meet established musicians who would walk me through music structure, chord progressions, and key changes—things I didn’t fully understand. But then they’d say, ‘I’ve written this song, but I’m stuck on the second verse. Can you take a look at the lyrics?’” he explained. “And I thought, ‘Finally, my literature degree is coming in handy!’”
He found a deep sense of fulfillment in discovering talents that had been with him all along. “Finding something you’re naturally good at later in life is such a rewarding experience,” Barnes said.
Ben Barnes Reveals the Advice from His Mother That Helped Him Make His Debut Album
His songwriting leans into optimism, a stark contrast to the darker roles he’s played in recent years. His single Beloved explores the idea of loving someone who struggles to accept love (“You’re so beloved so be loved”), while Slow It Down carries the weight of a romantic proposal (“Share your baby names with me / Stand at family graves with me”).
Despite playing numerous villains, Barnes doesn’t feel his acting influences his music. However, he admitted, “It was definitely nice to come home after long days of villainy on various TV shows, sit at the piano, and write these more sentimental songs. There’s a lot of comfort in that.”
While his lyrics are full of hope, they aren’t just a persona—Barnes sees them as a reflection of who he truly is.
“I think that sense of hopefulness is just an intrinsic part of who I am and who I want to be as a person,” he told. “Sharing that message—that life is short and precious, and that we should approach it with love and self-acceptance—feels natural. That sentiment always manages to find its way into my songs, no matter what I originally set out to write about. It’s simply part of me.”
Barnes is currently wrapping up the U.S. leg of his tour, with his final American show set for Saturday, February 1, in New York City. He will then travel to the U.K. and Europe before returning to Los Angeles for a performance on March 5.
