As the star of Fifty Shades Of Grey, Jamie Dornan could reasonably expect to achieve heart-throb status.

But the model-turned-actor has admitted he has "massive hang-ups" about his appearance, as the film adaptation of EL James's raunchy best-seller is set to screen in cinemas.

The 32-year-old said playing character Christian Grey had taken the pressure off him, describing him as a "fantasy".

In an interview the Northern Ireland-born star said: "I think I am like anyone - I have massive hang-ups about my physical appearance. I was a very skinny kid but I played a lot of sport. I took rugby very seriously but I always felt skinny and small.

"And now I have the same insecurities as when I was a kid. If I see an image of myself, all I see is this skinny kid and I don't like it.

"No matter how many times you get filmed with your top off and photographers say things like, 'Oh you look great, add more oil' and all that stuff ... if you have these insecurities ingrained your head, all the people in the world saying you look great isn't going to alter that."

Of his character he said: "In a way he's like a superhero and no one like him exists. He gets described as the epitome of male beauty. Well, that doesn't exist."

Last week Dornan, who also starred in The Fall, took first place in Glamour magazine's annual poll of the world's sexiest men.

The film, which will have its UK premiere tomorrow, is expected to be a hit at the box office having pre-sold more than £1 million in tickets.