Jamie Dornan Defends the Romantic Aspect of '50 Shades of Grey'

— -- When most people bring up "50 Shades of Grey," it's to discuss the erotic parts of the book.

However, Jamie Dornan, who will play Christian Grey in the film adaptation of the novel, said that that's not at the core of the story.

"The love story is more important than the BDSM aspect," he told Elle UK. "I mean, we are going to tell a love story, you know, it can’t just be what happens in the Red Room, that’s not a film. There’s so much more going on than that."

Dornan, 32, shot the movie alongside Dakota Johnson, who plays the female lead, Anastasia Steele. "50 Shades of Grey" is set to hit theaters next month, on Valentine's Day.

The actor also defended the film when asked whether it's anti-feminist.

"I can understand why people say tying a woman up and spanking her is misogynistic," he said. "But actually, more men are submissives than women. Very powerful men. It’s a far bigger scene than I imagined: In pretty much any city in the world that you could name, people want to get spanked with a paddle with studs on it."

Still, the role he most prizes is that of "dad." Dornan has a 2-year-old daughter with actress Amelia Warner, whom he detests being away from for long periods of time.

"I’ve had to be away the last couple of weekends, and I come back and I barely recognize her, and it’s awful. She changes so much," he said. "Then I have this huge fear that she won’t recognize me. The beard helps, but I had to shave it off a couple of times, so she’s been shocked for the first few hours. She looks at me like: ‘Do I love you? I think I love you.’ I have to win back her trust."