Charlie Hunnam
IN PHOTO: Cast member Charlie Hunnam waves to fans at the premiere of "Pacific Rim" at Dolby theatre in Hollywood, California July 9, 2013. The movie opens in the U.S. on July 12. Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

The "Sons of Anarchy" actor Charlie Hunnam recently admitted that he suffered from nervous breakdown. He further said that it was the reason why he turned down the lead role in Sam taylor-Wood's adaptation of "Fifty Shades of Grey."

The role would have been a turning point in his career, but the actor said that it was a really difficult time in his life and he was unable to keep up with his filming schedule. In an interview with Moviefone, he said that he would not have signed up for the film if he was not keen on doing it.

Explaining his hectic schedule then, Hunnam said that after finishing the "Sons of Anarchy" shoot by Friday night, he had to go straight to Vancouver for "Fifty Shades of Grey." He added that such schedule made him miss the whole first week of rehearsal, which made him feel like he was not prepared enough for the role. "I just had like... Frankly, something of a nervous breakdown," he stated.

When Hunnam signed on the role of Christian Grey in "Fifty Shades of Grey," the news caught media attention. According to US magazine People, his reason to quit then was due to his fears of being typecast. While several reports surfaced regarding the real reason behind him quitting the film, Hunnam ultimately admitted that it was due to his "nervous breakdown."

Hunnam further said that part of the nervous breakdown was due to fans criticizing him for not being the right choice for the role. Media hyped the issue, further contributing to his negative state of mind. During the time, he was also undergoing depression after the death of his father. Continuous work added to the burden and he said that he needed time to heal.

Hunnam is doing much better now and is trying to focus on his work and other commitments, reports E! News. His aim is to remain optimistic and to give his best in everything he does.

Hunnam was replaced by Jamie Dornan in "Fifty Shades of Grey." The movie is set for release on Valentine's day next year.

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