LOS ANGELES: English actor Charlie Hunnam says the fact that he quit erotic romantic drama franchise Fifty Shades of Grey, in which he was offered to play Christian Grey, still haunts him. He has called it “the worst professional experience of my life”.

Hunnam showed off his toned body in the new issue of V Man magazine, to which he also revealed the real reason why he backed out of the role, reports aceshowbiz.com.

“It was the most emotionally destructive and difficult thing that I’ve ever had to deal with professionally. It was heartbreaking,” he said.

Hunnam said it was not the sexual content of the film that drew him away but rather his commitment to Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak. The 35-year-old had to choose between the two films, but he had already promised del Toro.

“I’d given Guillermo my word, over a year before, that I was going to do this film. People were saying, ‘Are you crazy? Guillermo still has got four months to recast, it’s the fourth lead, you can go and do this (instead).’ I said, ‘I can’t. He’s my friend’,” he said.