Jamie Dornan has found a fan in his “Fifty Shades of Grey” co-star, actress Jennifer Ehle.

Following the recent casting shakeup in which Dornan, 31, replaced actor Charles Hunnam, the former “Fifty Shades of Grey” selection for the starring role of Christian Grey, one member of the erotica cast has finally spoken out about the much-buzzed-about casting news. At the BAFTA Los Angeles Jaguar Britannia Awards Saturday, “Fifty Shades of Grey” actress Jennifer Ehle gave her verbal support for her up-and-coming co-star.

“I didn't follow any of the drama,” Ehle told E! News. “But I think Jamie will be amazing.” While Ehle, who has signed on to star with actress Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele’s mom, Carla May Wilks, said that while she is excited to film the franchise, she admitted to not reading the best-selling erotica trilogy before accepting the role. "It's extraordinary," said the 43-year-old "Zero Dark Thirty" actress. "I'm excited. I feel kind of like a tourist … I'm along for the ride, as it were."

Despite previous reports that the film’s audition script used “graphic sexual language,” Ehle gave no indication of how visually graphic the film will be. “[Since it's] a visual medium, it's hard to tell from a script what something's going to be like," Ehle said. According to a report from USA Today in September, the “Fifty Shades of Grey” filmmakers are looking to receive an “R” rating from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), contradicting rumors the film would be awarded an “NC-17” for its BDSM scenes.

Ehle’s comments mark the first time any of the five cast members of the “Fifty Shades of Grey” franchise has publicly spoken about the film's lead. Following the announcement that Dornan would star in the film, author of the series E.L. James showed her approval of the Irish actor on social media. “Stow your twitchy palms ladies ... our man is here,” James posted on Twitter on Oct. 24, adding, “Welcome to #TeamFifty @JamieDornan1.”

James last made headlines for posting a photo of a man and woman’s feet, an image which is rumored to be the first photo of Dornan and Johnson together on set of the “Fifty Shades of Grey” film, on Friday.

The movie is scheduled to begin filming in Vancouver in December and is set to premiere on Aug. 1, 2014.

RELATED STORIES
Dakota Johnson