James Marsden Fun Facts: 5 Things To Know About ‘Boss Baby 2’ Actor

James Marsden has become a household name thanks to hit films like “Enchanted,” “X-Men” and “Hairspray.” With a long list of acting roles, including the upcoming “Disenchanted” sequel, the actor will have plenty of things to celebrate on Saturday when he rings in his 48th birthday.

Despite his years in the spotlight, there are still some things that fans don’t know about Marsden. Check out these five fun facts about “The Boss Baby: Family Business” star below.

1. He Was The Inspiration Behind His “Dead To Me” Character

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the series creator of the Netflix series Liz Feldman revealed Mardsen’s real-life personality was the inspiration behind his character Ben.

“The truth is [James] is the inspiration for Ben. Because in real life, James Marsden is a sweetheart. He is truly a wonderful human being,” she explained.

During Season 1 of the series, Mardsen played a mean character named Steve, who was the complete opposite of his twin brother Ben.

“I thought Ben should be much, much closer to James. Ben is an alcoholic, which James is not. But in his heart and soul, Ben is a good man as James,” Feldman said.

“I thought it would be interesting to see him play somebody closer to who he really is. He was the inspiration for that—just wanting to lean into James as his dorkier, wholesome self.”

2. Marsden Isn’t In Tune With His Good Looks

Throughout his career, Marsden has been praised for his good looks and dapper red carpet attire, however, the actor previously admitted he doesn’t see himself the same way others perceive him.

“My main struggle was I never thought of myself as the cool guy because I wasn’t that guy in high school,” he said in an interview with Los Angeles Confidential magazine. “I see myself more as James Bond’s goofy younger brother, as opposed to James Bond.”

3. He Auditioned For A Role In “Primal Fear”

Mardsen auditioned for the role of Aaron Stampler in the 1996 movie but was beat out by Edward Norton. The film was a box office success and Norton received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor and won a Golden Globe for best supporting actor in a motion picture.

4. Marsden Turned Down A Role In “Magic Mike”

During an appearance on “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” Marsden revealed he passed on an offer to appear in the 2012 film “Magic Mike.”

“I was offered a role in Magic Mike,” he said. “I had the fear that I would be edited out of the movie, that all my lines would be cut out.”

Marsden went on to admit he wasn’t confident about appearing in a movie about male strippers. “I think it was a lack of courage on my part,” he said.

5. Mardsen Has No Doubts About His Parenting Skills

Although Mardsen has been in countless films and television shows, he is most proud of his job as a father to his three sons.

“Of all my achievements in life, being a father is the one thing I’m most proud of. It is the most fulfilling. I’m always self-deprecating, but I don’t have a problem saying that I am a great dad,” he said.