Obviously, he’s wearing a wig or extensions, in combination with the look of the times and the role he is playing, and the fact that he’s a human being who isn’t always going to look like everyone’s idea of perfection in every photo (though I admit, he does give it a very good try!).

Just because he is an actor, and therefor a celebrity, doesn’t mean he is going to look good in every single photo. Role & wig or not, he may be having an “ugly day”, but that in no way makes him an ugly person – far from it because he’s quite handsome and a very sweet and humorous guy!

I’m sure everyone has had a bad photo taken of them in their lifetime, so give him a break.

its been confirmed that he is wearing wigs for this film. this particular photo is one such example or at most hair extensions. Ben’s hair is naturally wavy, but it doesnt look like that even in its most neglected and unkempt form. another reason why i think this is a wig is because his hairline is different. compare the Dawn Treader photos to refresh your memory. i’m guessing they either had to shave his hairline to make it look like that or he’s wearing a bald cap under the wig, allowing makeup artists to dictate whatever hairline they want an actor to have for a particular scene.

if they’re following events in the book, IIRC this long-haired Neil McCormick is during the latter part of the 80s where he ALMOST made it big (literally just a contract signing away), its either one of the fights he got into about that (hence the hotel setting) or the accident he had where it was a miracle he and his band made it out alive.