Jamie Dornan, known for roles in Fifty Shades of Grey and The Fall, discusses his childhood in Holywood, County Down, and his journey from model to actor. He opens up about challenges in acting, memories of his obstetrician father, and emotional struggles while filming. Jamie shares his desert island music picks and reflects on his career and personal life.
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insights INSIGHT
Balance Confidence With Healthy Fear
Actors need confidence but must keep a sliver of fear to stay alive in performance.
Jamie Dornan says discomfort fuels authenticity and prevents complacency on set.
insights INSIGHT
Music As A Home Anchor
Music from home grounds Jamie emotionally when he's away, serving as a touchstone to Belfast and family.
The Philip Glass recording by the Ulster Orchestra is his personal go-to for homesickness and calm.
question_answer ANECDOTE
First Big Thrill: Panto Widow Twankey
At age ten Jamie played Widow Twankey and borrowed traits from a formidable cleaner, Nellie Morgan, to shape his performance.
Winning school drama praise gave him his first addictive taste of performing live.
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Jamie Dornan is an actor who first came to the attention of television audiences in 2013 when he played serial killer Paul Spector in the BBC series the Fall. Two years later he starred alongside Dakota Johnson in the film Fifty Shades of Grey and went on to play the same part in the rest of the trilogy. In 2022 he was the lead in the BBC drama the Tourist which was watched by millions of viewers and recently returned for its second season.
Jamie was born in Holywood in County Down. At 10 he played Widow Twankey in the school pantomime - a defining moment for him when he experienced the thrill of playing to a live audience.
After dropping out of university Jamie became a model and worked on big campaigns for some leading fashion brands before landing his first acting part in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette in 2006. His role in the Fall was his big break and the Fifty Shades films catapulted him to movie star status.
In 2021 he played Pa in the film Belfast which was written and directed by Kenneth Branagh about his own childhood, growing up at the beginning of the Troubles.
Jamie is married to the musician and composer Amelia Warner and they have three children.
DISC ONE: Caravan - Van Morrison
DISC TWO: Violin Concerto No. 1: II. Composed by Philip Glass and performed by Adele Anthony (violin) and Ulster Orchestra, conducted by Takuo Yuasa
DISC THREE: Hoppípolla - Sigur Rós
DISC FOUR: Bridge over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
DISC FIVE: Metarie - Brendan Benson
DISC SIX: Forever – The Beach Boys
DISC SEVEN: Something - The Beatles
DISC EIGHT: The Whole of the Moon – The Waterboys
BOOK CHOICE: Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
LUXURY ITEM: A golf club and balls
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Forever – The Beach Boys
Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Paula McGinley
Desert Island Discs