Jamie Dornan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jamie Dornan
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Dornan in 2016
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| Born |
James Peter Maxwell Dornan
1 May 1982 Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland
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| Education |
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| Years active | 2001–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Amelia Warner
(m. 2013) |
| Children | 3 |
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| Awards | Full list |
Jamie Dornan (born 1 May 1982) is a talented actor, model, and musician from Northern Ireland. He has won two Irish Film and Television Awards and has been nominated for a BAFTA Television Award and a Golden Globe Award. In 2020, The Irish Times newspaper named him one of Ireland's best film actors.
Jamie started his career as a model in 2001, working for famous brands like Hugo Boss, Dior Homme, and Calvin Klein. The New York Times even called him "the Golden Torso." In 2015, Vogue magazine listed him as one of the "25 Biggest Male Models of All Time." Besides modeling, he was also part of a folk band called Sons of Jim until 2008.
His acting journey began in 2006 in the film Marie Antoinette. He then took on smaller roles in different films and TV shows, including playing Sheriff Graham Humbert in the series Once Upon a Time (2011–2013). He gained a lot of praise for his role as a complex character in the crime drama series The Fall (2013–2016), which earned him a nomination for a British Academy Television Award for Best Actor. Jamie has also starred in films like Anthropoid (2016), Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021), and Belfast (2021), for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. From 2022 to 2024, he played the main character, Elliot Stanley/Eugene Cassidy, in the thriller series The Tourist.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jamie Dornan was born on 1 May 1982 in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland. He grew up near Belfast. His mother, Lorna, passed away when he was 16. His father, Jim Dornan, was a doctor who also thought about becoming an actor. Jamie's father always supported his career.
Jamie has two older sisters: Liesa, who works for Disney in London, and Jessica, a fashion designer. His grandparents on both sides were Methodist lay preachers.
He went to Methodist College Belfast, where he played rugby and was active in the drama club. He won his first drama prize for acting in a Christmas play. He also performed in school productions like Bugsy Malone and Blood Brothers. Jamie was part of a youth drama group called Holywood Players and played rugby for the Belfast Harlequins and the Ulster Rugby under-21 team. He later said he might have played rugby professionally if not for an illness.
Jamie attended Teesside University but left to move to London in 2002. He wanted to become an actor but did not go to drama school. Before his modeling career began, he worked in a pub for six months.
Career Beginnings
Music Journey
Jamie Dornan was part of a folk band called Sons of Jim until it broke up in 2008. He started the band with his school friend, David Alexander. They even created their own record label, Doorstep Records, and released songs like "Fairytale" and "My Burning Sun." Sons of Jim also toured with Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall.
Modeling Career
After leaving university, Jamie took part in a TV reality show called Model Behaviour in 2001. Even though he was eliminated, he signed a modeling contract with Select Model Management. His sisters encouraged him to pursue modeling. In 2003, he modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch. He also worked for brands like Aquascutum, Hugo Boss, and Armani. In 2005, he became the face of Dior Homme's perfume ads.
Jamie first appeared in Calvin Klein campaigns in 2004. He later did campaigns for the brand with famous models like Kate Moss in 2006 and Eva Mendes in 2010. In 2009, he became the face of Calvin Klein's 'CK Free' fragrance. In 2006, The New York Times called him "The Golden Torso," and GQ magazine's creative director called him the "male Kate Moss."
He also appeared in commercials for Dolce & Gabbana, Zara, Banana Republic, and Levi's Jeans. In 2015, Vogue magazine named him one of the "25 Biggest Male Models of All Time." After becoming a successful actor, he became the new face of "Boss The Scent" for Hugo Boss in 2018. In 2023, he starred in a fashion campaign for the Spanish luxury brand Loewe and became their global brand ambassador the following year. Jamie worked with famous fashion photographers like Bruce Weber and Carter Smith. He never did runway shows because of his unique walking style.
Acting Career Highlights
Early Acting Roles (2006–2012)
Jamie Dornan's first film role was as Count Axel Fersen in Sofia Coppola's film Marie Antoinette (2006). After this, he tried out for many roles and appeared in films like Beyond the Rave (2008) and Shadows in the Sun (2009). He found it challenging to switch from modeling to acting because people often saw him only as a model. He always wanted to act and tried out for many roles in Los Angeles. He was initially interested in comedy.
From 2011 to 2013, Jamie appeared in nine episodes of the ABC fantasy TV series Once Upon a Time. He played the role of the Huntsman/Sheriff Graham. Even though his character was killed off, he returned for later episodes.
Breakthrough with The Fall (2013–2015)
Jamie's big breakthrough role was alongside Gillian Anderson in the Northern Irish drama series The Fall. He played Paul Spector, a complex character in a crime story set in Belfast. He prepared for the role by reading books and watching interviews to understand his character's mindset. The show ran from 2013 to 2016. Critics praised his performance, with Ken Tucker calling him "handsome and skilled." David Thomson complimented his acting, saying he became the "center of the drama." Jamie won the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor in Television and was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for Best Actor. He said The Fall changed his career path. He also appeared in the romantic drama film Flying Home (2014) and the historical drama series New Worlds (2015).
Independent Films and Belfast (2016–2021)
In 2016, Jamie starred as Commandant Pat Quinlan in the Netflix war film The Siege of Jadotville. He trained at a boot camp in South Africa for the film. Critics noted his "suave acting," and he was nominated for an Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor − Film. That same year, he appeared in another war film, Anthropoid, alongside Cillian Murphy. Jamie played Jan Kubiš, a Czech soldier involved in a historical mission. Critics praised his portrayal of Kubiš, and he received nominations for the British Independent Film Award and Czech Lion Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also appeared in The 9th Life of Louis Drax, a supernatural thriller.
In 2018, Jamie co-starred with Peter Dinklage in the HBO TV film My Dinner with Hervé, playing a journalist named Danny Tate. Critics said he was "excellent" in the role. He also played photojournalist Paul Conroy in the biographical drama A Private War. His performance was described as "excellent work." Other roles in 2018 included Liam Ward in the miniseries Death and Nightingales and Nick in the drama film Untogether.
In 2019, Jamie starred as a paramedic in the science fiction thriller film Synchronic, which received positive reviews. He also played an Irish writer named Jack in the romantic drama Endings, Beginnings.
Jamie then appeared in two comedy films: Wild Mountain Thyme (2020) and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021). In Wild Mountain Thyme, he played Anthony Reilly, a shy farmer. In Barb and Star, he played a "lovestruck henchman" named Edgar and received praise for his comedic performance and a musical number.
In 2020, The Irish Times listed him as number 32 among the 50 greatest Irish film actors of all time.
In 2021, Jamie played a working class father in Kenneth Branagh's drama film Belfast. His performance was highly praised. Critics said he showed "ferocity and feeling" and "quiet strength" in his role. He received nominations for the Golden Globe Award and Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film was also nominated for Best Picture at the 94th Academy Awards.
Career Expansion (2022–Present)
After Belfast, Jamie took on the lead role of Elliot Stanley/Eugene Cassidy, a character with amnesia trying to discover his past, in the BBC thriller series The Tourist. The show became the most-watched drama in the UK in 2022. Critics praised his "compelling performance." He was nominated for the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama and was featured on the Radio Times's TV 100 power list in 2023. He returned for the second series of The Tourist in 2024.
In 2023, he appeared in the action film Heart of Stone as an MI6 agent. That same year, he worked with Kenneth Branagh again in A Haunting in Venice, playing Dr. Leslie Ferrier, a character suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving as a military doctor.
In 2024, Jamie was announced as an ambassador for Into Film for Northern Ireland, an organization that helps young people learn about film.
Looking ahead, Jamie is set to star in the Netflix thriller series The Undertow, where he will play identical twins. He is also expected to appear in an upcoming Apple TV+ heist thriller called 12 12 12. He is also co-writing a film with his colleague Conor MacNeill through their company, Blackthorn Films.
Besides acting, Jamie continues to be a brand ambassador for Loewe and appears in advertising campaigns for Diet Coke and Callaway Golf Europe.
Charitable Work and Support
Jamie Dornan supports many charities and organizations. He was a patron for TinyLife, a Northern Ireland charity that helps premature and vulnerable babies. In 2017, he played in a charity football match called Game 4 Grenfell to help victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in London.
In 2018, Jamie became a patron for Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer (NIPanC), a new charity. He stepped down from this role in 2021 due to his busy filming schedule but remains a strong supporter. In 2020, he read a bedtime story as part of Save with Stories to raise money for Save the Children's emergency Coronavirus appeal. He also supported the Faster 5K Friday campaign for the Care Workers Charity, which provides financial help to care workers.
Jamie has also appeared in annual fundraising events like Red Nose Day by Comic Relief and Children in Need by BBC. He has supported campaigns that provide help for children's medical treatments.
Personal Life and Other Ventures
In 2003, Jamie met actress Keira Knightley. They were together for two years before splitting up in 2005. In 2010, he met English actress and singer-songwriter Amelia Warner. They got engaged in 2012 and married in 2013. They have three daughters. Jamie is an atheist and considers himself Irish.
In 2022, he launched his own menswear clothing line called 'Eleven Eleven'.
Amateur Golf
Jamie Dornan enjoys playing golf as an amateur. He has competed in the pro–am event at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship several times, pairing with professional golfers like Danny Willett and Tyrrell Hatton. He also participated in the 2017 Irish Open and the J. P. McManus Pro-Am in 2022.
Acting Credits and Awards
According to the review site Rotten Tomatoes, some of Jamie Dornan's most praised films include A Private War (2018), Belfast (2021), My Dinner with Hervé (2018), Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021), Synchronic (2019), A Haunting in Venice (2023), Anthropoid (2016), and The Siege of Jadotville (2016). His highly regarded TV shows are The Tourist (2022–2024), The Fall (2013–2016), and Once Upon a Time (2011).
Jamie Dornan has won two Irish Film and Television Awards, a Broadcasting Press Guild Award, and a People's Choice Award. He has also been nominated for a British Academy Television Award and a Golden Globe Award.
In 2023, Queens University Belfast awarded Jamie Dornan an honorary Doctor of Arts degree.
Images for kids
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Jamie Dornan in 2016
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Jamie Dornan at the 2014 British Academy Television Awards
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Jamie Dornan at the Berlinale premiere of Fifty Shades of Grey in 2015
See also
In Spanish: Jamie Dornan para niños
