Jamie Dornan: Everything you need to know
Northern Ireland's resident heartthrob 🥰
Whether you know him best as Christian Grey from the Fifty Shades franchise, or for his chilling performance in The Fall, Jamie Dornan is one of the biggest names in film right now.
After the actor’s performance in Belfast, his lead role in The Tourist and his upcoming dual role in Netflix's The Undertow, now’s the perfect time to check your knowledge of Northern Ireland’s resident heartthrob…
How old is Jamie Dornan?
Jamie's birthday is 1st May 1982, making him currently 42-years-old.
Where is he from?
Jamie grew up in Holywood Co. Down, Northern Ireland.
How tall is he?
Jamie is reportedly 1.8m or 5ft 10in.
Where did he study?
After attending Methodist College in Belfast, where he was a keen rugby and athletics star, his love of acting took off. He enrolled at Teesside University, but dropped out a few years into the course as he wanted to pursue his acting dream.
Jamie was awarded an honorary doctorate from Queens University Belfast in December 2023 for "putting Northern Ireland on the map". Jamie described it as a "huge honour" to be awarded a doctorate for distinction in the arts, adding: "My dad went to this university, there are pictures in my house of my dad wearing a similar robe. I'm very proud to be involved in this great university."
How did Jamie Dornan get into acting?
Jamie's love of acting began at a young age, with school plays and drama groups - and although he went to Teesside University to study marketing, the thespian's life called to him, and he dropped out to move to London.
After making the move in 2002, Jamie started out as a model and supported himself by working at a pub, additionally playing in folk band Sons of Jim until 2008 in which he supported KT Tunstall on tour.
He took part in Channel 4 reality show Model Behaviour - and although he didn't win, he was offered a contract and modelled for the likes of Hugo Boss, Armani and Calvin Klein. Jamie landed his first role in 2006 Kirsten Dunst film Marie Antoinette, and after a few small parts, performed as The Huntsman/Sheriff Graham in Once Upon A Time from 2011 to 2013.
He then got the part of Paul Spector in The Fall opposite Gillian Anderson, which really shot him to fame, before taking on the iconic role of Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades series.
Which TV shows and films has Jamie Dornan been in?
From the Fifty Shades trilogy to his role as The Sheriff/Huntsman in Once Upon A Time, Jamie Dornan has taken on a wide variety of characters.
Check out our full timeline of Jamie's career!
Is Jamie Dornan married?
Jamie is married to Amelia Warner, a musician and composer who's also a former actress. Amelia appeared in 1999 film Mansfield Park and a BBC adaptation of Lorna Doone among other things.
As a composer, she's written for 2017 film Mary Shelley, 2020 flick Wild Mountain Thyme (which starred Jamie) and 2022 film Mr. Malcolm's List, plus upcoming film Young Woman and the Sea. She also released album 'Renditions' under the stage name Slow Moving Millie, and her cover of 'Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want' by The Smiths was used in the John Lewis Christmas advert in 2011.
Jamie revealed in an interview with James Corden that he'd "always fancied her", and after being introduced at a house party by a mutual friend, they began dating in 2010.
They got engaged two years later and tied the knot in April 2013, announcing their first pregnancy three months later and welcoming daughter Dulcie in November 2013. Their second daughter Elva was born in March 2016 and Alberta was born in February 2019.
In an interview with our sister station Hits Radio, Jamie revealed The Tourist series two was filmed in Ireland due to his family commitments! On filming another season, he said: "(I said) I'd be up for doing it," continuing: "But I categorically said that I wouldn't do it back in Australia.
"We had a good time in Australia, great time, but it would mean my whole family come there, kids going to school there, again, they loved it, they still FaceTime with their wee mates out there. It's really nice, but it's a huge undertaking, we only did it a year and a half ago, or whatever it was, so it felt too soon to do it."
Jamie went on to explain: "So I said, if you can make the story work closer to home, then yeah I'm up for it!"
Jamie was previously in a relationship with Keira Knightley from 2003-2005, and Amelia married Irish actor Colin Farrell in a "non-legal" ceremony in 2001 with the relationship ending four months later.
Can Jamie Dornan sing?
He certainly can! Not only was he in folk band Sons Of Jim for many years, he also sang in his 2021 film Belfast - even performing 'Everlasting Love' at the LA premiere for the film.
Jamie Dornan: 14 facts you need to know
1) Jamie used to date Keira Knightley
The pair dated from 2003 to 2005, after meeting on an Asprey photoshoot. This was Jamie's first high-profile relationship and his first real taste of fame and the paparazzi.
2) Jamie was in a folk band
We all know he can sing (and if you didn't, where have you been?!) but a folk band... Wow! They were called Sons of Jim and enjoyed some great successes during their brief stint together, even performing as a support act for KT Tunstall. The band split in 2008.
3) Growing up, Jamie originally wanted to be a professional rugby player
After school Dornan played for Belfast Harlequins. He was so invested in the sport that he dropped out of university to initially focus on playing more rugby and had hoped to turn pro. It's not been officially confirmed why he didn't make it, perhaps the big screen was calling him to London instead!
4) Jamie's movie debut was in Marie Antoinette
In 2006, Jamie appeared in the Sofia Copolla film Marie Antoinette alongside Kirsten Dunst. Dornan played the role of Count Axel von Fersen, the French man that Antoinette has a steamy affair with.
5) Jamie had just four weeks to get into shape for the first Fifty Shades movie
Now this is impressive, especially when you're nude from head to toe! Fortunately, he was already in decent shape prior to casting, so it really didn't take him long to prepare for the part.
6) Jamie wasn't the first actor to sign on as lead for Christian Grey
Charlie Hunnam was originally picked to play the role, but announced just a month after he was chosen that his Sons of Anarchy schedule clashed too much. That's where Jamie came in to save the day.
7) Jamie is a family man
He's been with his wife, Amelia Warner, since 2010 when they met through mutual friends at a Hollywood party. And the two lovebirds also have three daughters - Dulcie, Elva and Alberta Dornan.
8) Jamie first started out modelling underwear
Jamie strutted his stuff for some pretty high fashion brands. He started off with Calvin Klein, then continued to model for Armani and Dior.
9) Jamie used to live with Eddie Redmayne
We do love a Hollywood bromance 🤣 Eddie and Jamie used to share an apartment together before Dornan met his wife.
10) Jamie doesn't like himself without a beard
It's his signature look, so don't ask him to shave! In the Fifty Shades series, Jamie was forced to play the clean-shaven Christian Grey who always looks immaculate in perfectly tailored suits. In real life, Dornan hates being without a beard. He says being without one actually makes him feel uncomfortable.
11) Jamie has a bizarre walk
It's one of the first things you learn as a baby, how to take your first steps. But it seems like Jamie struggling with that one. Take a look at the hilarious clip!
12) He's BFFs with Cillian Murphy
Although it would appear that they only met on the set of their 2016 war epic Anthropoid, Cillian and Jamie became fast friends, having admired each other's work for years - and there's plenty of video evidence of the pair ribbing each other in interviews! Jamie once said of Cillian: "It's a tiny industry. Actors all know each other to a point where you always know someone who knows the other person who worked with them... I'd known plenty of people who'd worked with Cillian and he was one of those people I'd only heard good things about."
13) He has an honorary doctorate
Jamie was awarded an honorary doctorate from Queens University Belfast in December 2023 for "putting Northern Ireland on the map". Jamie described the award for distinction in the arts as a "huge honour", adding: "My dad went to this university, there are pictures in my house of my dad wearing a similar robe. I'm very proud to be involved in this great university."
14) Jamie apparently thought he was having a heart attack on holiday
Well, that'd ruin your trip! Apparently, on a lads' holiday in Summer 2023 in Portugal, Jamie began to experience some pretty terrifying symptoms and was taken to hospital - and, according to his friend Gordon Smart, who was also on the trip and had the same symptoms, the reaction was put down to contact with a toxic caterpillar. Gordon explained on a podcast: "It turns out that there are caterpillars on golf courses in the south of Portugal that have been killing people's dogs and giving men in their 40s heart attacks. It turns out we'd brushed up against hairy processionary caterpillars and have been very lucky to come out of that one alive."
Now read:
Everything you need to know about Jamie Dornan's gripping drama The Tourist
The Tourist: Meet the cast of the hit show
Paul Mescal: His amazing career so far