Belfast’s Jamie Dornan awarded honorary doctorate by Queen’s University
Northern Irish actor Jamie Dornan has been awarded an honorary doctorate from Queen’s University Belfast (Queen’s) for his contribution to the arts and “putting Northern Ireland on the map”.
The two-time Irish Film and Television Award winner and Bafta and Golden Globe nominee said it was a “huge honour” to be awarded a doctorate for distinction in the arts.
Born in County Down, Dornan has whole-heartedly embraced his home-town heritage and has starred in many locally filmed productions. Dornan plays lead roles in Kenneth Branagh’s critically acclaimed and Oscar-winning Belfast, as well as BBC series The Tourist and The Fall, all filmed in Belfast. Before he took to the big screen, Jamie grew up and attended school in Belfast, where he was a member of a local amateur drama club.
Dornan said: “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.
Dornan recently told The Irish Times, “I have made a point of working in Ireland, North and South. I will always seek that out because it’s important to tell stories from home.”
Audiences will see Jamie return to his role in The Tourist, which recently announced its second season release will be in January 2024, this time set and filmed in Ireland!
The Island of Ireland, and Belfast in particular, continues to be globally recognised as a location that celebrates artistic creativity, as well as its rich heritage. Belfast has a long history of celebrating the arts, hosting annual festivities like Belfast International Arts Festival which recently celebrated its 61st year running. Next year, Belfast 2024 aims to deliver participative workshops, performances and events celebrating homegrown culture, creativity, and the city itself.
Northern Ireland has solidified its status as a key player for screen production in recent years, providing scenic backdrops as dramatic as the plotlines themselves for some of the biggest ever productions. Some of the most successful include Emmy winning Derry Girls, the iconic Game of Thrones, and Line of Duty.
Northern Ireland offers an immersive holiday destination for TV lovers, who can visit the Derry Girls experience, and The Game of Thrones studio tour invites enthusiasts to explore the scenes of The Seven Kingdoms and beyond.
Viewers don’t need to look far to come across iconic filming locations; Queen’s itself has played host to a number of productions in recent years, including The Fall, and Bloodlands which stars James Nesbitt.
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