James Dornan is an actor, model, and musician from Northern Ireland. Initially beginning his career as a model in 2001, he appeared in campaigns for Hugo Boss, Dior Homme, and Calvin Klein. Dubbed "the Golden Torso" by The New York Times, he was ranked one of the "25 Biggest Male Models of All Time" by Vogue in 2015. In addition, he performed in folk band Sons of Jim until 2008. He began acting in 2006, and earned international recognition for playing Sheriff Graham Humbert in the series Once Upon a Time and serial killer Paul Spector in the crime drama series The Fall. He won the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor in Television and was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for Best Actor for the latter. In film, he has portrayed Axel von Fersen in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades franchise, and Jan Kubiš in Anthropoid.
Dornan performed in the folk band Sons of Jim, until it disbanded in 2008. Sons of Jim supported Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall on tour.
Modelling
In 2001, he took part in the Channel 4 reality show Model Behaviour. He was eliminated but signed a modelling contract with Select Model Management. In 2003, he modelled for Abercrombie & Fitch with Malin Åkerman. He then modelled for Aquascutum, Hugo Boss, and Armani. Notable works include ad campaigns with Dior Homme and Calvin Klein, and he was labelled "The Golden Torso" by The New York Times. Dornan appeared in commercials for Dolce & Gabanna, Zara, Banana Republic, Dior, Calvin Klein, and Levi's Jeans with Lily Aldridge. In 2006, Dornan was dubbed the "male Kate Moss" by GQ and in 2015 was ranked one of the "25 Biggest Male Models of All Time" by Vogue. In 2018, he became the new face of "Boss The Scent" for Hugo Boss alongside Dutch model Birgit Kos.
Acting
Dornan's first acting role in a film was Count Axel Fersen in the Sofia Coppola film Marie Antoinette. Dornan also appeared in the drama film Shadows in the Sun, which starred three-time Academy Award nominee Jean Simmons. In 2008, he played the lead role of Ed in the Hammer Horror production Beyond the Rave. In 2011, Dornan appeared in nine episodes of the ABC television series Once Upon a Time, playing the role of Sheriff Graham. While Graham from Storybrooke was killed by the town's mayor Regina in the episode "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter", Dornan stated that he would return as the Huntsman from the Enchanted Forest at some point, and he remained a regular on the series. He returned as The Huntsman for the season finale episode, "A Land Without Magic". Dornan stars alongside Gillian Anderson in the Northern Irish drama series The Fall, playing Paul Spector, a serial killer terrorising Belfast. Beginning in 2013, the show aired for three series ending in October 2016. He won the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor in Television and was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for Best Actor for the latter. On 23 October 2013, Dornan was cast as Christian Grey in the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey, replacing Charlie Hunnam. Initially announced to be released on 1 August 2014, the film was later rescheduled and released on 13 February 2015. In February 2015, it was confirmed that Dornan had signed on to reprise his role in the second and third installments of the Fifty Shades film franchise, Fifty Shades Darker, released in 2017, and Fifty Shades Freed, released in 2018. On 27 August 2014, it was announced that Dornan would play Dr. Allan Pascal in a Miramax film titled The 9th Life of Louis Drax, a supernatural thriller based on a book of the same name. It was released on 2 September 2016. In November 2014, Dornan was #3 in People Magazine'sSexiest Man Alive rankings. In May 2017, it was reported that Dornan would co-star alongside Peter Dinklage in the HBO television film My Dinner with Hervé. Shooting for the film started in June 2017, it was released on 20 October 2018. In 2020, he was listed at number 32 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors.
Personal life
In 2010, Dornan met English actress and singer-songwriter Amelia Warner and they became engaged in 2012, and married in 2013. They have three daughters. Dornan is an atheist. In interviews, he has stated that he considers himself Irish.
