Jamie Dornan left listeners reaching for their tissues after his appearance on Lauren Laverne's BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs.
The 41-year-old actor fought back tears as he discussed his mother's death, which occurred when he was just 16, during the “emotional” interview.
Jamie admitted he suffers from guilt because he struggles to remember details about his mother Lorna, who was diagnosed with cancer when she was 14.
The Tourist star, who lost his father Jim during the pandemic, admitted he was grateful to his father for sharing the news of his illness with him in a candid conversation.
He said: “I'm kind of grateful that it was told to me so directly.” It's a funny thing. Sometimes I feel guilty saying this, but there's a lot about her that I don't remember. You don't expect any of it to be taken away from you.'
Jamie Dornan left listeners reaching for their tissues after his appearance on Lauren Laverne's BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs
Jamie pictured with his late mother and her family
Jamie confessed that he was grateful to his late father for insisting that he could live a full, positive and happy life despite the loss of his mother.
He said, “My dad, I remember him saying, 'This can't be what defines us,' and I'm really grateful for those words.”
“He wanted to say that you can still live a full, positive and happy life. That doesn't diminish the impact of losing your mother or anything, but I guess it was just Dad giving us the okay to be happy in our future.”'
Around the same time, Jamie suffered several more tragic losses when four of his friends died in a car accident, which filled him with “shock and rejection.”
Of the period in his life he said, “I drank a lot.” If I'm being completely honest with myself, I was probably depressed and just had no idea what I wanted to do.
“I remember my dad saying, ‘You just have to do something, I don’t care if you play golf every day because at least it’s productive, at least you’re trying to get better at golf, you.’ “I just do nothing and can't look at it,”'
Jamie was signed up for a television show called Model Behavior, which led to modeling campaigns with Calvin Klein and Dior.
He celebrated his breakthrough in 2013 with the role of serial killer Paul Spector in the BBC drama “The Fall” alongside Gillian Anderson.
After listening to Jamie's Desert Island Discs interview, many listeners took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to share their thoughts on his performance
He celebrated his breakthrough in 2013 with the role of serial killer Paul Spector in the BBC drama “The Fall” alongside Gillian Anderson
After listening to Jamie's Desert Island Discs interview, many listeners took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to share their thoughts on his performance.
Many urged other fans to “grab a tissue” before listening, with one saying: “Jamie Dornans.” [episode] is as beautiful and moving as you would expect.
“And an excellent selection of music.” Worth a listen. Grab a tissue though.'
Another person said: “Fantastic interview with Jamie Dornan.” So personal, emotional, emotional [heart emoji].'
Others added: “This was so moving today – Jamie Dornan and grief…Waterboys Whole of the Moon is killing me.” [crying emoji].'
“Jamie Dornan at DID is just perfect.”
“I was listening to DID by Jamie Dornan this afternoon and cried when he talked about losing his mother at a young age. I suddenly began to respond when my mother told me 24 years ago that she was very unwell and was being treated. I was 13, she was 31.'
“One of #DesertIslandDisc's best and most human interviews Jamie Dornan – about life in Northern Ireland, grief and success.” You need tissues.
“His obstetrician father he speaks of worked on leukemia, pancreatic cancer and infant mortality.”
“Great Desert Island Discs with the lovely Jamie Dornan. “Have a tissue ready.”