Four Late Late Show talking points, including Jamie Dornan on the worst year of his life
Patrick Kielty with Jamie Dornan
Co Down actor Jamie Dornan joined Patrick Kielty to discuss his recent work, including The Tourist and Belfast, both of which have earned him acclaim.
He said both productions were filmed or released in what ended up as “the worst year of my life” as his father died from covid while Dornan was filming in Australia and unable to leave hotel quarantine.
He said it was an “unimaginably difficult” time and he experienced “pretty severe grief”.
“It's an odd thing to say because The Tourist was shot that year and Belfast came out that year and a lot of things changed for the better that year. But I think it was the worst year of my life, actually.”
He also shared a story about how his father, who was an obstetrician gynaecologist in Belfast and delivered 6,000 babies during his career, almost delivered Dornan’s first child on a private jet as he was travelling to Canada to film 50 Shades of Grey close to his wife’s due date.
“There needed to be an obstetrician there,” he explained, adding “Dad put his hand up for the free trip on the private jet”.
Dornan said the grief he experienced as a teen — he lost his mother to cancer when he was 16 and four of his friends were killed in a car accident the following year — and the loss of his father in recent years have made him more resilient.
“I've always felt that I just had my worth of grief and heartache and loss in a 13-month period.”
Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott, stars of All of Us Strangers, were in studio to discuss their new film and their on-screen and off-screen relationships.
They play flirtatious neighbours in All of Us Strangers and both actors said they have a strong connection in real life.
“I'm a huge admirer of Andrew’s work and have been for years,” Mescal said. “I think actually All of Us Strangers was the catalyst for the bromance that people are referencing now, I think happened as a result of filming All of Us Strangers.”
Scott agreed: “Sometimes you just have chemistry. I don't necessarily mean physical chemistry. Chemistry is a really weird thing with actors you just have to enjoy acting with each other and it really helps when you like the person. We had really intense stuff to do in the movie and that bonds you.”
He described working with Mescal as an “extraordinarily beautiful privilege” and said he was happy to build a friendship with his co-star too.
“It's been one of the most extraordinarily beautiful privileges of my life to work with. Paul. It's so wonderful to have a working relationship but also just to develop a friendship. I think it's really important, particularly when you're in these very intimidating places, you know, we got to go to. It's just brilliant to have somebody that you love.”
Not to be outdone, Mescal asked Scott to “hold my drink for a second” so he could sing his praises in return.
“This is, I think, one of the great modern performances and what he does in the film is absurdly brilliant and to get to share the screen with him is certainly one of the greatest professional and personal privileges of my life,” Mescal said of a blushing Scott.
Scott and Mescal have become regulars at award ceremonies and other celebrity-heavy events, and they have revealed some behind-the-scenes information — including an unforgettable dance with Mescal Snr.
Scott said he is often struck by how human many figures are when face-to-face.
“One of the things about these extraordinary things that you're invited to get to is you meet people who are also kind of a little bit intimidated as well, in a strange way,” he said.
“They're all just put in the same room and you sort of assume greatness,” he said before referencing his first time meeting singer Billie Eilish. “We just met and we had a fantastic night and it's just lovely to see the human being behind these fantastically talented people.”
Another famous figure that Mescal had a close encounter with at the Oscars was singer Cher — but it’s his father who has a tale to tell.
“My Dad has a different story to tell than my version. My vision of it is objective, Dad’s is subjective. My Dad's version is that he's waltzing with Cher. Mine was that he was dancing in the vicinity of Cher.”
His father interjected from the audience: “I certainly did — but Cher wasn’t aware of it!”
Closing the show was an interview with Irish soccer legend Paul McGrath, who chatted about his football career, his relationship with his late mother and his love for the Irish people — and the love he receives from them in return.
McGrath, who played for Ireland at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups under Jack Charleton, said Charleton was very good to him at a difficult time.
“Jack treated me really well, even when I wasn't maybe in the best form,” he said. “He always wanted me in the team but there were certain times I tested his patience.”
McGrath said he was “drinking recklessly” in his younger years but credits his grandchildren for keeping him on the straight and narrow today.
“I have to keep my feet in the ground because I have to look after them and make sure that they have a good life.”
He said the death of his mother in 2020 was “very tough”.
“When I lost her I was a bit all at sea for a while, doing the crazy things that I usually do, but that was a tough time.” McGrath thanked the Irish public for their support over the years too.
“I've done so many misdemeanours — is that what they’re called now? I've missed games and I've been found drinking some places and stuff like that. But Irish people have always been very loyal to me.
“I just think it's brilliant. One day they're all gonna go ‘Ah, we have enough’. But they've been brilliant to me and I love and thank you for the support I've had over the years because it's been second to none.”
