Alone, Jamie Dornan and Caitriona Balfe are global superstars with massive followings and a passionate fan base. From Outlander and Ford v. Ferrari (her) to Fifty Shades of Grey and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (him), they have ignited our TV and movie screens for well over a decade. But put them together for their new film Belfast, and they have more star power than my Zoom has ever seen.
Based on Oscar-nominated director-writer Kenneth Branagh’s own experience, the poignant and heartfelt film tells the childhood story of one boy (played by revelatory newcomer Jude Hill) during the tumult of the late ’60s in the city of Branagh’s birth. As Pa and Ma, Irish actors Dornan and Balfe are magnetic to watch, and that chemistry translates in multitudes offscreen as well.
On this day they’re together in a Los Angeles hotel room the evening after Belfast’s U.S. premiere, where Dornan took the stage at the film’s after-party to sing “Everlasting Love.” The song—first recorded in the late ’60s—has become the film’s unofficial theme, thanks to its presence in the trailer. But at the after-party, he re-created the moment for those lucky enough to be in attendance, and it’s since made the rounds pretty much everywhere.
“Yeah, I have not seen any response to it, so I think if I did, I’d probably feel regret doing it, but maybe, I don’t know,” Dornan says with a laugh. Even though Balfe assures him it was absolutely brilliant—which I co-sign—he’s a bit hesitant. Like most actors, Dornan says he can read all the positive reviews in the world, and the one bad one will be all he thinks about. Still, he concedes that his performance was “a bit of fun and a release…and also getting-over-a-fear thing, which I think is really important to do in your life. I maybe look like I was having [a blast up] there, but I was really terrified. I think that’s part of the reason I do this for a living. I’m terrified of acting in front of people, but it’s good to conquer those fears.”
I kiddingly assure the 39-year-old he has quite the future ahead of him, but he says, “Maybe I’ll just perform at people’s premieres. That will be my new side gig.” Balfe interjects: “And weddings, bar, and bat mitzvahs.”
That teasing is part of the reason the two are perfect onscreen—and in this Zoom. While they might be exhausted from traveling internationally and doing lots of press (plus, Balfe has a newborn at home), they aren’t showing it. With plenty of Oscar buzz building and just a genuine appreciation for starring in what’s being called Branagh’s most personal film yet, if you thought their star power was bright enough as is, just wait until you see Belfast. Here they talk about singing, dancing, and why poor Dornan just wasn’t a fit for Outlander.
