Hollywood star Jamie Dornan has revealed that he worries about the effects of Brexit to the extent that it keeps him awake at night.
The Belfast born star added that he feels more Irish than British.
Britain’s decision to leave the European Union has left the future uncertain for everyone involved – not only the UK but also the rest of Europe.
Ireland will be particularly concerned – not just because the UK is such an important trading partner but also because conversations about the border between the North and the Republic have come back into the forefront of politics prompting worries that the delicate peace agreement could be undermined.
Fifty Shades of Grey star Dornan told Eamonn Maiie on UTV that he fails to see a positive outcome for the country.
The 35-year-old said: “I am kept awake at night for what it means for this country, I can’t really see a sort of sound solution, some of the people who have a say in it over here break my heart a little bit.
“I think this is the last thing that this country needs at the moment, and I just don’t see how there’s a positive outcome for Northern Ireland in the matter.”
When asked about what Brexit will mean for Northern Ireland’s relationship with both the UK and Ireland Dornan said: “There’s lots of different very interesting options on the table, and I think they should all be seriously considered – but who knows where we will end up.”
Dornan is reprising his role as the iconic Christian Grey in the latest instalment of the Fifty Shades franchise – Fifty Shades Freed – which is out this week.
He says that the attention he receives whenever he returns to Northern Ireland is different to what he is used to in New York, where people are generally quite polite.
He said: “You are in the public eye and you are from here and you have gone away and done whatever and you are recognisable, people feel that they have a sort of, an ownership of you almost here.
“In Belfast you’re in a headlock before you know it, someone’s just grabbed you, they’re taking a picture without asking you and once they finally release you from a headlock then it’s like they invariably know someone, it’s like two degrees of separation here as opposed to six.”
Dornan added that as a Northern Irishman he feels more Irish than British and added that he will be following the Irish rugby team in the Six Nations.
He said: “I just feel Irish, a lot of that’s down to so many different reasons, mostly geography, that we are an island separate from the UK, so how could you, why would you feel more connected to that other piece of land than you do to the piece of land that you are living on?
“I have had my whole life either being in Lansdowne Road in Dublin (where Ireland play) or watching it on TV or watching it in pubs all over the world just screaming ‘go on Ireland, come on Ireland’ and how could I not call myself Irish?”
Written by Michael Kehoe @michaelcalling