Romance in gorgeous scenery – In Wild Mountain Thyme Jamie Dornan plays a farmer who remains oblivious to his next-door neighbor played by Emily Blunt. Dornan tells HFPA journalist Barbara Gasser how it was to film in Ireland.

“There’s so many amazing things about being involved in Wild Mountain Thyme but definitely, one of them was getting to show off the beauty of that land. I’m from there and I will never not be moved by the imagery of Ireland, and particularly we shot it in County Mayo, which is in the West of Ireland. It’s kind of breathtaking.”

The film has an old-fashioned touch. “We don’t see a lot of movies like this anymore. I think that’s a big part of the appeal. Ultimately, it’s a very uplifting movie, considering the year we have all had, it’s come at a good time. It’s some sort of old-school in how romantic it is; the kiss in the rain, you carrying someone you love up a mountain and I think that’s kind of what’s endearing, bewitching, and enchanting about this movie.”

Wild Mountain Thyme was written and directed by John Patrick Shanley who also wrote a romantic comedy Moonstruck in the 1980s. “What I think is interesting about the way Shanley writes is that there is quite odd stuff happening and it’s often very peculiar characters and they act in quite an odd way, but essentially it all comes down to family and love.”

Dornan describes himself as a fairly romantic person. “It’s easy for me to say this, but I would love to watch a movie like Wild Mountain Thyme because I think it transports you and takes you away to a different world. I always enjoy that in a movie.”

Listen to the podcast and hear what parts of Ireland he still wants to discover; why Ireland is a desirable filming location; why folk music is an important part of Irish culture; why he gave up singing in a band; how he uses thyme; what he cooks on Sundays during the wintertime; how his kids have helped him during Covid-19; who reads the best bedtime stories in his household; how growing up with two elder sisters shaped him; what kind of things he finds romantic; whether he regrets he didn’t finish his university studies; when he knew he wanted to be an actor; did he have a plan B? what money means to him; how the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy changed his life; what kind of memories he has from attending the Golden Globes; and what he hopes for 2021.