Richard Dormer Northern Irish actor, playwright and screenwriter Date of Birth: 11.11.1969 Country: Ireland

1. Early Life and Education
2. Career
3. Film
4. Television

Early Life and Education

James Dormer was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. He was accepted into the Royal College of Art but chose to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. After living and working in London, he returned to Northern Ireland. He resides in Belfast and is married to director Rachel O'Riordan.

Career

After earning recognition for his performance as Northern Irish snooker star Alex Higgins in the 2003 film "Hurricane," Dormer continued to excel in theatrical productions. He received the Stage Award for Best Actor in 2003 for his portrayal of Higgins. In 2004, he won The Irish Times Best Actor Award for his performance in Frank McGuinness' "Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme." Dormer performed under the direction of Sir Peter Hall at the Theatre Royal Bath in 2005, appearing in George Bernard Shaw's "You Never Can Tell," William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," Noel Coward's "Private Lives," and Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot."

Film

Dormer was cast as the lead role in the 2012 film "Good Vibrations," which follows the story of Northern Irish punk rock visionary Terri Hooley. The film premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and won Best Film at the Galway Film Fleadh, Best Screenplay, and the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut. Dormer's portrayal of Hooley earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the 2013 Irish Film and Television Awards. He has since appeared in critically acclaimed roles in Yann Demange's "71" and Gerard Johnson's "Hyena" (2014).

Television

Dormer has become a notable television actor, most recently playing pivotal roles in the Cinemax drama "Banshee" and the BBC crime drama "Hidden." In 2012, he joined the cast of HBO's hit series "Game of Thrones," playing the role of Lord Beric Dondarrion, also known as "Lightning Lord," the leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners. In 2014, he began starring in the crime series "Fortitude," described as "their most ambitious project to date." He plays Sheriff Dan Anderssen alongside Stanley Tucci, Michael Gambon, Christopher Eccleston, and "The Killing's" Sofie Gråbøl. "Fortitude" premiered on January 29, 2015.