BRING ON GIRL POWER

Jamie Dornan grew up idolising action stars like Bruce Willis - now he hopes his girls will take inspiration from a new generation of kick-ass women

- JENNY MORRISON

ACTOR Jamie Dornan couldn't be more pleased by the rise of action films led by women. The Northern Irish star says growing up he loved watching fast-paced thrillers starring the likes of Bruce Willis and Mel Gibson.

Now, as the dad of three young daughters, he wants to see movies that will inspire his girls.

He hopes that working alongside former Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot in new spy movie Heart of Stone will make his family proud.

Jamie, 41, said: "Growing up in the 80s and 90s, I loved things like Die Hard with Bruce Willis or Mad Max and Lethal Weapon with Mel Gibson.

"And then there was James Bond, of course, in his various different incarnations.

"There were always male action actors to look up to, and hopefully now we are going to see a lot more female action heroes.

"I have three daughters and I want them to be able to see and look up to really strong, powerful, intelligent, fierce women on screen. It's a cool thing. I had plenty of men to look up to in that realm when I was a kid.

"Hopefully as the years go on, there will be more and more women for them to look up to."

Dornan shot to international fame playing the role of Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades franchise.

Since then he has gained an ever-growing army of fans for his roles in everything from crime drama series The Fall to Kenneth Branagh's Belfast and Australian outback thriller The Tourist.

His latest movie, which is released on Netflix next month, sees him play an MI6 agent alongside Gadot's lead character Rachel Stone.

Casting Dornan as a spy is no doubt likely to pour further fuel on the rumours he may be set to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond.