Fifty Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan was awarded an honorary doctorates recognised "for putting Northern Ireland on the map" at Queen's University Belfast on Monday.

The actor was one of nine honorary graduates recognised yesterday at Queen's for distinction in the fields of business, education, medicine, arts, sport, public service and the local community.

The two-time Irish Film and Television Award winner and Bafta and Golden Globe nominee said it was a "huge honour" to be awarded a doctorate for distinction in the arts.

Dornan is billed to return to our TV screens in the critically acclaimed The Tourist on New Year's Day after the BBC announced that the Ireland-set second season of the thriller was to be renewed.

Of the honorary doctorate, the actor said: "My dad went to this university, there are pictures in my house of my dad wearing a similar robe. I’m very proud to be involved in this great university."

Among the nine awarded the honour was Queen's University alumni and former Aston Martin F1 strategist Bernadette Collins, who said she was "honoured" to be awarded an honorary doctorate in sport.

Collins helped to design, build, test and drive small-scale formula-style cars as part of ‘Formula Student’ in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The Sky Sports pundit said she hoped it might inspire other mechanical and aerospace engineering students to see "exciting possibilities" ahead.

Former SDLP leader Mark Durkan and Belfast-born conflict resolution specialist Quintin Oliver, who developed the Yes Campaign for the Good Friday Agreement referendum, were selected to be honoured with doctorates for distinction in public service, 25 years after the Good Friday Agreement.

Also recognised for his contribution to the peace process, former Sinn Féin general-secretary Tom Hartley was picked for a doctorate for services to the local community.

QUB selected Ann McGregor to receive a Doctor of Science in Economics for services to business and commerce after serving as chief executive of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 15 years.

Also recognised for services to the arts was founder and director of Belfast Community Gospel Choir (BCGC) Marie Lacey.

She said: "I am humbled beyond measure to receive an honorary doctorate from Queen's University. Music has the power to to transcend division and my life has been dedicated to serving the community through music.

Other recipients of  honorary doctorates at the conferring ceremony on Monday were Ajay Kakkar, chair of King's Health Partners, the Academic Health Science Centre, Director of the Thrombosis Research Institute and life peer in the house of Lords, Garrett Curran business man and investor, and Ann McGregor who served as chief executive of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 15 years.

In a post on X, Queen's University Belfast shared a picture of the alumni, captioned "Look who's joined our Class of 2023!"

Look who's joined our #ClassOf2023!

We were delighted to welcome #JamieDornan to campus, along with other leading figures from the #Arts, #Sport, #Medicine, #PublicService, #LocalCommunity, #Business, #Commerce and #Education, as we celebrated their successes.

“We are delighted… pic.twitter.com/6auLi8WzMR

— Queen's University Belfast 🎓 (@QUBelfast) December 11, 2023

Queen’s University President and Vice Chancellor Professor Ian Greer said: "We are delighted to award honorary degrees to this group of hugely successful and inspirational group of individuals today.

"They have all played a significant role in putting Belfast and Northern Ireland on the map and we are honoured that they will be part of the Queen’s community."