James Norton
Birth Name: James Geoffrey Ian Norton
Height: 185 cm
James Norton was born in 1985 to two teachers and has a younger sister who is a doctor. Growing up in North Yorkshire he espoused acting at a very early age - playing Joseph in his primary school nati ...Show More
I had the acting bug from a very early age.
I had the acting bug from a very early age.
Happy Valley (2014) has really changed things for me.
Happy Valley (2014) has really changed things for me.
It takes a lot of courage, when everyone is asking you what you want to do, if you say that you want Show more
It takes a lot of courage, when everyone is asking you what you want to do, if you say that you want to be a musician or an actor; people can be very condescending and say, 'Oh, that's so sweet, good luck with that!' It can be very frustrating. Hide
On marriage and fatherhood: I definitely want that, because my sister and I were raised in a really Show more
On marriage and fatherhood: I definitely want that, because my sister and I were raised in a really close family and my parents are still very much in love and living in Yorkshire. That's the kind of end game that I would love, too. Hide
I grew up in North Yorkshire, but now London is home.
I grew up in North Yorkshire, but now London is home.
If it's a sunny day, I get this weird guilt if I'm not making the most of it, so I'll walk or go for Show more
If it's a sunny day, I get this weird guilt if I'm not making the most of it, so I'll walk or go for a swim or get on my bike, or I'll go to the Heath, just have a reason to get out. Hide
Half of what creates psychopaths is genetic, but the other half is conditioning.
Half of what creates psychopaths is genetic, but the other half is conditioning.
Teenage years are tricky for everyone, but when you're 15 and it's an all-boys boarding school, as i Show more
Teenage years are tricky for everyone, but when you're 15 and it's an all-boys boarding school, as it was then, and you go through puberty late, it makes a huge difference. Hide
Being in a person's head for five months, where they're so hateful, is kind of exhausting.
Being in a person's head for five months, where they're so hateful, is kind of exhausting.
I grew up in the countryside, so I had quite a feral life up until the age of about fourteen.
I grew up in the countryside, so I had quite a feral life up until the age of about fourteen.
You don't want a character who sits on an even playing field the whole time.
You don't want a character who sits on an even playing field the whole time.
You're a little boy in a testosterone-fuelled world - and, in my case, one who was into arts and mus Show more
You're a little boy in a testosterone-fuelled world - and, in my case, one who was into arts and music when everyone else was into rugby. So you're standing on the pitch going 'Oh, my God!' I look back now and it seems ridiculous but, at the time, it felt quite big. Hide
When I got into drama school, that's when I knew that I could safely say that I wanted to be a profe Show more
When I got into drama school, that's when I knew that I could safely say that I wanted to be a professional actor. Hide
We live in secular world now, but most of our art and culture is rooted in religion.
We live in secular world now, but most of our art and culture is rooted in religion.
Part of the reason that I love Grantchester (2014) is that it's a show in which the hero is a man of Show more
Part of the reason that I love Grantchester (2014) is that it's a show in which the hero is a man of faith. He's not a comic device or a villain. He's just a very normal, very sympathetic young man who most people can identify with. Hide
As far as people I'd like to work with, the list is endless. I think to work with Steve McQueen woul Show more
As far as people I'd like to work with, the list is endless. I think to work with Steve McQueen would be amazing, and then some of the U.K. talent we have: Eddie Marsan, Olivia Colman, both of whom I have met and admired for a long time. We're very blessed in this country; there is so much talent for people to work with and learn from. Hide
My love life right now is infinitely less interesting than that of any of my characters.
My love life right now is infinitely less interesting than that of any of my characters.
I do a mean mouth trumpet.
I do a mean mouth trumpet.
I think the mistake lots of people make when it comes to a psychopath is that they completely write Show more
I think the mistake lots of people make when it comes to a psychopath is that they completely write off their actions as cruel, callous and completely calculated, but actually, the truth is that they have interests and reasons behind their actions. Hide
Obviously I have a relationship with religion, because I went to a Catholic school and studied theol Show more
Obviously I have a relationship with religion, because I went to a Catholic school and studied theology. I can't call myself religious, but I'm definitely fascinated by it. Hide
I love, when I'm on holiday in cities, going into church and feeling that reverence and that kind of Show more
I love, when I'm on holiday in cities, going into church and feeling that reverence and that kind of automatic respect: the sort of magic which exists in those kind of religious temples. Hide
For any actor, it's a great privilege to play a character that is very distant from yourself.
For any actor, it's a great privilege to play a character that is very distant from yourself.
Kids used to come round to my house, and I'd force them to do a play in the bay windows of my house Show more
Kids used to come round to my house, and I'd force them to do a play in the bay windows of my house and get all the mums and dads to sit and watch. I'd write the program, write the play and be the star. Hide
When I was playing a psychopath in Happy Valley (2014) it was really weird.
When I was playing a psychopath in Happy Valley (2014) it was really weird.
I love good stories; you have to have a good plot - characters which intertwine with a good plot.
I love good stories; you have to have a good plot - characters which intertwine with a good plot.
For a long time I had a vintage stall, where I sold men's vintage clothing, and my girlfriend was co Show more
For a long time I had a vintage stall, where I sold men's vintage clothing, and my girlfriend was convinced it was just to do with a problem I had where I just couldn't stop buying senseless clothes, even if they didn't fit me. Hide
I crashed my bicycle on the way to my first date with my ex-girlfriend and was cautioned by the poli Show more
I crashed my bicycle on the way to my first date with my ex-girlfriend and was cautioned by the police. Hide
I wanted to do a degree in something I was interested in before going into acting.
I wanted to do a degree in something I was interested in before going into acting.
But, still, being at Ampleforth, and then going on to study theology at Cambridge, gave me a lack of Show more
But, still, being at Ampleforth, and then going on to study theology at Cambridge, gave me a lack of cynicism about faith and a respect and fascination for all religions. Hide
If you compare the violence in Happy Valley (2014) to the violence in something like Game of Thrones Show more
If you compare the violence in Happy Valley (2014) to the violence in something like Game of Thrones (2011), it's nothing. But it is shocking because it's so real and grounded. The characters could live next door to you - they're not in a remote fantasy world. Hide
James Norton's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (110)
James Norton'S roles
Sidney Chambers
Jamie
Sir Clifford Chatterley
Sidney Chambers
Tommy Lee Royce
