James Norton (actor)

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This article is about the English actor. For other people, see James Norton (disambiguation).
James Norton
James Norton filming TV series Grantchester on Clare College Bridge in Cambridge in 205
Norton, on Clare College Bridge, Cambridge
during filming for Grantchester, 2015
Born James Geoffrey Ian Norton
(1985-07-18) 18 July 1985 (age 39)
London, England, UK
Residence Peckham, London
Education Ampleforth College, Yorkshire
(independent Roman Catholic boarding school)
Alma mater Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation Actor
Years active 2007–present
Known for Happy Valley (2014-Present)
Grantchester (2014-Present)
War & Peace (2016)
Home town Malton, Ryedale

James Geoffrey Ian Norton[1] (born 18 July 1985) is an English actor. He is best known for roles in the British TV series Happy Valley, Grantchester and War & Peace. For his role as ex-convict Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley, Norton was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2015.[2]

Early life

Norton was born in London, England, the son of Lavinia Jane (Norman) and Hugh Biddulph Norton.[3] His parents were both teachers; his father, who was born in Tanzania, was a Lecturer at Hull School of Art and Design.[4][5] Though originally from London, Norton's family lived in the town of Malton in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire.[6][7] Norton described his childhood as "idyllic", a time where he lived at the edge of the Howardian Hills in North Yorkshire.[2]

Education

Norton was educated at Ampleforth College,[8] a Roman Catholic (Benedictine) boarding independent school in the village of Ampleforth in North Yorkshire, where he excelled in theatre and tennis. He did work experience at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough when he was 15.[5]

Starting in 2004, Norton read Theology at Fitzwilliam College at the University of Cambridge, graduating in 2007 with First Class Honours.[8] Norton received a Fitzwilliam Travel Grant to travel to Northern India, to teach and perform for schoolchildren at 16 schools.[8]

Norton was a member of the Marlowe Society theatre club at Cambridge, and in 2007, he played Posthumus in a production of Cymbeline directed by Trevor Nunn for the society's centenary.[9] Norton said he did a lot of theatre during college.[10][11]

Norton then went on to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London for three years, but left 6 months before graduation for an acting role in 2010.[4][12]

Career

Norton had a part in the film An Education starring Carey Mulligan in 2009.[12] In 2010, he was an original cast member of Posh at the Royal Court Theatre.[13] At the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in 2010, Norton starred in That Face as Henry, an 18-year-old who has dropped out of school to care for his mentally disturbed and drug-dependent mother, played by Frances Barber. Lynne Walker of The Independent wrote of his performance: "At the centre of it all is Henry who, in James Norton's striking portrayal, is like a young caged animal".[14]

In 2011, Norton starred as Captain Stanhope in the classic First World War drama Journey's End.[15] The production toured the UK from March to June and transferred to the Duke of York's Theatre in the West End from July to September.[7] Norton then took the role of Geoffrey in The Lion in Winter at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket directed by Trevor Nunn, with whom Norton had worked at Cambridge in Cymbeline.[12]

In the 2012 period film Cheerful Weather for the Wedding, Norton played Owen, the would-be groom of a conflicted bride.[16] He appeared in the 2013 film Rush as Formula One driver Guy Edwards. In the 2013 film Belle, he played a suitor of the title character, a mixed-race lady in 18th century English society.[17]

Norton's television appearances include the Doctor Who episode "Cold War", in which he played a crewman on a Soviet submarine during the Cold War, and Death Comes to Pemberley, based on the P. D. James novel involving characters from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice caught up in a murder mystery.

Norton was acclaimed for his role as Tommy Lee Royce, the villain of the hit crime drama Happy Valley. Michael Hogan of The Telegraph wrote: "...the breakout star, seen in only a few small parts before this, has been the devilishly handsome James Norton, 29, as the heinous killer Royce, whom he has played with impressive depth".[18] As the first series came to its dramatic conclusion, Norton commented, "8 million people are currently wishing me dead".[18] Norton confirmed he would be appearing in the second series of Happy Valley at the 2015 BAFTAs.[19]

Since 2014, Norton has played crime-solving vicar Sidney Chambers alongside Robson Green as Police Inspector Geordie Keating in the ITV series Grantchester, based on the novels by James Runcie.[20][21] Grantchester was his first starring role.[22] A second series was broadcast in early 2016.[23][24]

He also appears in the 2014 films Northmen: A Viking Saga and Mr. Turner, a biographical drama on the life of the artist J. M. W. Turner by director Mike Leigh.[25] In 2015 Norton played Duncan Grant in the BBC Two mini-series about the Bloomsbury Group, Life in Squares.[25][26][27]

In 2016, Norton appeared as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky in the BBC miniseries of Andrew Davies' production of War & Peace.[4][28] The mini-series, a co-production with The Weinstein Company, allowed the cast to film in Russia.[29]

Between March and May 2016, Norton appeared in Tracy Letts’ Bug in London's West End.[30]

Personal life

In 2014, Norton bought a house in the Peckham area of London.[11]

Asked if he is religious — in the context of portraying a vicar in Grantchester — Norton said: "[O]bviously 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".[11]

Norton has type 1 diabetes, which he spoke about during an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show on 30 January 2016.[31]

In 2015, Norton was made a trustee of the Royal Theatrical Support Trust.[1][32]

Norton's father Hugh, who recently retired from working as a lecturer at a college near Hull, has made a number of uncredited appearances, alongside him, in various productions.[33]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role
2009 An Education Jenny's boyfriend
2012 Cheerful Weather for the Wedding Owen
2013 Rush Guy Edwards
2013 Belle Oliver Ashford
2014 Mr. Turner Francis Willoughby
2014 Northmen: A Viking Saga Bjorn
2014 Bonobo Ralph
2017 Flatliners Jamie
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2012 Inspector George Gently James Blackstone Episode: "Gently with Class"
2012 Restless Kolia Miniseries
2013 Blandings Jimmy Belford Episode: "Pig-hoo-o-o-o-ey"
2013 Doctor Who Onegin Episode: "Cold War"
2013 By Any Means Michael Prence Episode: "Episode 1"
2013 Death Comes to Pemberley Henry Alveston Miniseries; 3 episodes
2014–present Happy Valley Tommy Lee Royce Main cast
2014–present Grantchester Sidney Chambers Main cast
2015 Life in Squares Duncan Grant Miniseries; 3 episodes
2015 Lady Chatterley's Lover Sir Clifford Chatterley Film
2016 War & Peace Prince Andrei Bolkonsky Miniseries
Video games
Year Title Role Notes
2014 Dragon Age: Inquisition Cole Voice

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Cymbeline Posthumus
2010 Posh Miles Richards
2010 That Face Henry
2011 Journey's End Captain Stanhope
2011–12 The Lion in Winter Geoffrey
2016 Bug Peter
  • Found111, London (24 March - 14 May 2016)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2014 Crime Thriller Awards Best Supporting Actor Happy Valley Won[34]
2015 British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actor Happy Valley Nominated[35]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ http://www.famechain.com/family-tree/21067/hugh-norton/lavinia-norton
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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