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James Norton (actor)

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This article is about the English actor. For other people, see James Norton (disambiguation).

James Norton
Born1985 (age 38–39)
London, England
OccupationActor
Years active2007–present

James Norton (born 1985) is an English actor. He played the lead role of Captain Stanhope in the 2011 revival of Journey's End and has appeared in the films Rush, Belle and Mr. Turner. His television roles include Onegin in an episode of Doctor Who, Henry Alveston in the BBC historical drama Death Comes to Pemberley, and as the dangerous ex-convict Tommy Lee Royce in the 2014 BBC crime drama Happy Valley. For his role in Happy Valley he was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2015. In October 2014 he began playing Canon Sidney Chambers in the ITV period drama Grantchester.[1] In 2015 he starred in Life in Squares, a BBC drama miniseries about the Bloomsbury Group.[2]

Early life

Norton was born in London, England to parents who are both teachers.[3] Though originally from London, Norton's family lived in the town of Malton in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire.[4][5] Norton described his childhood as "idyllic", a time where he lived at the edge of the Howardian Hills in North Yorkshire.[1]

Education

Norton was educated at Ampleforth College,[6] 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.[3]

Starting in 2004, he read Theology at Fitzwilliam College at the University of Cambridge.[6] Norton received a Fitzwilliam Travel Grant to travel to Northern India, to teach and perform for schoolchildren at 16 schools.[6]

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.[7] Norton said he did "loads" of theatre during college.[8][9]

Norton then went on to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London for three years, graduating in 2010.[10]

Career

Norton had a bit part in the film An Education starring Carey Mulligan in 2009.[10] He was an original cast member of Posh at the Royal Court Theatre in 2010.[11] 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".[12]

In 2011, Norton starred as Captain Stanhope in the classic First World War drama Journey's End.[13] 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.[5] 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.[10]

In the 2012 period film Cheerful Weather for the Wedding, Norton played Owen, the would-be groom of a conflicted bride.[14] 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.[15]

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".[16] As the series came to its dramatic conclusion, Norton commented, "8 million people are currently wishing me dead".[16] Norton confirmed he would be appearing in the second series of Happy Valley at the 2015 BAFTAs.[17]

In the 2014 ITV series Grantchester, based on the novels by James Runcie, Norton plays crime-solving vicar Sidney Chambers alongside Robson Green as Police Inspector Geordie Keating.[18][19] Grantchester was his first starring role.[20] Norton will return to reprise his role as Vicar Sidney Chambers in a second season of Grantchester.[21]

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.[22] In 2015 Norton played Duncan Grant in the BBC Two mini-series about the Bloomsbury Group, Life in Squares.[22][23]

Personal life

In 2014, Norton bought a house in the Peckham area of London.[9]

Asked if he is religious, 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".[9]

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
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 and Peace Prince Andrei Bolkonsky Upcoming 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

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2014 Crime Thriller Awards Best Supporting Actor Happy Valley Won[24]
2015 British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actor Happy Valley Nominated[25]

References

  1. ^ a b Shattuck, Kathryn (9 January 2015). "Easily Channeling a Vulnerable Vicar: James Norton in 'Grantchester' on PBS 'Masterpiece'". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  2. ^ Kelly, Guy (25 July 2015). "Life In Squares star James Norton: 'acting is a neurotic profession, I always need to get away'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b Williams, Andrew (1 June 2014). "'I admire Michael Fassbender enormously,' says Happy Valley's James Norton". The Sunday Express. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  4. ^ "How James Norton went from killer to clergyman". The Yorkshire Post. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  5. ^ a b Hutchinson, Charles (19 May 2011). "Review: Journey's End, Leeds Grand Theatre". The Press (York). Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "All the world's a stage" (PDF). Optima (13). Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge: 13. Autumn 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  7. ^ Christiansen, Rupert (24 September 2007). "The Marlowe Society: Talent show for theatre's brightest stars". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  8. ^ "James Norton". The Artists Partnership. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  9. ^ a b c Merry, Elspeth (28 April 2014). "James Norton". 1883 Magazine. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  10. ^ a b c Watson, Jonathan (4 November 2011). "James Norton: Joining the big league". The Stage. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  11. ^ Billington, Michael (16 April 2010). "'Posh' – Royal Court, London". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  12. ^ Walker, Lynne (9 July 2010). "'That Face, Crucible Studio, Sheffield". The Independent. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Best of British: James Norton". ShortList. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  14. ^ Holden, Stephen (6 December 2012). "There Will Always Be a Fantasy England: 'Cheerful Weather for the Wedding' With Elizabeth McGovern". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  15. ^ Darling, Cary (21 May 2014). "Movie Review: 'Belle'". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  16. ^ a b Hogan, Michael (3 June 2014). "Happy Valley's James Norton: '8 million people are currently wishing me dead'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  17. ^ "James Norton will return to Happy Valley for series 2". Digital Spy. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  18. ^ "ITV announces the cast of new six-part drama Grantchester". ITV Press Centre. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  19. ^ Debnath, Neela (20 October 2014). "Grantchester star Robson Green: 'We're going to lose James Norton quickly'". The Independent. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  20. ^ "Grantchester: James Norton talks about playing heavy-drinking vicar in new detective drama". Nottingham Post. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  21. ^ "ITV Has Faith In 'Grantchester', Orders 2nd Season Of Period Mystery Series". ITV Deadline Hollywood. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  22. ^ a b Fisher, Alice (5 October 2014). "Fashion: James Norton under cover". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  23. ^ Molloy, Antonia (18 August 2014). "New BBC drama Life in Squares to track lives of Bloomsbury Set". The Independent. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  24. ^ "Winners unmasked at Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards 2014 on ITV3". ITV. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  25. ^ "Bafta TV awards 2015: Nominations in full". BBC. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.

External links

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