James Norton

Born in London in 1985, James Norton is a BAFTA-nominated actor, best known for television shows such as Happy Valley and Grantchester. Norton will star in the West End premiere of A Little Life at the Harold Pinter Theatre in spring 2023.

While Norton studied at the University of Cambridge, he took part in many theatre productions. He notably played Posthumus in a Trevor Nunn-directed production of Cymbeline for The Marlowe Society. Notable alumni include Stephen Fry, Ian McKellen, Tom Hiddleston, and Emma Corrin. Following his theology degree, Norton then enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

In 2010, Norton made his London debut in Laura Wade’s Posh at the Royal Court, playing the role of Miles Richards. He then played Henry in That Face at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

The following year, Norton played Captain Stanhope in R. C. Sheriff's World War One play, Journey’s End. After a three-month long UK tour, Journey's End took over the Duke of York’s Theatre in summer 2011. Shortly after, he reunited with Trevor Nunn for The Lion in Winter at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Norton also played Zack in Belleville at the Donmar Warehouse in 2017.

In recent years, he’s best known for his television roles. He played villain Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley, picking up a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Reversely, he then played a crime solving vicar for four series of Grantchester on ITV. In 2018, Norton played Alex Godman, the son of a Russian mafia boss escaping a life of organised crime, in McMafia.

In 2023, Norton will play Jude in the stage adaptation of Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life. Ivo van Hove directs Norton, as well as Luke Thompson, Omari Douglas, and Zach Wyatt.