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James Norton Biography

James Norton is an English film, television, and stage actor best known for his appearances in Happy Valley, Grantchester, War & Peace, and McMafia. Norton stars as Christopher Blackwell in the biopic, Bob Marley: One Love. Bob Marley: One Love premieres on February 14, 2024.

Photo of James Norton
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James Norton Height

Norton stands at a rough height of 6 feet and 1 inch.

James Norton Age

Norton is 39 years old. He was born James Geoffrey Ian Norton on July 18, 1985, in London, England. Norton annually celebrates his birthday on July 18th.

Personal Life

James Norton Family and Relatives

Norton was born to Hugh Biddulph Norton and Lavinia Jane Norman. Both his parents worked as teachers. They raised him at the edge of the Howardian Hills in North Yorkshire. Although the family originally hails from London, they lived in Malton in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire.

Hugh, his father, previously worked as a lecturer at Hull School of Art and Design. He was born in Tanzania to Ian and Jean Norton. Ian worked as a colonial official in Tanganyika. He passed away in 2003 at the age of 80. Ian’s father, Hugh Ross Norton, was the Archdeacon of Sudbury from 1945 to 1962. Jean’s father, Francis John Biddulph, worked as a Colonel of the Royal Engineers. She passed away in 2016 at the age of 93.

James Norton Relationship/Dating

Norton manages to keep his marital and relationship status private. In 2015, Norton was appointed as a trustee of the Royal Theatrical Support Trust. Previously, he was in a relationship with actress Imogen Poots. They started dating in 2018 and split in 2023. Before their split, they were engaged to each other. Imogen was born in June 1989 and is 35 years old. Between 2015 and 2017, he was in a relationship with Jessie Buckley, an Irish actress and singer. Buckley was born on December 28, 1989, and is 34 years old.

James Norton Education

Norton studied at  Bramcote Prep School (Scarborough College) in Scarborough till he was 13. Next, he joined  Ampleforth College in the village of Ampleforth in North Yorkshire. At the age of 15, he started working at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough.

In 2004, he joined Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge where he studied Theology. In 2007, he graduated from the college with First Class Honours. He was granted a Fitzwilliam Travel Grant to travel to Northern India which he used to teach and perform for schoolchildren at 16 schools. Norton revealed that his studies were primarily concentrated on Buddhism and Hinduism.

Norton participated in The Marlowe Society theater club during his time at Cambridge. In 2007, he portrayed Posthumus in a production of Cymbeline. Norton revealed that he participated in numerous theatrical productions during his university years. He joined the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London for a three-year program. 6 months before finishing his studies, he left the school in 2010 in pursuit of an acting chance.

Professional Life

James Norton Net Worth

Norton has garnered a net worth ranging from $1 million to $6 million during his successful career as a film, television, and stage actor.

James Norton Career

Norton portrayed Jenn in An Education in 2009. The following year, he joined the original cast of Posh at the Royal Court Theatre. That same year, he portrayed Henry in That Face at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. In 2011, Norton portrayed Captain Stanhope in Journey’s End. Following this, he played the role of Geoffrey in The Lion in Winter at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket.

Norton portrayed Owen in Cheerful Weather for the Wedding. The following year, he played the role of F1 racer Guy Edwards in Rush. That same year, he starred in Belle as Oliver Ashford. Norton’s television credits include his appearances in Doctor Who’s “Cold War,” Death Comes to Pemberley, Happy Valley, Grantchester, Northmen: A Viking Saga, and Life in Squares. In 2016, he portrayed Prince Andrei Bolkonsky in BBC’s War & Peace. That same year he appeared in Black Mirror’s Nosedive.

Between March and May 2016, Norton performed in Tracy Letts’ production “Bug” in London’s West End. Following this, he made an appearance in “Belleville” at the Donmar Warehouse Theatre from December 2017 to February 2018. Norton’s dedication to his role in “McMafia” led him to delve into the study of Systema, a Russian martial art and health system. In 2019, he portrayed John Brooke in “Little Women.”

James Norton Diabetes

Norton suffers from type 1 diabetes. He regularly raises awareness about the disease every diabetes week/day via his Instagram account. Recently, on November 28, 2023, he mentioned that people with diabetes can consume sugar but need to be cautious about the dosage of insulin they administer.

James Norton Religion

When questioned about his religious beliefs, Norton said that he wouldn’t label himself as religious but he’s intrigued with it. He said that he had a connection to religion since he attended Catholic school and studied theology

James Norton James Bond

Norton dispelled the rumors that he’d be the next James Bond during an interview with Variety. Also, he said that he hadn’t talked to the producers of Bond nor had any preliminary discussions with them.

Movies and TV Shows

James Norton Grantchester

Between 2014 and 2019, Norton portrayed Reverend Sidney Chambers in ITV’s Grantchester. Sidney is an Anglican vicar who previously worked as a Scots Guards officer during World War II. He works with Detective Inspector Geordie Keating to help solve crimes happening in the Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester.

James Norton Happy Valley

Between 2014 and 2023, Norton starred in the role of Tommy Lee Royce in the crime drama TV series Happy Valley. Royce is a serial rapist and drug offender who displays many traits of psychopathy and is only interested in maintaining his signature hair-do and obsessively pursuing his son, Ryan, by the woman he raped eight years earlier.

James Norton War & Peace

In 2016, Norton starred as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky in War & Peace. Andrei is the son of famed Russian general Nikolai Bolkonsky and a friend of Pierre Bezukhov. Andrei possesses good looks, charm, and a sense of gallantry, yet he feels downcast by the surface nature of society and yearns for a deeper meaning or purpose in life.

James Norton McMafia

Norton starred as Alex Godman in the crime drama TV series, McMafia. Alex is the child of a Russian mob leader who grew up in Britain and currently resides in London. His father strives to break free from the realm of organized crime.

James Norton Bob Marley: One Love.

Norton stars as Christopher Blackwell in the biopic, Bob Marley: One Love. Bob Marley: One Love premieres on February 14, 2024. The film follows how Bob Marley, a reggae icon, crushed hardship and the process behind his revolutionary music. Christopher worked as a record producer and founded Island Records. In 1972, he funded and produced the album “Catch a Fire” by Bob Marley and the Wailers. Norton stars alongside actresses and actors;

James Norton Other Films and TV Shows

During his career, Norton has appeared in a couple of films and TV shows including

  • An Education
  • Inspector George Gently
  • Mr. Turner
  • Hampstead
  • By Any Means
  • Flatliners
  • Nowhere Special
  • Lady Chatterley’s Lover
  • To Walk Invisible
  • Things Heard & Seen
  • Rogue Agent
  • Ex-Husbands
  • The Trial of Christine Keeler
  • The Nevers
  • Playing Nice

James Norton Social Media

Norton has active social media platforms i.e. Twitter, and Instagram. He has a following of over 529K on Instagram and a following of over 112K on Twitter.