James Norton (actor)

James Geoffrey Ian Norton (born 1985) is an English actor. He is known for roles in the television series Happy Valley (2014–2023), Grantchester (2014–2019), War & Peace (2016), and McMafia (2018). He played the title role in the 2019 film Mr. Jones and played King Harold Godwinson in the 2025 BBC historical mini-series King & Conqueror. He earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the British Academy Television Awards in 2015 for his performance as Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley. His most recent role is as Tom Rafferty in House of Guinness (2025).

Infobox

Born

James Geoffrey Ian Norton1985 (age 39–40)London, England

Education

Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge (BA)Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

Occupation

Actor

Years active

2007–present

Relatives

mw- Hugh Norton (great-grandfather)

Tables

· Filmography › Film

2009

An Education

Role(s)

Student

2012

Cheerful Weather for the Wedding

Role(s)

Owen

2013

Rush

Role(s)

Guy Edwards

Belle

Role(s)

Oliver Ashford

2014

Mr. Turner

Role(s)

Francis Willoughby

Bonobo

Role(s)

Ralph

Northmen: A Viking Saga

Role(s)

Bjorn

2017

Hampstead

Role(s)

Philip

Flatliners

Role(s)

Jamie

2019

Mr Jones

Role(s)

Gareth Jones

Little Women

Role(s)

John Brooke

2020

Nowhere Special

Role(s)

John

2021

Things Heard & Seen

Role(s)

George Claire

2022

Rogue Agent

Role(s)

Robert Hendy-Freegard

2023

Ex-Husbands

Role(s)

Nick Pearce

A Little Life

Role(s)

Jude St. Francis

Notes

Recording of West End production

2024

Bob Marley: One Love

Role(s)

Christopher Blackwell

Joy

Role(s)

Robert Edwards

2028

The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event †

Role(s)

Brian Epstein

Notes

Filming

TBA

Role(s)

Wife & Dog †

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2009	An Education	Student
2012	Cheerful Weather for the Wedding	Owen
2013	Rush	Guy Edwards
2013	Belle	Oliver Ashford
2014	Mr. Turner	Francis Willoughby
	Bonobo	Ralph
	Northmen: A Viking Saga	Bjorn
2017	Hampstead	Philip
2017	Flatliners	Jamie
2019	Mr Jones	Gareth Jones
2019	Little Women	John Brooke
2020	Nowhere Special	John
2021	Things Heard & Seen	George Claire
2022	Rogue Agent	Robert Hendy-Freegard
2023	Ex-Husbands	Nick Pearce
2023	A Little Life	Jude St. Francis	Recording of West End production
2024	Bob Marley: One Love	Christopher Blackwell
2024	Joy	Robert Edwards
2028	The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event †	Brian Epstein	Filming
TBA	Wife & Dog †		Post-production

· Filmography › Television

2012

Inspector George Gently

Role(s)

James Blackstone

Notes

Episode: "Gently with Class"

Restless

Role(s)

Kolia

Notes

Miniseries

2013

Blandings

Role(s)

Jimmy Belford

Notes

Episode: "Pig-hoo-o-o-o-ey"

Doctor Who

Role(s)

Onegin

Notes

Episode: "Cold War"

By Any Means

Role(s)

Michael Prence

Notes

Episode: "Episode 1"

Death Comes to Pemberley

Role(s)

Henry Alveston

Notes

3 episodes

2014–2019

Role(s)

Grantchester

Notes

Sidney Chambers

2014–2023

Role(s)

Happy Valley

Notes

Tommy Lee Royce

2015

Life in Squares

Role(s)

Young Duncan Grant

Notes

3 episodes

Lady Chatterley's Lover

Role(s)

Sir Clifford Chatterley

Notes

Television film

2016

War & Peace

Role(s)

Prince Andrei Bolkonsky

Notes

Main role

Black Mirror

Role(s)

Ryan

Notes

Episode: "Nosedive"

To Walk Invisible

Role(s)

Duke of Wellington

Notes

Television film

Wild West: America's Great Frontier

Role(s)

Narrator

Notes

3 episodes

2018

McMafia

Role(s)

Alex Godman

Notes

Main role

2019–2020

Role(s)

The Trial of Christine Keeler

Notes

Stephen Ward

2021–2023

Role(s)

The Nevers

Notes

Hugo Swan

2025

Playing Nice

Role(s)

Pete

Notes

ITV1 drama; 4 episodes

King & Conqueror

Role(s)

Harold Godwinson

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"
	Doctor Who	Onegin	Episode: "Cold War"
	By Any Means	Michael Prence	Episode: "Episode 1"
	Death Comes to Pemberley	Henry Alveston	3 episodes
2014–2019	Grantchester	Sidney Chambers	Main role
2014–2023	Happy Valley	Tommy Lee Royce	Main role
2015	Life in Squares	Young Duncan Grant	3 episodes
2015	Lady Chatterley's Lover	Sir Clifford Chatterley	Television film
2016	War & Peace	Prince Andrei Bolkonsky	Main role
	Black Mirror	Ryan	Episode: "Nosedive"
	To Walk Invisible	Duke of Wellington	Television film
	Wild West: America's Great Frontier	Narrator	3 episodes
2018	McMafia	Alex Godman	Main role
2019–2020	The Trial of Christine Keeler	Stephen Ward	Miniseries
2021–2023	The Nevers	Hugo Swan	Main role
2025	Playing Nice	Pete	ITV1 drama; 4 episodes
	King & Conqueror	Harold Godwinson
	House of Guinness	Sean Rafferty	Main role
TBA	House of the Dragon	Ormund Hightower	In production

· Filmography › Video games

2014

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Role(s)

Cole

Notes

Voice

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2014	Dragon Age: Inquisition	Cole	Voice

· Theatre

2007

Cymbeline

Role(s)

Posthumus

Notes

Cambridge Arts Theatre (1–6 October 2007)

2010

Posh

Role(s)

Miles Richards

Notes

Royal Court Theatre, London (9 April – 22 May 2010)

That Face

Role(s)

Henry

Notes

Crucible Theatre, Sheffield (7–24 July 2010)

2011

Journey's End

Role(s)

Captain Stanhope

Notes

UK national tour (March–June 2011)Duke of York's Theatre, London (19 July – 3 September 2011)

2011–2012

Role(s)

The Lion in Winter

Notes

Geoffrey

2016

Bug

Role(s)

Peter

Notes

Found111, London (24 March – 14 May 2016)

2017–2018

Role(s)

Belleville

Notes

Zack

2023

A Little Life

Role(s)

Jude St Francis

Notes

Richmond Theatre, Harold Pinter Theatre and Savoy Theatre, London

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2007	Cymbeline	Posthumus	Cambridge Arts Theatre (1–6 October 2007)
2010	Posh	Miles Richards	Royal Court Theatre, London (9 April – 22 May 2010)
2010	That Face	Henry	Crucible Theatre, Sheffield (7–24 July 2010)
2011	Journey's End	Captain Stanhope	UK national tour (March–June 2011)Duke of York's Theatre, London (19 July – 3 September 2011)
2011–2012	The Lion in Winter	Geoffrey	Theatre Royal Haymarket, London (5 November 2011 – 28 January 2012)
2016	Bug	Peter	Found111, London (24 March – 14 May 2016)
2017–2018	Belleville	Zack	Donmar Warehouse, London (7 December 2017 – 3 February 2018)
2023	A Little Life	Jude St Francis	Richmond Theatre, Harold Pinter Theatre and Savoy Theatre, London

· Awards and nominations

2014

Crime Thriller Awards

Role(s)

Best Supporting Actor

Notes

Happy Valley

2015

British Academy Television Awards

Role(s)

Nominated

2021

British Independent Film Awards

Role(s)

Best Actor

Notes

Nowhere Special

2024

WhatsOnStage Awards

Role(s)

Best Performer in a Play

Notes

A Little Life

Laurence Olivier Awards

Role(s)

Best Actor

Notes

Nominated

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2014	Crime Thriller Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Happy Valley	Won
2015	British Academy Television Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Happy Valley	Nominated
2021	British Independent Film Awards	Best Actor	Nowhere Special	Nominated
2024	WhatsOnStage Awards	Best Performer in a Play	A Little Life	Won
2024	Laurence Olivier Awards	Best Actor	A Little Life	Nominated

References

Mr. Porter
https://web.archive.org/web/20170929194835/https://www.mrporter.com/journal/the-look/the-rise-of-mr-james-norton/2612
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jul/08/james-norton-i-try-to-present-myself-as-friendly-and-people-see-something-darker
Graham Norton
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03dgqg8
The Sunday Express
http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/479237/Happy-Valley-s-James-Norton-on-Grantchester
The Yorkshire Post
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/yorkshire-living/arts/theatre-and-tv/how-james-norton-went-from-killer-to-clergyman-1-6869080
The Press
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/theatre/9036732.Review__Journey___s_End__Leeds_Grand_Theatre/
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/arts/television/james-norton-in-grantchester-on-pbs-masterpiece.html
Tanganyika Territory Blue Book for the year ended 31 December 1946
https://books.google.com/books?id=y15v5e2wHsQC&q=detailed+statement&pg=PA111
Burke's Irish Family Records
Optima
https://web.archive.org/web/20131228144657/http://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/mi-client/media/import/documents/Optima13.pdf
Arts Tribune
https://artstribune.com/2020/10/16/james-norton-british-actor/
The Daily Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/3668124/The-Marlowe-Society-Talent-show-for-theatres-brightest-stars.html
The Artists Partnership
https://web.archive.org/web/20150110191926/http://www.theartistspartnership.co.uk/norton/269/#.VLFhxivF98E
1883 Magazine
https://web.archive.org/web/20160216180949/http://www.1883magazine.com/film/film/james-norton
The Stage
https://web.archive.org/web/20150110200549/http://www.thestage.co.uk/people/2011/11/james-norton-joining-the-big-league/
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2010/apr/16/posh-royal-court-billington
The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/that-face-crucible-studio-sheffield-2022104.html
ShortList
https://web.archive.org/web/20141104124046/http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/best-of-british-james-norton
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/07/movies/cheerful-weather-for-the-wedding-with-elizabeth-mcgovern.html
The Courier-Journal
http://www.courier-journal.com/story/entertainment/movies/2014/05/21/movie-review-belle/9380533/
The Daily Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10872830/8-million-people-are-currently-wishing-me-dead.html
Digital Spy
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a646593/james-norton-will-return-to-happy-valley-for-series-2.html#~pcjMRy2nfdB8
"ITV announces the cast of new six-part drama Grantchester"
http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-announces-cast-new-six-part-drama-grantchester
The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/granchester-star-robson-green-were-going-to-lose-james-norton-quickly-9794245.html
Nottingham Post
https://web.archive.org/web/20150516153240/http://www.nottinghampost.com/Grantchester-James-Norton-talks-playing-heavy/story-23046669-detail/story.html
Deadline Hollywood
https://deadline.com/2014/11/itv-grantchester-second-season-order-masterpiece-video-1201297680/
The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/grantchester-tv-review-it-took-less-than-two-minutes-for-james-norton-to-strip-to-his-swimming-a6908371.html
Radio Times
https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-06-29/grantchester-series-4-james-norton-final-episodes-itv/
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2014/oct/05/fashion-james-norton-modelling-coats
The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/new-bbc-drama-life-in-squares-to-track-lives-of-bloomsbury-set-9676202.html
The Daily Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/11755526/Life-In-Squares-star-James-Norton-acting-is-a-neurotic-profession-I-always-need-to-get-away.html
What's on TV
http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/tv-news/news/james-norton-weirdly-i-read-war-peace-while-filming-happy-valley-video
Interview
http://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/james-norton/
Playbill
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/tracy-lettss-bug-to-be-revived-at-west-ends-found111-with-tv-star-james-norton-and-kate-fleetwood-386395
Deadline Hollywood
https://deadline.com/2016/10/black-mirror-season-3-trailer-netflix-bryce-dallas-howard-alice-eve-james-norton-1201832611/
Playbill
http://www.playbill.com/article/james-norton-and-imogen-poots-cast-in-amy-herzogs-belleville-at-the-donmar
James Norton talks about Systema training for his role in McMafia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45PsYGX4nbw
Deadline Hollywood
https://deadline.com/2018/08/sony-little-women-greta-gerwig-james-norton-1202438845/
BBC Online
https://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20191216-why-little-women-is-a-triumph
Radio Times
https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-100-full-list/
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/aug/09/james-norton-happy-valley-a-little-life-privacy-playing-villains
Deadline Hollywood
https://deadline.com/2025/10/james-norton-beatles-manager-brian-epstein-in-the-beatles-1236584362/
Yahoo News
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/james-norton-visits-buddhist-retreat-070000585.html
The Jonathan Ross Show
https://web.archive.org/web/20160202144522/http://www.itv.com/hub/the-jonathan-ross-show/2a1166a0112
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/mar/20/jessie-buckley-on-covid-filming-worlds-greatest-love-scene-and-we-couldnt-touch
Hello!
https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20210122105261/james-norton-who-is-girlfriend-imogen-poots/
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jul/30/james-norton-interview-greatest-fear-rats
Twitter
https://twitter.com/jginorton/status/675000193138429952
The Big Issue
https://www.bigissue.com/culture/tv/mcmafias-james-norton-zeitgeist-chasing-us/
The Daily Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/mens-style/james-norton-social-media-oversharing-eco-hypocrisy-relief-men/
The Media Eye
https://www.themediaeye.com/news-and-insights/2019-02-13-James%20Norton%20narrates%20The%20Climate%20Coalition%20campaign
Smart Energy
https://www.smart-energy.com/regional-news/europe-uk/uk-celebrities-call-on-pm-for-urgent-climate-emergency-action/
The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/james-norton-sarah-lancashire-catherine-cawood-happy-valley-rishi-sunak-b2277703.html
BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg94g0pp10o
Out
https://www.out.com/celebs/trans-rights-open-letter-united-kingdom-celebrities
theplaylist.net
https://theplaylist.net/rogue-agent-trailer-gemma-arterton-is-on-the-hunt-for-conman-james-norton-in-a-new-spy-thriller-20220715/
Country and Townhouse
https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/culture/house-of-guinness-netflix/
Variety
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-cast-james-norton-ormund-hightower-1236292789/
WhatsOnStage
https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/a-little-life-to-run-in-the-west-end-and-tour-with_57864.html
"Winners unmasked at Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards 2014 on ITV3"
http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/winners-unmasked-specsavers-crime-thriller-awards-2014-itv3
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32215563
WhatsOnStage
https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/james-norton-and-luke-thompson-win-whatsonstage-awards-for-a-little-life_1568905/
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/mar/12/olivier-awards-2024-complete-list-of-nominations
Including Untitled Paul McCartney film, Untitled John Lennon film, Untitled George Harrison film and Untitled Ringo Star