When he made his debut as the troubled Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley in 2014, James Norton joked, “Eight million people are wishing me dead right now.”
The 37-year-old actor is unrecognizable as a gruesome serial rapist and murderer – a far cry from his starring roles as the lovable Reverend Sidney Chambers in Grantchester and handsome Prince Andrei Bolkonsky in War & Peace.
Having returned for Season 3, Tommy is as menacing as ever, locked up in a Category A prison in Sheffield and ready to appear in court on a gang killing spree.
Here we take a look at James’ transformation into TV’s biggest villain – and how the role is worlds away from his previous acting credentials and Cambridge education.
Private students and Cambridge education
James previously opened up about how producer and writer Sally Wainwright took a huge risk in casting him as Tommy – a character at odds with his privileged upbringing.
His parents, both teachers, sent him to Ampleforth College for £32,000 a year, where he entered from the age of 11.
He got the acting bug playing the singer Gwen Stefani in a school pantomime competition. “I was scared and just stood there and tapped my foot but then everyone started cheering and I started enjoying it,” he previously told the Mail.
Risk: James previously opened up about how producer and writer Sally Wainwright took a huge risk when she cast him as Tommy Lee Royce – a character completely at odds with his upbringing
James studied theology at Cambridge but continued acting and after graduating won a place at RADA, graduating in 2010. The year before he landed his first film role in the Carey Mulligan film An Education.
Tommy, on the other hand, grew up poor in Yorkshire with his mother, a heroin addict. His father has not been identified. During his time in prison he was told that his mother had been murdered under brutal circumstances.
Do no wrong vicar in Grantchester
World unto itself: James gave an acclaimed performance as crime-fighting Sidney, vicar of the 1950s on ITV’s Grantchester in 2014, building on the success of the first series of Happy Valley(R).
James gave an acclaimed 1950s crime-fighting performance as vicar Sidney Chambers on ITV’s Grantchester in 2014, building on the success of the first series of Happy Valley, which had ended a few months earlier.
Speaking about playing two characters that are worlds apart, the TV star previously told The Mail: “It was nice that it happened at the same time as Grantchester – they were like two sides of the same coin.
“Producers don’t often cast against guys, but it was wonderful that they did it with me and Happy Valley. I actually think it’s ridiculous that actors should be able to transform themselves.
Hit: Late last year the actor opened up about being replaced by Tom Brittney in Grantchester and admitted his dismay at having to leave the show
“We want to adopt an accent or a hairstyle or a dog collar. The most exciting thing about playing Tommy is being able to show people that I can play against guys. I want to play more diverse roles.”
Late last year, the actor opened up about being replaced by Tom Brittney in Grantchester and admitted his dismay at having to leave the show.
He had appeared on the show since it began in 2014 but made his last appearance in 2019 when he was replaced by Tom, 32, who took over as new leader, Reverend Will Davenport.
Speaking about his departure from the show, James admitted his heart was “slightly aching” at the decision to replace him as he gushed about his time at Grantchester.
War & Peace Heartthrob
Charmer: When viewers tuned in to the War & Peace adaptation, they only had eyes for James’ character – the brooding Prince Andrei (pictured with Lily James)
When viewers tuned in to the War & Peace adaptation, they only had eyes for James’ character – the brooding Prince Andrei.
The king was dubbed with pride and prejudice as the Russian Mr Darcy by Andrew Davies, author of the series based on Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel, and also by Colin Firth.
Davies said that while there’s no moment quite like Firth’s wet-shirt scene, Norton “is just as beautiful dressed up with anything.”
Convict Tommy Lee Royce: Happy Valley
Locked up: James (L) had to completely change his clean look to portray a rugged Tommy (R) who’d spent years serving his time behind bars
James had to completely change his clean look to portray a tough Tommy who spent years behind bars.
When the third series returned, the character had a huge wound to his head – which Catherine Cawood’s boss revealed was the result of attempted murder from a Category A prison.
Tommy, who had a shaved head in previous seasons, had his hair grown out and had a long unruly beard.
Drama: The series follows Tommy’s son Ryan, now 16, who visits him in prison as the killer faces an upcoming trial on a gang killing spree
The series follows Tommy’s son Ryan, now 16, who visits him in prison as the killer faces an upcoming trial on a gang killing spree.
And the actor recently revealed the toll it took on his mental health to play a character who was “beyond pale,” as Catherine Cawood would put it.
James said he has “strange dreams about violence,” but admits he didn’t get too bogged down in the sadistic character.
Speaking to The Times, the actor revealed while playing the antagonist of BBC’s Happy Valley that the storylines would become “inevitably awkward”.
“But not everyone goes to their trailer to cry,” he continued. “I love my job, but at the end of the day, acting is pretending.”
Bond rumours
The next Bond? James fueled long-running rumors that he will be the next James Bond when he donned a tuxedo for the opening scene of BBC drama McMafia
James fueled long-running rumors that he will be the next James Bond when he donned a tuxedo for the opening scene of BBC drama McMafia, with bookmakers even suspending the odds on him at one point.
He previously said on This Morning: “In the first scene (of ‘McMafia’) I get out of a black cab in a tuxedo, so everyone assumes this is my… they call it ‘Bond audition’.
“Obviously that’s not the case, that’s just a show.”
He added: “It’s very flattering, it’s bizarre and a huge compliment, but it’s pure speculation.”
Happy Valley continues on Sunday at 9pm on BBC1.
One to watch: Happy Valley continues on Sunday at 9pm on BBC1