James Norton Is in Need of a Vacation

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James Norton has scheduled a solo journey to Japan for around mid-January, but due to his busy work commitments, he’s finding it hard to secure some time off.

The renowned British actor admits to consistently postponing his flights, as he’s currently engrossed in filming ‘House of Guinness,’ a fresh Netflix series helmed by Steven Knight, who also created ‘Peaky Blinders.’ Norton hints at the secretive production, stating that Knight is working with great enthusiasm. “He’s in top form,” Norton says. “You can see he’s relishing writing it because it’s so entertaining and potent. It’s seductive and smoky. Even in the script, you can almost taste the grit, the beer, and the sweat.

In a different role, Norton portrays Sean Rafferty, the foreman at Guinness factory, who divides his time between the brewery’s deep recesses and Dublin’s high society. As he puts it humorously, “I guess you could say I handle disputes among the men and socialize with the women.” However, it wasn’t until they paired a hip-hop artist’s rhythmic music with the gritty trailer for the show that the cast truly grasped the program’s direction: “It was almost like, ‘Ah, this is the show we’re creating! Got it!'” Norton exclaims. “It’s quite enjoyable.

In the U.K., many people recognize Norton primarily from his chilling portrayal of Tommy Lee Royce in Sally Wainwright’s BAFTA-winning series “Happy Valley.” Prior to that, he captivated audiences as the charming and devoted clergyman Sidney Chambers in the detective drama “Grantchester” on ITV. Essentially, Norton demonstrates versatility; he can convincingly play both the endearing Sidney and the alarming Tommy Lee Royce. As he puts it, “Sidney was such a lovely, charming, sweet man, and when I transformed into Tommy Lee Royce, it felt like such a stark contrast—it was quite startling.” There’s no trace of Royce’s unsettling demeanor in Norton’s words.

To U.S. viewers, he might be familiar as Andrei Nikolayevich Bolkonsky from the 2016 adaptation of “War & Peace”, as John in the heartwarming drama “Nowhere Special” (2020), or as John Brooke in Greta Gerwig’s lauded “Little Women” (2019). Reflecting on his notable roles, Norton muses, “The standout role I remember getting was ‘Little Women’. That cast was incredible. Timothée [Chalamet], Emma [Watson], Florence [Pugh]… Meryl freaking Streep! So I found myself thinking, ‘How on earth did I end up here?’

However, it’s the larger turning points that can sneak up on you,” he explains further. “Shows like Happy Valley and Grantchester, which began as procedural dramas, suddenly became large-scale, captivating productions – the kind that sparked water cooler conversations. Having these contrasting roles helped me recognize myself as an actor willing to take risks. It’s usually in retrospect that you come to appreciate how significant a role truly was.

Currently, Norton is a well-established performer on both film sets and theater stages. Alongside Kitty Kaletsky, he founded Rabbit Track Pictures, a production company based in London. Last year, he starred in the West End interpretation of Hanya Yanagihara’s novel, “A Little Life,” which he refers to as his most challenging project yet: “It drove me into madness. I had to surrender myself entirely to it in order to do it properly. Throughout that period, everyone was advising me to rest and take care of myself… But then ‘Joy’ arrived during the last month of my performance.

The film titled “Joy,” currently streaming on Netflix after its U.K. theater release on Nov. 15, chronicles the dedicated scientists who battled against skeptics to bring about the world’s first In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) baby. A compelling script penned by Jack Thorne, skillful direction from Ben Taylor, and captivating performances by actors like Norton, Thomasin McKenzie, and Bill Nighy, imbue this historical drama with a unique, enchanting quality that is seldom found in such genre.

Norton starts off by saying, “I appreciate when you talk about that special ‘magic’,” he continues. “Usually, after a movie, you’d say something like, ‘I sincerely hope you can feel the camaraderie we had on set.’ Sometimes, this phrase is used casually even if there wasn’t any real harmony on set. [Laughs.] You know, it was a ‘great time…’ but let me assure you, I consider myself fortunate. I’ve never encountered any truly terrible or disastrous jobs. However, there have been instances where deep connections were formed, and other times it was just work. I can honestly say that Joy fell into the first category. In fact, Bill, Thomasin, and I developed a strong bond during the filming.

He mentions: “I enjoyed creating it. By the way, may I shed a few tears during my own films? Admittedly, there were moments when I quietly shed a tear.

In the movie, Norton depicts Robert Edwards as a pioneering scientist who, during the 1960s and ’70s, was engulfed in a contentious endeavor to create life outside of the womb. He expresses that it’s an uncommon opportunity to play someone characterized solely by their virtue and altruism. “The film was unique, and the entire set radiated this energy,” he adds. Moreover, since Jack and Ben both have children conceived through IVF, there was a deep emotional significance and appreciation for the science involved. They would return home to their little ones, often expressing gratitude for the advancement of IVF technology.

The actor doesn’t have any children of his own, but he often plays characters who are father figures in movies lately, a fact that THR frequently highlights. He explained this trend by saying, “I believe it’s due to my age. My business partner has given me a new label for these roles – ‘Sad Dad’, which I think is quite fitting.

On January 5th, Sunday marked the commencement of Norton’s “Sad Dad” era through a four-part ITV drama titled “Playing Nice“, produced by Rabbit Track. In this production, Norton portrays the character Pete, who with his wife Maddie (played by Niamh Algar), uncovers a shocking truth – their child was accidentally swapped at birth with another couple’s. This gripping story is adapted from the book by J.P. Delaney, and Norton claims such incidents are more common than people might imagine.

He remarks, “My child and your child are one and the same.” This raises a conundrum, especially since the advice is not clear-cut. For children under two, experts advise alternating custody as this situation is more common than you might imagine globally.

He goes on to say: “It’s recommended that children over three years old should not be moved from their current environment due to potential risks and possible psychological harm. This leaves us wondering, ‘What now?’ How is your connection with the other couple? This question piqued my interest in the human struggle.

Transitioning from acting to producing in his own projects, especially starring roles, has been an unusual journey for him. As he puts it, when it comes to Rabbit Track (a project named after the childhood adventure burrow at the bottom of Norton’s garden), they have followed their personal preferences. At first, people would ask them about their creative mission, but when you’re new to this, coming up with a succinct and catchy statement can be quite challenging.

Nevertheless, Norton openly discusses Rabbit Track’s business approach: “There isn’t a specific plan in place. We have numerous projects underway. We simply pursue what we are passionate about. When pitching for such projects, our excitement is genuine. For instance, when we pitched to J.P. Delaney, we were competing against large studios with more financial resources. However, we collaborated with StudioCanal and, as I express my admiration, Kitty is an exceptional producer. She’s incredibly talented and I’ve learned a great deal from her. Without her, we wouldn’t have made it this far and I owe her so much.

Previously associated with Number 9 Films, Archery Pictures, and Black Bear Pictures, Kaletsky spent four years in L.A., overseeing the TV division of the Academy Award-winning Black Bear Productions. Together with Norton (also serving as executive producers), they’ve recently completed production on the eight-episode series titled King & Conqueror. This production, produced by The Development Partnership, Shepherd Content, RVK Studios, CBS Studios, and in collaboration with the BBC, was made possible through association with these studios.

This year, a historical drama penned by Michael Robert Johnson is set to grace our screens. Baltasar Kormáku will direct the first episode. The story revolves around Norton portraying Harold, Earl of Wessex, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau from ‘Game of Thrones’ as William, Duke of Normandy. Their paths intertwine in the battle that shaped a nation and continental fate for over 1000 years – the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Initially, neither man sought the British throne; however, they were compelled by unforeseen circumstances and personal ambitions to fight for control of its crown.

Norton refers to this as the most significant chapter in our nation’s history that has yet to be shared publicly,” he explains about the century-long dispute. This production took six years to develop. “We’ve created an outstanding show, and we can’t wait to unveil it. It’s been a lengthy process.

Is there any exclusive insight available from the actor-producer about the production process of “King & Conqueror” that he is comfortable sharing? He confesses it was a nerve-wracking experience. “Kitty and I felt like impostors,” he admits, “wondering how on earth we managed to create this world. Ed Clark, Michael Johnson, the writer, had been nurturing this concept for quite some time before they approached me, even before [Rabbit Track] was established.

I’ll share my experience: “Kitty joined the project, and her involvement was the spark that ignited production. Next thing I knew, I was on set with Juliet Stevenson, Eddie Marsan, and Baltasar Kormáku directing. We had expansive studio sets featuring colossal French castles and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. It was surreal… Yet, we managed to stay composed.

Instead of opting for expensive spectacle, Norton asserts, “The deeply emotional narrative is preserved over grandeur. William and Harold often met and developed a friendship. However, this friendship was overshadowed by a heart-wrenching tragedy: they understood that due to the state of the world and Europe’s division, their friendship would lead them onto a battlefield, and one of them would ultimately lose their life.

For Rabbit Track Pictures, the blend so far has been quite varied. As Norton puts it, “it’s a character-driven, high-quality drama.” Essentially, what captivates them is exploring complex, intriguing relationships between parents, children, and individuals in general. In other words, they are fascinated by how these connections can be messy, deep, and fascinating.

It’s important to note that Norton and Kaletsky are open to film projects – in fact, they embrace them. Although primarily engaged with television work, their production company, Rabbit Track, is also actively involved in four different movies. In discussing potential projects, one of the initial questions they ask is: “Is this suited for TV or film?” The duo has several movie ideas that they are passionate about, and one of them is approaching completion.

He continues, emphasizing the financial benefits of television production. He points out that it’s simpler to produce a TV show compared to other forms of media. To ensure we can pay our bills and keep operating, we aim to create more TV content.

It’s tough not to ponder over James Norton’s evaluation of his career, given the numerous exciting projects – films and shows – upcoming in his horizon. Being positioned between U.K. fame and Hollywood acknowledgment, he finds himself comfortably situated. The question, as he puts it, has sparked a desire within him to reflect on his achievements. And what about that planned trip to Japan?

As I’m deep into the game, it’s tough to distinguish between the main quest and the side missions. The thrill of progressing and exploring is so captivating that I can’t help but get swept away. However, every gamer and creative soul needs a moment to step back and recharge. Honestly, I feel like I’ve been running on auto-pilot lately. By January, I plan to prioritize my Rabbit Track, take a well-deserved break, and maybe even unplug for a bit. I’m grateful for the busy streak I’ve had, it’s been an exhilarating ride, but it has been relentless.

Regarding the Japan trip, I recently visited my parents who reside in North Yorkshire. We enjoyed many hikes together, something I truly enjoy. Plus, some peace and quiet was much appreciated. Remarkably, just as one might expect of a workaholic, he mentions that whenever he plans to take a break, job opportunities from his agents seem to materialize.

Playing Nice is now available to stream on ITVX.

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2025-01-14 23:31