James Norton has celebrated his 40th birthday with a massive party at his home in north-east London, but the actor has no immediate plans to become a father. The Happy Valley star, who turned 40 two days before an interview, said he is 'feeling Zen' about his age and career trajectory.
Norton, who recently bared all in the gruelling stage production of A Little Life, is now focusing on two major TV projects: King & Conqueror for the BBC and House of Guinness for Netflix. He described the former as an epic story of the 1066 battle between Harold Godwinson and William of Normandy, a tale he admitted he knew little about before developing the series with his production company.
The actor reflected on his career, saying A Little Life made him realise acting has a purpose beyond 'dressing up and fucking around'. He recalled meeting abuse survivors at the stage door and learning how the play helped them. Norton also spoke about being bullied at boarding school, which informed his performance.
Despite his openness about personal matters, including his split from Imogen Poots, Norton acknowledged the challenges of privacy in the digital age. 'I'm realising more and more everyone has a fucking phone,' he said, after a candid moment at Glastonbury went viral.
Norton, who has been linked to the role of James Bond, remains focused on his craft. 'What if it's never as challenging again?' he mused about A Little Life, but quickly added that he is ready for the next challenge.
