War & Peace Pin-Up
1 He was born in 1985 and grew up in Malton, North Yorkshire.
2 His parents were teachers and he has a younger sister, Jessica, who is a doctor.
3 He describes his childhood as ‘idyllic’.
4 He now lives in Peckham, London.
5 ‘Is he single?’ is the question on most women’s lips and it is a hard one to answer. Website www. lovebirdsblog.com says he is and recent interviews with him reveal nothing either way. So here’s hoping, ladies!
6 Strapping James is 6ft 1in tall.
7 His first acting role was as Joseph in his school’s nativity play, when he was five. Then in 1998 he got into character as pop star Gwen Stefani in a school miming competition.
8 Educated at Ampleforth College, he excelled at theatre and tennis.
9 After leaving Ampleforth, he went on to read theology at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.
10 Before starting his Theology degree he travelled around India and Nepal, learning about Hinduism and Buddhism. Despite this, and his later degree, he says he is not a religious man.
11 While at Cambridge he joined the Marlowe Society theatre club for Cambridge students.
12 After university he went to Rada. He studied there for three years but left temporarily when he was offered a small role in British film An Education, in which he played lead character Jenny’s boyfriend in the final scene.
13 James gets up at 9am (when he isn’t shooting) and breakfasts on porridge or muesli, depending on the season
14 He would like to try directing in the future. He admires director Steve McQueen.
15 Actors he respects are Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch and Sean Penn.
16 He is a big fan of vintage clothing – he once had a market stall where he sold men’s vintage clothes.
17 His film credits include period productions Mr Turner and Belle.
18 His theatre work includes Journey’s End, That Face, Posh and The Lion In Winter, in which he played alongside Joanna Lumley.
19 The Lion In Winter was directed by Trevor Nunn, who had directed James in Cymbeline to mark the Marlowe Society’s centenary.
20 His TV credits include Death Comes To Pemberley (which brought him to a wider audience), Happy Valley and Grantchester.
21 His role in Happy Valley as psychopath Tommy Lee Royce earned him a nomination for a Bafta TV award for Best Supporting Actor and won him the Best Supporting Actor award in the Crime Thriller Awards.
22 He is a member of the National Trust and the Ramblers.
23 James has loved wild swimming since he was a boy.
24 He had not read War And Peace before appearing in the BBC drama. Now he has, he says, ‘I’m one of those smug people who can say they’ve read it!’
25 He has said of his casting as Prince Andrei, ‘It’s a wonderful privilege to engage with this incredible character… I am very, very lucky to be playing him.’
2 His parents were teachers and he has a younger sister, Jessica, who is a doctor.
3 He describes his childhood as ‘idyllic’.
4 He now lives in Peckham, London.
5 ‘Is he single?’ is the question on most women’s lips and it is a hard one to answer. Website www. lovebirdsblog.com says he is and recent interviews with him reveal nothing either way. So here’s hoping, ladies!
6 Strapping James is 6ft 1in tall.
7 His first acting role was as Joseph in his school’s nativity play, when he was five. Then in 1998 he got into character as pop star Gwen Stefani in a school miming competition.
8 Educated at Ampleforth College, he excelled at theatre and tennis.
9 After leaving Ampleforth, he went on to read theology at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.
10 Before starting his Theology degree he travelled around India and Nepal, learning about Hinduism and Buddhism. Despite this, and his later degree, he says he is not a religious man.
11 While at Cambridge he joined the Marlowe Society theatre club for Cambridge students.
12 After university he went to Rada. He studied there for three years but left temporarily when he was offered a small role in British film An Education, in which he played lead character Jenny’s boyfriend in the final scene.
13 James gets up at 9am (when he isn’t shooting) and breakfasts on porridge or muesli, depending on the season
14 He would like to try directing in the future. He admires director Steve McQueen.
15 Actors he respects are Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch and Sean Penn.
16 He is a big fan of vintage clothing – he once had a market stall where he sold men’s vintage clothes.
17 His film credits include period productions Mr Turner and Belle.
18 His theatre work includes Journey’s End, That Face, Posh and The Lion In Winter, in which he played alongside Joanna Lumley.
19 The Lion In Winter was directed by Trevor Nunn, who had directed James in Cymbeline to mark the Marlowe Society’s centenary.
20 His TV credits include Death Comes To Pemberley (which brought him to a wider audience), Happy Valley and Grantchester.
21 His role in Happy Valley as psychopath Tommy Lee Royce earned him a nomination for a Bafta TV award for Best Supporting Actor and won him the Best Supporting Actor award in the Crime Thriller Awards.
22 He is a member of the National Trust and the Ramblers.
23 James has loved wild swimming since he was a boy.
24 He had not read War And Peace before appearing in the BBC drama. Now he has, he says, ‘I’m one of those smug people who can say they’ve read it!’
25 He has said of his casting as Prince Andrei, ‘It’s a wonderful privilege to engage with this incredible character… I am very, very lucky to be playing him.’