For any actor, it's a great privilege to play a character that is very distant from yourself. James Norton More Quotes by James Norton More Quotes From James Norton I'm quite a smiley guy, I have my moments, but I think I'm generally of a relatively optimistic nature. James Norton optimistic guy thinking If you're constantly stepping outside of the character and judging them, you'll never really be able to fully engage because you'll always be slightly cynical. James Norton cynical judging character Being in Russia filming War & Peace...filming War & Peace alone is an extraordinary experience, but to be out there was just magical. James Norton peace-war russia war As an actor, I think most people have a tendency to want to demonstrate that they can act, they can emote. James Norton actors people thinking There's so much going on in Andrei [Bolkonsky]. He's wrangling with these big existential conundrums, and he tries out different routes to fulfillment. He tries falling in love, that doesn't work. He goes to war and searches for military glory, that doesn't work. He does the quiet life of a farmer. He's always active. That's what I loved about him, he's always looking, searching. He's really inquisitive. James Norton falling-in-love military war You really try to work the character out and spend time in the headspace of the character. That's what I did. James Norton spend-time trying character The Russians were all really accommodating, and that made it really special. To be allowed in Catherine's Summer Palace...Lily [James] and I have this scene where we fall in love and we waltz up and down this enormous gold hall with thousands of candles and a live orchestra and 300 Russian extras. To do those scenes in situ really meant it was a once-in-a-lifetime job. James Norton falling-in-love summer jobs Every day, every scene, you were like, "My god. I'm doing a scene with Brian Cox today and then I'm onto a scene with Stephen Rea." For us young actors, I think we were all very, very star-struck and impressed by the caliber of everyone who came out. James Norton actors stars thinking I think the mistake lots of people make when it comes to a psychopath is that they completely write off their actions as cruel, callous and completely calculated, but actually, the truth is that they have interests and reasons behind their actions. James Norton truth-is truth mistake people If it's a sunny day, I get this weird guilt if I'm not making the most of it, so I'll walk or go for a swim or get on my bike, or I'll go to the Heath, just have a reason to get out. James Norton weird walk day bike It takes a lot of courage, when everyone is asking you what you want to do, if you say that you want to be a musician or an actor; people can be very condescending and say, 'Oh, that's so sweet, good luck with that!' It can be very frustrating. James Norton good you courage people I grew up in the countryside, so I had quite a feral life up until the age of about fourteen. James Norton about countryside age life As far as people I'd like to work with, the list is endless. I think to work with Steve McQueen would be amazing, and then some of the U.K. talent we have: Eddie Marsan, Olivia Colman, both of whom I have met and admired for a long time. We're very blessed in this country; there is so much talent for people to work with and learn from. James Norton blessed work time people Being in a person's head for five months, where they're so hateful, is kind of exhausting. James Norton head person where being I love, when I'm on holiday in cities, going into church and feeling that reverence and that kind of automatic respect: the sort of magic which exists in those kind of religious temples. James Norton feeling holiday respect love You don't want a character who sits on an even playing field the whole time. James Norton you want time character I love good stories; you have to have a good plot - characters which intertwine with a good plot. James Norton which good you love When I was playing a psychopath in 'Happy Valley,' it was really weird. James Norton valley weird playing happy I had the acting bug from a very early age. James Norton very early acting age When I got into drama school, that's when I knew that I could safely say that I wanted to be a professional actor. James Norton professional say drama school
