Actor James Norton is a far cry in real life from his evil on-screen alter ego Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley.
The 37-year-old London actor rose to fame after roles in Grantchester, War & Peace, McMafia and Happy Valley.
Viewers have been glued to their screens lately as James plays Happy Valley villian Tommy Lee Royce in the third season of the BBC drama. In the latest season, James has appeared very different as he sports long 'Messiah' style locks and an unkempt beard as Tommy languishes in prison awaiting court.
James' portrayal of evil Tommy has been so convincing, he revealed he's received death threats from viewers terrified by his character.
James Norton is currently wowing fans of Happy Valley in the third season (BBC/Lookout Point/AMC/Alex Telfer)However off screen, the actor is happily and quietly loved up with Hollywood actress Imogen Poots. The couple are notoriously private about their love life and are often only pictured together on rare occasions.
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The pair met in 2017 whilst acting together in London's West End, and confirmed their romance in December 2017.
Both Imogen and James rarely comment on their relationship or share anything to Instagram, with Imogen telling the Evening Standard in 2020: "I'm not a fan [of social media] because I'm seeing what it's doing to the generation below me, and that's really sad with mental health."
James Norton and fiancé Imogen Poots got engaged in 2022 (Getty Images)
James and his fiancé Imogen met whilst they were starring in a play in 2017 as lovers (Getty Images)Despite keeping their romance away from public view, the pair did confirm their engagement last year.
Imogen is is best known for her roles in 28 Weeks Later, Knights of Cups, Outer Range, I Know This Much Is True and That Awkward Moment.
The pair initially began their relationship as long distance, before moving in together in London. The couple have not hinted or shared details of when their wedding might be.
However, it might not be long before the couple decide to settle down and have children as Norton previously admitted his role in 2021 Nowhere Special made him feel broody. The film saw Norton play a terminally ill father with a young son, which led to Norton confessing: "It definitely made me broody.
James Norton and Jessie Buckley dated from 2015 until 2017 (Getty)"I’m 35, I'm in a long-term relationship, my sister has two boys who are under three - the film really made me think about having children."
Prior to meeting Imogen, James fell for another previous co-star when he acted alongside irish actress Jessie Buckley. The pair played siblings in the BBC adaptation of the Leo Tolstoy classic War & Peace in 2015, and dating for two years before splitting in 2017.
James Norton as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and Jesse Buckley as Marya Bolkonskaya in BBC's War & Peace (LMK)Discussing their split, Buckley told The Times in 2018: "It was acrimonious, but it's a tough job to have a relationship and he is a great man and we are great friends. That's it. How diplomatic can I sound?"
She added: "If you are away for a year filming, you are just not physically around at points."
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