Playing Nice star James Norton's brutal split from fiancée and terrifying health scare
Playing Nice star James Norton's brutal split from fiancée and terrifying health scare
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Since Playing Nice hit our screens last week, all eyes have been on actor James Norton as he takes the lead in the ITV drama - but his life off-screen is just as captivating. As part of the four-part series, viewers have seen James’ character’s life turned upside down after discovering that his toddler was unknowingly swapped with another child at birth.
As part of the role, which has got audiences hooked, the Happy Valley star, 39, has opened up about the “challenge” of starring in the show. “The role is emotionally challenging to play, and it takes you to a dark yet unusual place,” he said.
“Stories about bereavement, heartbreak or grief are more familiar. This is a story which encapsulates all of those various forms of pain, but to find out that your child is not your own, is not an experience which people have often.”. But Playing Nice isn’t James’ only dramatic role. During his time in A Little Life, an adaptation of Hanya Yanagihara’s novel, on stage in London, James recalled how he ended up having “panic attacks”. Speaking to The Sunday Times , he said: “It was the hardest thing I’ve done.
“I was naïve. I thought I would be able to apply my philosophy to split work and life, but without sounding overly worthy, it felt so important because some people who came to see the play were survivors of abuse.” He also added that he became a “catatonic mess” and began experiencing “panic attacks”, though explained that by the end of the stint he “felt incredible”.
