James Norton is one of those British actors who seems almost too traditionally handsome to ever make it. You know what I mean? In a island full of Benedict Cumberbatches (unconventionally attractive, let’s say), Norton’s chiseled good looks seem like a throwback, like they have no place in modern film and television. But Norton has fashioned a pretty good career for himself in TV series like Grantchester, Happy Valley, McMafia and The Trial and Christine Keeler. He’s also worked in films like Greta Gerwig’s Little Women and Flatliners. He’s currently promoting The Nevers, which was the show written and produced by Joss Whedon, which Whedon exited last year. Norton covers the latest issue of GQ Hype and he says some interesting stuff.
Whether an actor of color should play James Bond: “There is an argument that, rather than make Bond a person of colour, why not create a new story that is authentically representative and isn’t repurposed? But, then, you’re never going to create a franchise that will compete with the power of Bond from the off. It has to be a bit of everything, doesn’t it? I realise I’m talking in platitudes.”
Working out what to do about racism & bias: It is there, he argues, that he can effect real change in the industry by, say, making sure there is enough diversity behind the camera. It is tricky, he says, because the business is so white and people need to work out what to do about that. “That, I think, is more important… Obviously, casting a Bond of colour is important if handled in a sensitive way, but there’s a bigger picture: we need to treat the cause rather than the symptom… Nobody thinks every iconic franchise should be transformed. But it’s about finding where that makes sense, in a sensitive way, to remedy what has been an endemic amount of whitewashing.”
He’s been staying with his parents during the pandemic: He has been with his folks because his actor girlfriend, Imogen Poots, is on a long job but, after we speak, he will head back to London for the Covid jab. Because he is diabetic? “No, they’re giving it to actors early,” he deadpans. What will he do when this is all over? “Travel, because my partner’s in America. The first thing I’d do is jump on a plane.”
He knows he could have easily been typecast as a period-drama actor: “I’m very aware of that. We love our labels, so I do see people’s careers limited by pigeonholing. People think they know you because of your school or how you sound. I constantly have to make an effort.”
On Joss Whedon: Whedon left the production in November, citing a year of “unprecedented challenges”. Months earlier, and officially unrelated, various actors and former employees had accused Whedon of workplace harassment. What was Norton told of the departure? “Very little,” he says. “My thoughts were inevitably disappointment, because, as a writer, he’s brilliant. I can’t comment on the allegations, because I didn’t experience anything of that sort. My experience of working with Joss was all fine. It was great.”
[From British GQ]
While this isn’t the point of Norton’s comments, I do get the feeling that some sh-t went down between HBO and Joss Whedon re: The Nevers. The way Whedon left the production so suddenly and the way his name has been stripped off the promotion for the show… it’s not *just* about Ray Fisher and the actresses Whedon abused. There was something happening currently on that show, I’m almost certain. I wonder if Norton had to sign a non-disclosure agreement or if he really just never witnessed anything personally.
As for what he says about James Bond and all of that… I’ve gotten to the point where I hate every part of this conversation and actors just show their asses when they chime in. It’s clear that most British people would not “accept” an actor of color to play James Bond, so just say that. Just say, “the audience is too racist to handle it.”
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Cover & photos courtesy of GQ Hype.
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