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When Theo James first read the script for the second season of The White Lotus, the British actor was unsure of how he could make the role of Cameron his own. The character was described as a typical “finance bro,” arrogant, charming, and shallow. While he found the role to be intriguing, he also felt like he had seen similar characters numerous times before.
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During the audition, James, who was 39 years old, was impressed by Mike White, the creator and director of the popular HBO series. The show is a darkly comedic drama centered around the staff and wealthy guests of the fictional White Lotus resort. The first season took place in Maui, while the second, featuring mostly new actors, was set in Sicily and had a more overtly sexual theme. In the show, Cameron was part of a group of four, including his on-screen wife (played by Meghann Fahy) and another couple (Will Sharpe and Aubrey Plaza) who seemed to be interested in dominating him physically and sexually.
James proposed to playfully tease Cameron by constantly touching and squeezing his shoulders and showing his dominant position. He also suggested that in every scene, he would be eating or drinking to convey his insatiable appetite. White was intrigued by these ideas and offered James the role. According to James, the character Mike straddles the line between being a lover and a bully, a charmer and a sociopath. He related to the character’s exuberance, as it was a mix of himself and people he encountered during and after his university years. He admits that there is a certain charm in being around these types of individuals, despite their unpleasant behavior.
James admits that he has been overly competitive for most of his life, to the point where it can be detrimental. Despite trying to improve, his competitiveness is still a core part of his identity.
Before appearing in The White Lotus, James had a successful career. He played the role of Four, a freedom fighter, alongside Shailene Woodley in the popular Divergent trilogy. He also portrayed an aristocratic vampire in two Underworld movies with Kate Beckinsale. On television, he starred in the historical drama Sanditon on ITV, based on an unfinished manuscript by Jane Austen, and in the 2022 sci-fi series The Time Traveler’s Wife, written by Steven Moffat from Doctor Who. However, his brilliantly unsettling performance in The White Lotus has catapulted James to a higher level of fame. He expresses that this opportunity was a blessing and has opened doors that were previously difficult to access.
We are meeting in the early evening at the luxurious Chiltern Firehouse hotel in the central London neighborhood of Marylebone. The venue is a stylish cocktail bar with a cozy fireplace, plush leather seating, and attentive staff. It is the perfect setting to discuss James’s newest project. Currently, he can be seen as Eddie Horniman, the incoming Duke of Halstead, in Guy Ritchie’s eight-part Netflix series, The Gentlemen. However, I am not entirely convinced that such a fancy and gawking establishment is James’s personal happy place. With his dark eyes, stubble, and penchant for understated black and grey attire, he orders a beer and settles into his seat. “It’s funny that I chose this industry because I am not one for talking about myself. It’s a bit challenging for me, to be honest.”
At the time when Ritchie’s film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels was released in 1998, James was only 13 years old and it had a significant impact on his teenage years. It has always been a goal of his to work with Ritchie as a director. This opportunity has now presented itself with The Gentlemen, a sequel to Ritchie’s 2019 movie with the same title. The first film starred Matthew McConaughey as an American who becomes the top marijuana dealer in Britain by exploiting impoverished aristocrats and growing massive weed farms in underground bunkers on their properties.
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The concept of the Netflix spin-off show remains unchanged, however, it features a new cast and location. The lead character, James, inherits his father’s large estate with 15,000 acres of land. He discovers that the main source of income for his family is an underground marijuana business, managed by Susie Glass, played by Kaya Scodelario from Skins, and her father who is currently in prison. Vinnie Jones plays the role of the all-knowing groundskeeper for the estate.
James explains that the main idea is that traditional Britannia is close to its end. The deteriorating estate, known as the dukedom, is supported by illegal activities. While it may appear that the upper class is prevailing, in reality they are being manipulated by organized crime, representing the opposite end of the social hierarchy. This flips conventional power dynamics on its head.
Collaborating with Ritchie, who oversaw the first two episodes and was involved throughout, was always exciting. “It was quite the journey because, you know, there’s the Guy factor,” says James, grinning. “You either surrender or… things won’t end well for you! He has the script and the story, but then, on the day, it’s completely transformed in the moment. The first few days are a bit overwhelming.”
James explains that at any moment, you could be caught off guard by Ritchie, as he may choose to keep certain lines without any alterations. This means you must remain alert and quick on your feet, as you could suddenly have three speeches to deliver.
Once again, James showcases his excellent acting skills in The Gentlemen. However, in contrast to his role in The White Lotus, his performance is more subtle as he plays the role of a moral guide in a comedic heist with larger-than-life characters. Despite the bizarre concept, director Guy Ritchie demonstrates his familiarity and ability to satirize the world of British aristocracy. For the past two decades, Ritchie has been the owner and resident of Ashcombe Park, a massive estate spanning over 1,000 acres in Wiltshire, which he purchased with his former wife Madonna. According to James, Ritchie has a fascination with both ends of the social spectrum – the traditional idea of a gentleman and the corrupt upper class of British society.
Has James received an invitation to go shooting with Ritchie? “I have not gone shooting with him before and I have never been to his country house,” he responds. “But I have heard it’s a remarkable place.”
James did not come from a privileged background like the characters in The Gentlemen. He was born Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis in High Wycombe, the youngest of five children to Philip and Jane. Philip was a business consultant who grew up in New Zealand but had Greek heritage, while Jane had Scottish roots and worked for the NHS. Initially, James was focused on music and was a singer and guitarist during his teenage years and beyond. Shere Khan was his last band, and they disbanded in 2012. Videos of their performances can still be found on YouTube, and James is proud of them. Reflecting on his past, he admits to being in both good and bad bands, but ultimately decided to pursue acting because he believed it was the right path for him.
Following his time at Nottingham University, James pursued his passion for philosophy and received training at the esteemed Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. This decision proved to be a successful one, as he not only excelled in his professional career but also found love with his now-wife, Irish actor Ruth Kearney. The couple now has two young children and divides their time between north London and Venice Beach in Los Angeles. After graduating, James wasted no time in securing small yet notable roles, including appearances in Woody Allen’s 2010 film “You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger” and as a troublesome club representative in “The Inbetweeners Movie” in 2011.
It’s not exactly four years of bit parts in Casualty and The Bill. “Yeah, totally, and I was very lucky,” says James. “But you’re still hustling and trying to find your space in the industry. And it continues to be a hustle: any career will have constant ups and downs. The idea of just being constantly upward and upward and upward until existential ecstasy-slash-orgasm, I’m not sure that exists.”
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James’s major opportunity arose when he was selected for a role in Divergent, a science fiction film set in a dystopian society, which was based on a popular young adult novel. The movie was released in 2014 and earned almost $300 million, despite having a modest budget of $85 million. This led to James gaining a large following of young fans. However, he reflects that the frenzy around this type of film can be overwhelming and short-lived. Coming from Aylesbury, a small town in England, he was not prepared for the sudden attention. During his first appearance at Comic-Con, he brought his brothers along, which helped him stay grounded as they teased him and made it a fun experience. Nonetheless, James confesses that it can be challenging to maintain a sense of self in such an environment.
At first, James reacted by rejecting anything that was not related to acting. He viewed industry parties as unnecessary and did not enjoy engaging in press activities. “I value my privacy,” he explains. “But in this industry, you are expected to showcase a part of yourself. That’s fine, but it’s important to recognize that it’s part of the deal you make, no matter who or what the deal involves. It was my way of coping with nerves.”
This passage may give the impression that James is very serious and intense, but in reality he is quite easygoing and thoughtful. In fact, I have never interviewed someone who asked as many questions in return. This may be a way of deflecting, but it also shows that he has a curious and active mind. During the Covid lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, he experienced an “existential crisis” and began questioning whether he wanted to continue as an actor full-time. He had previously considered studying marine science before pursuing philosophy in university. James even researched the possibility of doing a postgraduate program in California, in order to maintain some connection with Hollywood.
James shares that their daughter was born during the Covid lockdown, making it a unique and uncertain time. However, he also sees it as a blessing because it forced them to reassess their priorities. He sometimes wonders if he should be doing something to contribute to society, especially when life is short. While acting is enjoyable and allows for artistic expression, he questions if it truly has a positive impact on humanity.
Of course, when the lockdowns ended, there was more demand for TV and film than ever: The White Lotus led into The Gentlemen. But James appears to still be unresolved. He is sometimes listed in the running to be the new James Bond: as auditions go, you could believe his performance in The Gentlemen might easily catch the eye of Barbara Broccoli, the producer who oversees the 007 film franchise.
“Oh, Barbara Brocs…” says James, with a smirk. “I say that as if I know her: never met her, know nothing about it. But I’ll give her a nickname. Everyone’s interested in that because it’s a big part of British cultural identity, but that probably wouldn’t be me. I do think there are better people for that job. And, honestly, it would be terrifying: if you do that, there’s no going back. You’re opening Pandora’s box there. You have got to be willing to live a very different life and have a different life for your family. And that would be pretty tricky. Plus, my mates would take the piss out of me. Because they always say, ‘Bondopoulos – the Greek Bond.’”
Does the possibility bring about a feeling of flattery or annoyance? James responds with, “It’s a flattering thought, but it encompasses a large number of male actors in a particular age group.” He continues, “It’s not just two individuals competing for the role, but rather 50 actors all vying for it. So, no… I would prefer to portray a significant British historical figure from a different time period. Although it has been portrayed numerous times, I am intrigued by the idea of delving into the character of Henry VIII without solely focusing on his maniacal sociopathic tendencies. He may have been that way, but there was also a journey that led him to become that person. He greatly influenced Britain and our perception of British identity.”
Since 2019, James has operated his own production company, Untapped. Stay tuned for updates on their projects. However, at the moment, he is preparing to travel to Vancouver to film The Monkey, a horror movie adapted from a Stephen King tale featuring twin brothers, both portrayed by James. While James is on set, he and his partner Kearney, along with their two children (the youngest being just over six months old), will be living in Los Angeles. They plan to spend weekends together as a family. James acknowledges that becoming a parent has caused a shift in his priorities and perhaps even tempered his competitive drive. “You become a bit more gentle, don’t you?” he reflects. “I think I always had a desire to come out on top, but that kind of ambition is pointless in this industry. It’s a waste of energy.”
James is on his way back home as it is bedtime for his children. Having a partner who is also an actor makes it easier to balance their schedules. James explains, “They can be a valuable sounding board for all our decisions. I would trust her to understand, and she would understand me, if a career opportunity required us to make sacrifices. However, we are also able to support each other and say ‘No, that is not worth it. We are not going to give up our plans for that.'”
You can now watch The Gentlemen on Netflix.
Helen Seamons is credited as the fashion editor for this shoot, with grooming done by Nadia Altinbas using FaceGym, Patricks, and Sisley. Assisting in fashion was Sam Deaman, while the photographer was supported by Gabor Herczegfalvi and Brandon Hepworth. Nick James served as the tailor for this shoot, which took place at Home House.
Source: theguardian.com
