Pictures of theo james in divergent

Theo James

English actor (born )

Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis (born 16 December ), known professionally as Theo James, is an English-Greek actor. He gained recognition for playing Tobias Eaton in The Divergent Series film trilogy (–). He has starred in the horror films Underworld: Awakening () and Underworld: Blood Wars () and the science fiction film Archive ().

In television, he appeared in the short-lived CBS crime drama series Golden Boy (), the romance series The Time Traveler's Wife (), and the dark comedy series The White Lotus (), which earned him a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award. In , he played the lead role in Guy Ritchie's action comedy series The Gentlemen.

Early life

James was born on 16 December in High Wycombe.[1][2] He is the son of Philip Taptiklis, a business consultant, and Jane (née Martin), who worked for the National Health Service.[3][4] His grandfather was a Greek refugee who fled to Syria during WWII.[5][6][7] He is also of part Scottish descent.[8] He has two older brothers and two older sisters.[8][9]

James was raised in Askett.[10] He attended Aylesbury Grammar School,[11] and earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy from the University of Nottingham. He trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.[12][13]

Career

In James made his television debut in two episodes of A Passionate Woman.[13][14] The same year he played Turkish diplomat Kemal Pamuk in an episode of the first season of Downton Abbey.[15] His film credits include You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (). James was cast in Stranger while still in his final year at drama school. He was named a "Star of Tomorrow" in by Screen International.[16]

In James starred in the short-lived horror series Bedlam, playing the lead role of Jed Harper. That same year, he also played James, an obnoxious night club rep, in the British comedy The Inbetweeners Movie (). In James appeared in the miniseries Room at the Top as Jack Wales and ITV's Case Sensitive as Aiden Harper.[17] He was in the films The Domino Effect () and Underworld: Awakening (), playing the role of David in the latter opposite Kate Beckinsale.[18] He reprised his character David in the fifth Underworld film, as the film's male lead.[19][20] James starred as Detective Walter William Clark Jr. in the American crime-drama series Golden Boy (), which aired for one season.[21]

James' breakthrough role was his portrayal of Tobias "Four" Eaton in Divergent (), a film adaptation of Veronica Roth's novel of the same name.[22] He reprised the character in the sequel, The Divergent Series: Insurgent ().[23] He returned in one more Divergent film, The Divergent Series: Allegiant (). James performed his own stunts in the film series.[24]

James starred alongside Amber Heard, Billy Bob Thornton and Jim Sturgess in the film adaptation of London Fields,[25] and in the indie drama The Benefactor (), with Richard Gere and Dakota Fanning.[26][27] James executive produced and starred as Michael in Backstabbing for Beginners (). He starred as Will Younger in the Netflix film How It Ends (). In James executive produced and played Sidney Parker in the British series Sanditon as a male lead. It is an eight-part period-drama adaptation of Jane Austen's final novel, written only months before her death in James did not reprise his role for the series' second and third seasons. He then executive produced and starred in the film Lying and Stealing. James launched his own film and TV production company, named Untapped, that same year.[28]

James produced and appeared in the science fiction film Archive, playing a robotics scientist working on a secret project involving building a prototype based on his dead wife.[29] He starred in the romance series The Time Traveler's Wife, which premiered in May The Hollywood Reporter's Angie Han described James's portrayal of the titular time traveler "dashing and a little sardonic" and highlighted his and co-star Rose Leslie's "inability to generate any real sparks between them".[30] James played a series regular role in the second season of the satire series The White Lotus.[31]

In he starred as Edward "Eddie" Horniman, Duke of Halstead, alongside Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, and Ray Winstone, in the Guy Ritchie television series The Gentlemen, released on Netflix.[32]

Personal life

James is married to Irish actress Ruth Kearney. The two met at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.[33] They have two children. The family divide their time between Venice Beach, California and North London.[1][34]

Outside his acting career, James was the singer and guitarist of the London-based band Shere Khan, which disbanded in [35] In , he became the brand ambassador for Hugo Boss fragrances for men, appearing in print ads and commercials.[36]

In June , James travelled to Greece with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, where he met Syrian refugees and learned more about their situation.[37] He has since been a supporter of refugees' rights and called for greater humanitarian aid for people displaced by the Syrian Civil War.[38][39][40]

Filmography

Film

Television

Theater

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ^ abAgnew, Megan (15 March ). "The Interview: Theo James talks Sanditon, objectification and being a heart-throb". The Times. Archived from the original on 16 June Retrieved 1 February
  2. ^"Celebrity birthdays for the week of Dec. ". . Associated Press. 6 December Archived from the original on 6 December Retrieved 1 February
  3. ^Young, Susan (9 September ). "James' 'Stranger' Role Leads to 'Bedlam'&#;&#; TV's Top New Faces for Fall&#;&#; Theo James". Variety; retrieved 27 February
  4. ^Black, Claire (14 March ). "Divergent star Theo James on his career ascension". The Scotsman. Retrieved 27 August
  5. ^Pavia, Lucy (12 March ). "Theo James on Hollywood, objectification and making his West End debut". Evening Standard. Retrieved 10 May
  6. ^"Instagram".
  7. ^"Theo James". UNHCR. Retrieved 14 September
  8. ^ abOuzounian, Richard (7 March ). "Theo James leapt at chance to play tough New York cop in Golden Boy". Toronto Star. Toronto.
  9. ^Topel, Fred (10 October ). "Theo James Talks Bedlam". CraveOnline. Retrieved 10 December
  10. ^"Theo James Speed Date". 20 March Retrieved 24 September &#; via YouTube.
  11. ^"OldAylesburians-Theo James [Taptiklis] Paterson '03". . 17 September
  12. ^"New Theatre graduates star in blockbuster TV roles". University of Nottingham. 23 April Archived from the original on 6 November Retrieved 27 February
  13. ^ ab"Biog: Theo James". Sky Living. Archived from the original on 19 December Retrieved 14 October
  14. ^"A Passionate Woman: Theo James Plays Craze". BBC Press Office (Press release). 7 April Retrieved 27 February
  15. ^Rozen, Leah (25 March ). "Round-up: 'Divergent's' Theo James Recalls His Quickie 'Downton' Stint and other 'Downton Abbey' News". BBC America.
  16. ^Dobson, Patricia (6 July ). "Class of where are they now?". Screen International. Retrieved 9 March
  17. ^"Casting Unveiled on Room At The Top". Screen Yorkshire. 22 December Archived from the original on 28 September Retrieved 14 October
  18. ^Rose, Tiffany (17 March ). "'Divergent' Interview: Theo James Talks Personal Fears & Complex Characters". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2 April
  19. ^"THEO JAMES, THE STAR OF DIVERGENT SERIES". Celebrity Ping. 5 August Archived from the original on 19 December Retrieved 5 October
  20. ^Ford, Rebecca; Youn, Soo (11 September ). ""Divergent" actor theo james to star in Fifth 'Underworld' Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  21. ^"'Golden Boy' Canceled: CBS Series Not Renewed For Season 2". HuffPost. 10 May Retrieved 30 January
  22. ^Vilkomerson, Sara (15 March ). "'Divergent' has found its 'Four'! Theo James talks about starring in the next big YA franchise". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 14 October
  23. ^Jacobs, Matthew (22 March ). "'Insurgent' Has Officially Been Given The Green Light For , Not That You Had Any Doubts". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2 April
  24. ^"7 Things About Theo James | Sanditon | Masterpiece | PBS". Masterpiece. Retrieved 2 March
  25. ^Fleming, Mike Jr. (9 September ). "'London Fields' Gets Underway With Amber Heard, Billy Bob Thornton And Jim Sturgess". Deadline. Archived from the original on 30 August Retrieved 14 October
  26. ^ abSneider, Jeff (25 September ). "'Divergent' Star Theo James, Dakota Fanning Join Richard Gere in 'Franny'". The Wrap. Archived from the original on 10 June Retrieved 2 April
  27. ^"Dakota Fanning, Theo James Board Richard Gere's 'Franny'". Deadline. 25 September Archived from the original on 18 August Retrieved 14 October
  28. ^D'Alessandro, Anthony (15 August ). "Theo James & Andrew D. Corkin Launching Film & TV Label Untapped". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 7 November
  29. ^Grater, Tom (7 September ). "Independent Sells Out On Theo James & Stacy Martin Sci-Fi 'Archive'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 27 February Retrieved 13 February
  30. ^Han, Angie (14 May ). "'The Time Traveler's Wife' Review: A Middling HBO Adaptation". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 17 May Retrieved 17 May
  31. ^Goldberg, Lesley (10 February ). "'The White Lotus': Meghann Fahy, Theo James Among Four Added to Season 2 Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 16 February Retrieved 16 February
  32. ^Carlo Simone (4 March ). "Netflix The Gentlemen: Full cast list and when it releases". .
  33. ^Pavia, Lucy (11 March ). "Theo James interview: 'I'm just not interested in big movies'". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 18 December Retrieved 4 April
  34. ^Lewis, Tim (17 March ). "'You can't always win in this industry': Theo James on fame, Guy Ritchie and the actor's hustle". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 April
  35. ^Ng, Philiana (21 March ). "'Divergent's' Theo James: 5 Things to Know About the Star Behind Four". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 23 November Retrieved 13 February
  36. ^Cooper, Jennifer (September ). "Theo James Hugo Boss". E! News. Retrieved 15 September
  37. ^"Theo James Visits Greece". UNHCR. UNHCR. Retrieved 24 September
  38. ^James, Theo (20 June ). "'Downton' star: My grandfather fled war for safety, today's refugees deserve the same chance". CNN. Retrieved 4 April
  39. ^Gajanan, Mahita (15 February ). "How Actor Theo James' Family History Turned Him Into an Activist". Time. Retrieved 4 April
  40. ^James, Theo (23 December ). "Theo James on his refugee story: from past to present". GQ. Retrieved 4 April
  41. ^"Netflix Reveals The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf Anime Cast and Characters". IGN. 21 July Retrieved 21 July
  42. ^"Teen Choice Awards Winners: Full List". Variety. 17 August Retrieved 17 August

External links