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Original poster

To want to know why Imogen Poots broke up with James Norton

344 replies

ThatNimblePeer · 27/05/2025 19:52

Obviously absolutely none of my business, but I don’t think anyone in my real life knows who these people are, so I’m sharing it here in case anyone shares my mini obsession.

Imogen Poots is a gorgeous 35 year old British actress who was engaged to James Norton (I’m guessing I don’t need to explain here who he is), they broke up in the last year or so and he’s indicated in interviews that it wasn’t his choice.

She’s suggested in past interviews that she wants children (which JN has also said he does). Definitely none of my business - but honestly if you were a 35 year old woman who wants kids and you were engaged to JAMES NORTON, would you break up with him?

I know AIBU.

OP posts:
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DataColour · 31/05/2025 13:37

I also saw a documentary with Sally Wainwright saying that she chose JN for TLR because in his audition tape he underplayed the role beautifully in a quiet, menacing way rather than all guns blazing and that set it apart from all the other auditionees and she really liked that.

Original poster
ThatNimblePeer · 31/05/2025 11:20

RedBeech · 31/05/2025 08:00

That's the only role I thought he was seriously miscast in. I couldn't see past the pretty posh boy who is terribly nice, playing at being a rough'un. I felt like I was watching some Eton school play. (I know he wasn't educated there, it just had that vibe.) He looked so well nourished and healthy and clean, like he'd spent his life playing rugger and rowing, whereas I think Tommy Lee Royce should look a bit more ferrety and wiry. Then when he disguised himself in those glasses and that scarf I laughed out loud as he looked like every other student at Oxford or Cambridge.

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I felt a bit like this as well, but I first watched Happy Valley quite a long time after it first came out, by which time I already knew JN from other things and knew that he was posh. If I’d known nothing about him, I imagine I might have seen it differently.

I think Sally Wainwright maybe said something somewhere about, the interesting thing about JN is he plays TLR the way Tommy sees himself, as a little boy lost who other people have treated cruelly, rather than just playing him as a violent thug. I slightly wonder if that influenced her writing and the way she did redeem Tommy to an extent at the end. To me it sometimes felt uncomfortable because it felt as if they were excusing his behaviour. I think it was good that he wasn’t a cartoon villain, and James is always compelling on screen, but I don’t think I ever believed in the character as the person he was supposed to be (a really frightening, violent criminal). I didn’t feel frightened by him, which I really think you should be. But again, that may have been influenced by knowing JN from other things, and also knowing in advance what some of the plot of Happy Valley would be.

Btw James has said that he used to have a Yorkshire accent as he grew up there, and that he was reaccessing that for Tommy - so for the person who loved him saying ‘ow do’, you never know, that may have been a bit how he used to sound in real life!

OP posts:
BatchCookBabe · 31/05/2025 10:27

BIossomtoes · 31/05/2025 09:46

Isn’t that because he was playing against type in that role? I thought he was completely convincing, he terrified me. My heart was in my mouth throughout the last episode and the two hander in the kitchen will live with me for a very long time, so nuanced and sensitive. He wasn’t a posh boy in Nowhere Special either but it was a very convincing performance.

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Exactly this. ^ I didn't know who James Norton was when I first saw Happy Valley, and thought that was his authentic northern accent. I was surprised when I discovered he was quite posh/Cambridge educated. Same with David Threlfall who plays Frank in Shameless. He was in Shakespeare plays! He played a skanky northern drunk so well!

Just because someone is a criminal/a wrong 'un, they don't have to be wiry and ferrety, and dirty looking! 😂 What a bizarre thing to say @RedBeech 😆

James totally pulled off the role of Tommy Lee Royce. He was brilliant in it!

BIossomtoes · 31/05/2025 09:46

RedBeech · 31/05/2025 08:00

That's the only role I thought he was seriously miscast in. I couldn't see past the pretty posh boy who is terribly nice, playing at being a rough'un. I felt like I was watching some Eton school play. (I know he wasn't educated there, it just had that vibe.) He looked so well nourished and healthy and clean, like he'd spent his life playing rugger and rowing, whereas I think Tommy Lee Royce should look a bit more ferrety and wiry. Then when he disguised himself in those glasses and that scarf I laughed out loud as he looked like every other student at Oxford or Cambridge.

Show quote history

Isn’t that because he was playing against type in that role? I thought he was completely convincing, he terrified me. My heart was in my mouth throughout the last episode and the two hander in the kitchen will live with me for a very long time, so nuanced and sensitive. He wasn’t a posh boy in Nowhere Special either but it was a very convincing performance.

RedBeech · 31/05/2025 08:00

HRTQueen · 28/05/2025 15:12

I really cba to look at the psychology behind it

He is just hot as Tommy Lee Royce. Him saying 'ow do' made me swoon

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That's the only role I thought he was seriously miscast in. I couldn't see past the pretty posh boy who is terribly nice, playing at being a rough'un. I felt like I was watching some Eton school play. (I know he wasn't educated there, it just had that vibe.) He looked so well nourished and healthy and clean, like he'd spent his life playing rugger and rowing, whereas I think Tommy Lee Royce should look a bit more ferrety and wiry. Then when he disguised himself in those glasses and that scarf I laughed out loud as he looked like every other student at Oxford or Cambridge.

Chickensilkie · 30/05/2025 21:29

It's called frank and Lola with Micheal Shannon. Brilliant film

Chickensilkie · 30/05/2025 21:26

Tbh I didn't know who she is except for 😍 film with her and this man whose a chef it's a really unusual film for him also they were brilliant.

JaneJeffer · 30/05/2025 20:53

ThatNimblePeer · 30/05/2025 20:02

I hope your you’re ok @mustytrusty. Glad to hear something positive has come out of my overinvestment in celebrities’ lives!

In related news, votes are in and 54% voted IABU, but at the same time this thread has got to ten pages soooooo…

This has been one of the best threads on here for ages

pimplebum · 30/05/2025 20:08

Hi immie here, he wanted endless anal and his mother was “ over involved”

Original poster
ThatNimblePeer · 30/05/2025 20:02

I hope your you’re ok @mustytrusty. Glad to hear something positive has come out of my overinvestment in celebrities’ lives!

In related news, votes are in and 54% voted IABU, but at the same time this thread has got to ten pages soooooo…

OP posts:
Snowdropsaremyfavourite · 30/05/2025 19:56

He was at his best in Happy Valley ❤️ 😍

To want to know why Imogen Poots broke up with James Norton
mumofoneAlonebutokay · 30/05/2025 19:46

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 27/05/2025 19:59

I feel like he's boring

He was his sexiest as the wrong'un in happy valley

I remember thinking what a bad, sexy man

Irl he crosses his legs and speaks well, and probably cycles in Islington and raves about his sourdough starter

Edited

Funnily enough, ive now decided i need to try and make a sourdough starter 🥰🥰 - will get on it tomorrow

LittleBitofBread · 29/05/2025 14:33

viques · 29/05/2025 11:45

This looks like a good one for late autumn viewing when the nights are drawing in. Fabulous cast, you can’t go wrong with Juliet Stevenson and Eddie Marsan imo!

And I am seriously considering changing my name. Viques Swan Neck - has a certain something I think.

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Ooh, that does look good! Fantastic cast.

CharlotteRumpling · 29/05/2025 12:49

I don't find JN attractive- not because of the leg crossing- but I do think he's a great actor, so appreciate all the links to his work.

viques · 29/05/2025 11:45

DataColour · 29/05/2025 10:34

It's interesting you say that because he's in this next....
https://www.redonline.co.uk/entertainment/a63113881/king-and-conqueror-bbc-release-date-cast-images/

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This looks like a good one for late autumn viewing when the nights are drawing in. Fabulous cast, you can’t go wrong with Juliet Stevenson and Eddie Marsan imo!

And I am seriously considering changing my name. Viques Swan Neck - has a certain something I think.

mustytrusty · 29/05/2025 10:32

This thread has made me laugh whilst sitting in a hospital waiting to be seen, so thanks for that everyone Grin

LittleBitofBread · 29/05/2025 10:27

DataColour · 29/05/2025 09:59

yeah he's so hot in Grantchester. But for pure acting prowess, he's best in the film Nowhere Special. Such an underrated film. He plays a terminal ill father of a 4yr old. He's even hot in that, even though he looks very ill.

Oh, I'd forgotten about that. He is excellent, yes.

BIossomtoes · 29/05/2025 10:25

DataColour · 29/05/2025 09:59

yeah he's so hot in Grantchester. But for pure acting prowess, he's best in the film Nowhere Special. Such an underrated film. He plays a terminal ill father of a 4yr old. He's even hot in that, even though he looks very ill.

Such a good film. One of the best things I’ve seen for a long time.

Americano75 · 29/05/2025 10:23

LittleBitofBread · 29/05/2025 09:47

Personally I'd be happy to ride him into next Tuesday.

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Yeah, I'd ride him into battle.

DataColour · 29/05/2025 09:59

yeah he's so hot in Grantchester. But for pure acting prowess, he's best in the film Nowhere Special. Such an underrated film. He plays a terminal ill father of a 4yr old. He's even hot in that, even though he looks very ill.

LittleBitofBread · 29/05/2025 09:48

Americano75 · 28/05/2025 12:48

I've just finished The Trial of Christine Keeler and he's a cracking looking man. Their babies would have been gorgeous.

Glasses James is VERY cute.

LittleBitofBread · 29/05/2025 09:47

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 28/05/2025 12:25

This is what I think

Very lazy - a bottom for sure

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Personally I'd be happy to ride him into next Tuesday.

LittleBitofBread · 29/05/2025 09:45

IBelieveinSomething · 28/05/2025 00:45

he was very good in that thing about the Profumo affair. He was gay in that as well. But I am not sure he is gay. If he is i hope he is happily gay.

He was good in that. My favourite role of his is in Grantchester though; I think he's super hot, and tortured and all. <<rubs thighs>>

Tomatotater · 28/05/2025 19:44

ThatNimblePeer · 28/05/2025 18:55

I wonder if he met his ex on Raya, I think it was reported he was on there when he split from Imogen.

Is secrecy supposed to be the point of Raya? I thought it was about allowing you to match with other celebrity types? I imagine he might prefer it in some ways if the tabloids didn’t broadcast that for him, but he’s famous enough that that isn’t really an option, and on the plus side for him, I guess it’s free advertising to any pretty girl that might be reading that he’s single and looking?

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I thought it was, but maybe I'm wrong. i thought it was so rich and famous people could date without people finding out they were on dating apps, but maybe they changed because there weren't enough people signing up to make it worthwhile.

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