Active discussions

Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Thread gallery
15
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.

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.

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

viques · 29/05/2025 11:45

DataColour · 29/05/2025 10:34

Show quote history

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.

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.

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.

Edited
Show quote history

Ooh, that does look good! Fantastic cast.

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

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
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:
pimplebum · 30/05/2025 20:08

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

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

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.

Chickensilkie · 30/05/2025 21:29

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

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

Show quote history

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.

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.

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.

Show quote history

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!

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.

Show quote history

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:
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.

JaneJeffer · 31/05/2025 14:04

I think as well that the vulnerability was why Becky fell for him before she realised what he was really like. You couldn’t help but wonder how he would have turned out if he was brought up differently or whether he was inherently evil. His acting was so good!

LouH1981 · 31/05/2025 14:20

I don’t know for definite but I think it’s because the universe wants him and I to be together.

Just need to sack off this wonderful DH of mine and hope he takes my even more wonderful DC’s then I can begin living the James Norton dream…

LouH1981 · 31/05/2025 14:22

ThatNimblePeer · 31/05/2025 11:20

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!

Show quote history

I was a criminal defence solicitor in a previous life. I always loved James as TLR but equally believe that his teeth were far too good for the role he played! His appearance was a bit too polished from my experience.

Original poster
ThatNimblePeer · 31/05/2025 14:49

LouH1981 · 31/05/2025 14:22

I was a criminal defence solicitor in a previous life. I always loved James as TLR but equally believe that his teeth were far too good for the role he played! His appearance was a bit too polished from my experience.

Show quote history

Yeah I thought that specifically about his teeth as well lol. I totally agree with the poster upthread who said that not all criminals have to be wiry and ferrety looking, but irrespective of the criminal aspect, what we were told about TLR over and over again was that he’d come from severe social deprivation, no money, a mum who didn’t really care about him. He would have been malnourished or eating crap food, and I don’t think anyone would have been bothering to take him to the dentist. That just wasn’t reflected in JN’s appearance.

I actually thought he was really wrong appearance-wise for Jude in ‘A Little Life’ as well, the character is meant to be much more emaciated and fragile-looking, but his performance was good enough that it won me over.

OP posts:
RedBeech · 31/05/2025 18:05

ThatNimblePeer · 31/05/2025 14:49

Yeah I thought that specifically about his teeth as well lol. I totally agree with the poster upthread who said that not all criminals have to be wiry and ferrety looking, but irrespective of the criminal aspect, what we were told about TLR over and over again was that he’d come from severe social deprivation, no money, a mum who didn’t really care about him. He would have been malnourished or eating crap food, and I don’t think anyone would have been bothering to take him to the dentist. That just wasn’t reflected in JN’s appearance.

I actually thought he was really wrong appearance-wise for Jude in ‘A Little Life’ as well, the character is meant to be much more emaciated and fragile-looking, but his performance was good enough that it won me over.

Show quote history

I agree that not all criminals have to be ferrety looking, but I just felt the way TLR was written, that he would be. He had a rubbish upbringing - probably a very bad diet. And it seemed (If I remember this right) that the daughter never wanted to be with him, he intimidated and raped her - so she wasn't attracted to his sexy bad boy image. He just seemed far to wholesome to me. Good teeth, good skin, very healthy physique. I've met plenty of low life crims in a previous job and none of them radiated that hearty, wholesome vitality that Norton has. They all looked like they'd been reared on Monster Munch crisps and Ribena, or that their muscular physique was the result of hours at the gym, not a generally healthy lifestyle.

DataColour · 31/05/2025 19:53

Yes he didn't look at all like a low life did he!

In my opinion he was miscast was in The Trial of Christine Keeler. Although he did a great job and did his best with the role, he was about 15 yrs too young and make-up didn't do a good job of making him look any older. It is a good watch though. On netflix at the moment.