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When Theo James received the script for the second installment of The White Lotus, the English performer was initially unsure of his ability to portray the role of Cameron. The character was described as “yet another finance bro”: confident, smooth, and shallow. He found it intriguing, but nothing new.
During the audition, James, who is 39-years-old, was convinced by Mike White, the writer and director of the popular HBO series, which follows the lives of the staff and wealthy visitors at the fictional White Lotus hotel resort. The initial season took place on Maui, while the second, featuring mostly new characters, moved to Sicily and included more explicit intimacy. Cameron was involved in a group of four, consisting of himself, his wife (Meghann Fahy), and another couple (Will Sharpe and Aubrey Plaza), where Cameron seemed to have a desire to dominate physically and sexually.
James and Cameron had a conversation where he mentioned that he would make White become handsy and continue to touch and squeeze people’s shoulders, to show that he was dominant. In each scene, as long as it made sense, he would be eating or drinking to convey his insatiable appetite. White was impressed and offered James the role. James explains that he wanted to portray someone who toes the line between being a lover and a bully, a charmer and a sociopath. He related to this character, as he incorporated 40% of himself and 60% of others he encountered during his time at university and afterwards. He found something charming in these types of people, even though they can be unpleasant to be around.
And the 40% that’s James? “I’ve been irritatingly competitive all my life, annoyingly,” he says. “Deeply, irrationally competitive – to the point where it’s detrimental. I’m getting a little better, but it was definitely part of my identity. And still is.”
Before joining the cast of The White Lotus, James had a successful career. He played the role of the rebellious Four alongside Shailene Woodley in the popular Divergent trilogy, and also portrayed an aristocratic vampire in two Underworld movies with Kate Beckinsale. On television, he starred in the ITV drama Sanditon, which was based on an unfinished Jane Austen manuscript, and will appear in the 2022 sci-fi series The Time Traveler’s Wife, written by Steven Moffat from Doctor Who. But it was his impressively eerie performance in The White Lotus that catapulted James to a higher level of fame. He considers it a gift, as it has given him more opportunities in the industry.
We have an early evening meeting planned at Chiltern Firehouse, a renowned hotel in Marylebone, central London where many celebrities stay. We will be in a sophisticated cocktail bar with a luxurious mahogany fireplace, plush leather seating, and attentive servers in white jackets. It is fitting that we discuss James’s new project here. He currently plays Eddie Horniman, the new Duke of Halstead, in Guy Ritchie’s eight-episode series The Gentlemen on Netflix. However, I’m not entirely convinced that this upscale and nosy location is James’s ideal setting, considering his dark eyes, light scruff, and preference for understated black and grey clothing. He orders a beer, settles into his chair, and admits, “It’s funny that I chose this industry because I tend to shy away from talking about myself. I find it challenging, to be honest.”
James was 13 when Ritchie’s breakthrough Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels came out in 1998, and working with the director has been something of an ambition. “That film was a cornerstone of my adolescence, in a way,” he says. The opportunity has come with The Gentlemen, a follow-up to Ritchie’s 2019 film of the same name. The original starred Matthew McConaughey as an American who has become Britain’s pre-eminent marijuana dealer, largely through finding impoverished aristocrats and creating football-pitch-sized weed farms in vast bunkers under their estates.
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The basis of the new Netflix show remains unchanged, but with new actors and settings. In the beginning, James’s character Eddie inherits his father’s sprawling 15,000-acre property, but soon discovers that the main source of the family’s income comes from an underground marijuana operation run by Susie Glass (portrayed by Kaya Scodelario from Skins) and her father (played by Ray Winstone), who is currently incarcerated. Vinnie Jones plays the estate’s all-knowing groundskeeper.
According to James, the main idea is that traditional Britannia is on the verge of collapse. The decaying mansion, along with the crumbling dukedom, is supported by illegal activities. On the surface, it seems that the upper class prevails. However, in reality, they are being manipulated by organized crime, representing the opposite end of the social hierarchy. This subverts the traditional power dynamics.
Collaborating with Ritchie, who helmed the initial two episodes and remained engaged throughout, was always dynamic. “It was quite a journey because, well, there’s the Guy of it,” James explains with a grin. “You either surrender or… it’s not going to turn out well for you! He has the script and the story, but then, on set, it’s entirely rewritten in the moment. The first few days were a bit jarring.”
“You can be caught off guard by Ritchied at any given moment,” James explains. “He is very particular about sticking to the original lines and won’t allow any changes. This can be challenging when you have multiple speeches to deliver. It definitely keeps you on your toes.”
James delivers a standout performance in The Gentlemen, subtly and understatedly, compared to his performance in The White Lotus. He serves as the “moral compass” (at least initially) in a comedic caper with larger-than-life characters. Although the plot may seem outrageous, Ritchie is well-versed in the world of British aristocracy and knows how to satirize it. Since he purchased Ashcombe Park in Wiltshire with his ex-wife Madonna in 2001, he has resided there. James states, “Guy is fascinated by both extremes. He is intrigued by the idea of a gentleman, both literally and in terms of existence. Yet, he is also drawn to the glamorous and corrupt side of British society.”
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Did James get an invitation to go shooting with Ritchie? He responds, “I’ve never been shooting with him and I haven’t visited his estate in the countryside before.” He adds, “But I’ve heard it’s a remarkable place.”
James himself wasn’t raised in the rarefied world of The Gentlemen. He was born Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis in High Wycombe, the last of five children to Philip, a business consultant who grew up in New Zealand but whose parents were Greek, and Jane, who has Scottish roots and worked for the NHS. He initially directed his performative efforts towards music and was a singer and guitarist throughout his teenage years and beyond. The last of his bands was a rock outfit called Shere Khan, which dispersed in 2012. (There are still videos on YouTube and they’re absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.) “I was in some OK bands, some terrible ones,” he recalls. “But I had a decent enough crack at it that I think I made the right choice. Because I would have failed.”
After graduating from Nottingham University with a degree in philosophy, James underwent training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Both personally and professionally, this was a beneficial decision as he met his current wife, Ruth Kearney, an Irish actress. The couple now has two young children and divides their time between north London and Venice Beach in Los Angeles. James also experienced success in his career, starting with smaller yet notable roles in Woody Allen’s 2010 film, “You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger,” and “The Inbetweeners Movie” in 2011 as a club representative.
James reflects on his experience of working in smaller roles on TV shows like Casualty and The Bill for almost four years. He acknowledges the luck factor in getting these opportunities, but also recognizes the constant hustle that comes with trying to establish oneself in the industry. He believes that all careers have their highs and lows, and suggests that the idea of continuous success leading to ultimate fulfillment is not a realistic expectation.
James’s breakthrough occurred when he was selected for a role in Divergent, a science fiction movie set in a dystopian world and based on a popular young adult novel. The film was released in 2014 and surpassed its budget of $85 million by earning nearly $300 million. This catapulted James to stardom and gained him a devoted following of young fans. Reflecting on this experience, James shares, “There was a unique excitement surrounding that type of film, and it can be quite overwhelming at times before eventually fading. But at that moment, I wasn’t prepared for it. I was just a regular guy from Aylesbury… The first Comic-Con I attended, my brothers came along with me. It ended up being a humbling experience because they teased me, making it more fun. But it’s a challenging situation to truly understand oneself.”
At first, James reacted by rejecting anything that didn’t involve acting. He considered industry parties to be unnecessary and didn’t particularly enjoy doing press. “I value my privacy,” he explains. “But now there’s an expectation for me to share part of myself. That’s fine, but I realized it’s just part of the deal you make, with whoever the “devil” may be. It was my way of coping with being nervous.”
James may come across as overly serious and intense, but that is not an accurate portrayal of him. He is actually a very easygoing and considerate person. In fact, during our conversation, he asked a lot of questions, making him the most inquisitive interviewee I’ve ever had. Perhaps some of this is a way for him to deflect attention, but it’s also evident that he has a curious and restless mind. Like many others, James experienced an “existential crisis” during the Covid lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, causing him to question his future in acting. With his interest in marine science from before studying philosophy at university, he even looked into the possibility of pursuing a postgraduate course in California, to maintain some ties with the Hollywood industry.
“We were blessed with the birth of our daughter during the Covid pandemic, when everything was on deep lockdown,” James shares. “It was definitely a unique time, but it gave us the opportunity to reevaluate and reflect on our priorities. Sometimes I wonder if I should be doing something more to contribute to society,” he chuckles. “Life is short, and while acting is enjoyable, I also question if it is making a meaningful impact. It’s a form of art, but is it also helping to advance humanity? It’s something I ponder at times.”
After the lockdowns were lifted, there was a higher need for TV and film entertainment, as proven by the success of The White Lotus and The Gentlemen. However, it seems that James’ future is still uncertain. He is occasionally mentioned as a potential new James Bond, and with his role in The Gentlemen, it’s not hard to see why Barbara Broccoli, the producer in charge of the 007 movies, may take notice during auditions.
“James smirks as he mentions Barbara Brocs. However, he quickly admits that he has no personal connection to her and doesn’t know much about her. He even playfully suggests giving her a nickname, which seems to be a popular topic in British culture. However, James doesn’t see himself as the right person for that kind of job. It would be daunting to take on such a role, as there would be no turning back once it’s done. It would require a completely different lifestyle and could potentially cause difficulties for his family. Not to mention, his friends would surely tease and call him “Bondopoulos – the Greek Bond.”
Do you find the speculation complimentary or aggravating? James responds, “It’s complimentary, but it applies to all male actors within a particular age range.” He clarifies, “It’s not just two individuals, but 50 people – literally 50 individuals. So no… I would prefer to portray a significant British figure in a different historical era. I know it has been done numerous times, but I have always been intrigued by the idea of examining Henry VIII from a perspective that does not solely focus on his maniacal behavior. While he was certainly that, there was also a journey that led him to become that man. And his influence shaped Britain and our understanding of British society.”
In 2019, James started his own production company, Untapped, so keep an eye out for future projects. However, at the moment, he is getting ready to film The Monkey in Vancouver, a horror movie based on a Stephen King tale featuring twin brothers, both portrayed by James. Kearney, their two children, and their youngest, who is six months old, will be living in LA while James works on the film. They plan to spend weekends together. James acknowledges that being a parent has shifted his priorities and possibly lessened his competitive drive. He reflects, “I’ve definitely become a little more mellow. I used to always strive for victory, but that mentality doesn’t always work in this field. It’s wasted energy.”
James needs to return home because it’s time for his children to go to bed. His partner, who is an actor, is supportive and able to help with the balancing act of their careers. They can provide feedback and advice for each other. Sometimes, one of them may need to make sacrifices for their career, but they can also offer guidance and stop the other from making potentially bad choices.
The movie “The Gentlemen” is currently available to watch on Netflix.
Fashion editor: Helen Seamons. Grooming: Nadia Altinbas using FaceGym, Patricks and Sisley. Fashion assistant: Sam Deaman. Photographer’s assistants: Gabor Herczegfalvi and Brandon Hepworth. Tailor: Nick James. Shot on location at Home House
Source: theguardian.com
