Best of British: James Norton

James Norton

26, actor

(Image: David Venni)

Was there a standout moment for you last year?

I did the show Journey’s End for about eight months, and on the last night we got a standing ovation. It was an emotional show; very intense. On that night I was trying to hold it together, but at the curtain call the whole audience stood and cheered. All these experienced actors, you could hear them going, “Oh my God…” It was a really big moment.

What are you most looking forward to in 2012?

I recently signed with two wonderful agents in LA. The plan is to spend some time out there. It’s daunting, but also very exciting.

Do you have a new year’s resolution?

I want to say swim more and smoke less — I try to swim as much as I can and smoke as little as I can, but it’s usually the other way around. Smoking’s so much easier than swimming.

Do you feel part of a movement of interesting, young British actors?

It’s great because obviously there are people slightly older than me, such as Tom Hardy and Tom Hiddleston, who are in America, taking things on. It’s exciting for those of us in our 20s — they’ve opened up so many doors for us. A friend was doing a casting in LA and asked why they wanted so many British actors, and they said, “Because you’re f*cking great.”