James Norton says Happy Valley fans feel ‘intimidated’ by him when they forget he’s not their killer

James Norton has revealed that Happy Valley fans often seem intimidated by him when they see the actor in public, as they forget he’s not the killer character he plays.

The 37-year-old British actor, who plays Tommy Lee Royce in the BBC drama, was on the couch at The One Show talking to Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas and was asked how it feels to play the villain.

He said: ‘I love it…for a long time I felt like I should say how worrying and how hard it was for me to play, but it’s actually a lot of fun.

“Obviously, the really despicable stuff and the violence is hard to play, but the feeling of walking around in that boiler suit, people giving wide births, doesn’t happen to me in real life.

“It’s incredibly empowering and I love it.”

Host Alex then addressed the fact that some fans have a hard time remembering the difference between James and his role as Tommy.

“Occasionally people are a little intimidated by me,” James said.

I think a little less has happened in this series, perhaps because of the barnet.

In the upcoming episode to be aired on BBC One, James’ character is seen preparing to appear in court.

The actor plays the villainous murderer and sex offender Tommy Lee Royce in the drama who grows long hair while in prison.

But Sunday’s installment shows prison staff cutting his hair and beard to prepare him for an important day in court.

Tommy goes topless while being given a makeover while showing off his muscular arms and physique.

In the second image, he looks much more presentable with a clean-shaven face and shorter locks.

It comes after James last week revealed that he loved his Happy Valley character’s long hair and ‘Messiah’ look while filming the latest series of the drama.

She said she liked the look and was often found in the Boots mousse section shopping for products and having many ‘Pantene moments’ on set.

Speaking on The Graham Norton Show, he said: “Director Sally Wainwright knows the look she wants for him, and she’s bold.”

“I loved having long hair, it was fun and I found myself hanging out in the mousse section of Boots. I also have a weird amount of clips of me and ‘Pantene’ moments!’

Speaking about the final series of Happy Valley and the great response it’s had, he added: “It’s a huge relief that people like it, after seven years there was no guarantee anyone would want to see it.”

Asked if he’d miss playing Tommy, he said: “He’s a despicable monster, but he’s become really attractive, a kind of strange distant friend that you love to see.”

“I loved playing him and I miss him and the show.”

Filming for the long-awaited third and final series began early last year after a six-year hiatus.

In October, the BBC confirmed that a third series of the hit show would be on the way, and that it would be its last.

The final season follows Sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) as she investigates a gang murder that leads her back to Tommy and his fight to wipe out the valley’s drug supply.

It comes after James revealed that he sought therapy after being severely bullied as a student at a boarding school.

He said that he was bullied for five years during his school days. speaking in the Comfort Eating Podcast, said: ‘My school years were difficult. I didn’t have the best moment.

“I was bullied quite a bit for five years and I was in boarding school so I couldn’t leave. I’ve had a great therapist for the past four years, and he’s not from a place of drama.

“And luckily I don’t suffer from depression or anything like that, but it’s been very, very helpful in understanding what [happened to me at school].’

James added that he is not a fan of the boarding school system and believes that most children are “deeply homesick”.

He said: ‘I’ve come to realize that boarding schools are really strange places. We are the only country that still sends our children away voluntarily.

“You’re stuck with these people, and all these little kids feel deep, deep homesickness and they’re just lost.

‘For some of them, that pain manifests itself in need or rebellion. But some of them get angry and instead of crying for their mother, they just bully someone.”

It comes after James opened up about his role in Happy Valley during a recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show.

Speaking about the series finale and the great response it’s had, he added: “It’s a huge relief that people like it; after seven years, there was no guarantee anyone would want to see it.”