Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis, known as Theo James, has captured the spotlight with his portrayal of the suave Duke in Guy Ritchie’s latest Netflix series, The Gentlemen.
Hailing from Askett and aged 39, James takes on the role of the Duke of Halstead, Eddie Horniman, in this spin-off from the 2019 film of the same name, featuring an ensemble cast including Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant.
While the series may share its title with the film, James clarifies that it’s an entirely different story with a fresh cast.
He explained, “It’s a very different story, completely different story. You know, it’s about a soldier that comes back to his family seat and his father’s died.”
James’ rise to fame began with his breakthrough role in the Divergent film series in 2014, followed by two more films in 2015 and 2016. Since then, he’s continued to make waves in the industry with roles in films like How It Ends (2018) and Backstabbing for Beginners (2018), where he also served as an executive producer.
Despite his growing fan base, James maintains a low profile online. Reflecting on his absence from social media, he reveals, “I’m quite a private person. And I guess I like the idea of not sharing everything.”
Interestingly, James comes from humble beginnings; his father worked as a business consultant, while his mother was employed by the NHS and even helped him secure a job there.
Recalling his unusual part-time job at the health service, James shares, “My mum set me up [with] one of many jobs… I had to go and collect furniture and then clean it down.” He elaborates on the somber task of collecting and cleaning furniture from the homes of deceased individuals, expressing the challenges of navigating such sensitive situations.
In The Gentlemen, James stars alongside Ray Winstone as drug kingpin Bobby Glass, Kaya Scodelario as Susie Glass, Vinnie Jones as Geoff Seacombe, and Giancarlo Esposito as American billionaire Stanley Johnson.
With its stellar cast and gripping storyline, The Gentlemen promises an entertaining watch and is available for streaming on Netflix.
