‘I couldn’t leave’: James Norton reveals he sought therapy after being badly bullied ‘for five years’ at boarding school
James Norton has revealed he sought therapy after being badly bullied as a student at boarding school.
The actor, 37, who currently plays murderer Tommy Lee Royce on Happy Valley, said he was picked on for five years during his school days.
Speaking on the Comfort Eating podcast, he said: ‘My school years were complicated. I didn’t have the greatest time.
Candid: James Norton has revealed he sought therapy after being badly bullied as a student at boarding school (pictured in November 2022)
‘I was quite badly bullied for five years and I was at boarding school so I couldn’t leave. I’ve had a great therapist for the last four years, and it’s not from a place of drama.
‘And I’m luckily not suffering from depression or anything like that but it’s been really, really helpful to understanding what [happened to me at school].’
James added that he is not a fan of the boarding school system and thinks most of the kids there are ‘deeply homesick’.
He said: ‘I’ve realised that boarding schools are really weird places. We’re the only country that still sends our kids away voluntarily.
Younger days: The actor, 37, who currently plays murderer Tommy Lee Royce on Happy Valley (pictured), said he was picked on for five years during his school day
‘You’re stuck with these people, and all these young kids are just deeply, deeply homesick and they’re just lost.
‘For some of them, that pain manifests itself in being needy or rebellious. But some of them get angry and rather than crying out for their mum they just bully someone.’
It comes after James spoke about his role on Happy Valley during a recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show.
Speaking about the final series and the great response it has had he added: ‘It is a huge relief that people like it – after seven years there was no guarantee that anyone would want to see it.’
James said: ‘I was quite badly bullied for five years and I was at boarding school so I couldn’t leave. I’ve had a great therapist for the last four years, and it’s not from a place of drama’
Asked if he will miss playing Tommy he said: ‘He is a despicable monster, but he became really enticing, a sort of weird distant friend that you love seeing.
‘I loved playing him and I miss him and the show.’
Filming for the much-anticipated third and final series got underway early last year following a six-year hiatus.
In October, BBC confirmed a third season of the hit show would be on its way, and that it would be its last.
Interview: It comes after James spoke about his role on Happy Valley during a recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show
The final season follows Sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) as she investigates a gangland murder that leads her back to Tommy, and her struggle to end the drug supply in the valley.
James previously said of reprising his role as Tommy: ‘To take on Tommy one final time is a wonderful and daunting privilege, and something I’ve been looking forward to since we wrapped the last series, six years ago.’
Happy Valley was a big hit with audiences after first airing in 2014, winning a BAFTA Award for Best Drama Series, with a follow-up second series in 2016.
Role: Speaking about the final series and the great response it has had he said: ‘It is a huge relief that people like it – after seven years there was no guarantee’
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