Everyone who’s binged Guy Richie’s Action Comedy series The Gentlemen on Netflix lately is arguably swooning over Theo James. There is something so profound about hearing deep-voiced James indulge in profanity with a straight face and an air of nonchalance. He has been the talk of the town after his recent stint starring as aristocratic Eddy Horniman, with rave reviews about his sarcastic flair and dry humor.
While viewers are typically used to seeing James play serious characters, it was a fresh change to witness him embrace a role in a rather comedic show. The actor has had a solid career in the past decade From making his movie debut in the 2010 film You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger to his role as Dauntless instructor Tobias “Four” Eaton in The Divergent franchise to cocky finance bro Cameron Sullivan in The White Lotus, James has proved to be more than just high cheekbones and a smug grin. Let’s have a look at James’ brilliant acting career, mostly comprised of hunk lead roles.
Theo James Became a Household Name With His Character Tobias “Four” Eaton in ‘Divergent’ Franchise
It’s safe to say that fans of The Divergent franchise would agree that Theo James was born to play the role of handsome hunk Tobias “Four” Eaton. The embodiment of his character from book to movie was shockingly uncanny and left fans of The Divergent books pleasantly satisfied. Though the movie franchise failed to capture audiences, it is responsible for making James a household name.
His authoritative body language and strong command over dialogues made his performance as Four opposite Shailene Woodley infinitely memorable. He reprised his role in all three franchise movies: Divergent, Insurgent, and Allegiant. His role as the dashing dauntless instructor also won him a few accolades — including a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Breakout Star.
His Role of Eddy Horniman in Guy Ritchie’s ‘The Gentlemen’ Has Been Spellbinding
While The Divergent franchise saw James in an action-packed role, his recent stint sees him explore the disparate world of action comedy in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen. The series is an offbeat comedy filled with dry humor, crispy fight scenes, and a quirky sense of storytelling that often leaves viewers questioning, “What did I just watch!?” The Gentlemen series is a sequel spin-off of Ritchie’s 2019 film of the same name. It follows the story of aristocrat Eddie Horniman, who inherits the family estate, which leads him to discover that it’s home to an enormous weed empire with its proprietors staying put.
The series is a wild ride, with organized chaos playing a significant factor in making it unique and James as the anchor holding down the fort in the center of it all. Hailing from England himself, it was only apt that someone as English as James would be perfect for the role of a British Duke. The premise of crumbling the posh world of British aristocracy by combining it with murky underground drug cartels was a marvelous blend of genres with a heightened sense of reality.
Viewers watch James’ character, Eddy Horniman, get his soul poisoned by power owing to the unexpected responsibilities suddenly thrust upon him. The comedic flair that James brings to the role leaves viewers rooting for his decision-making and subsequent savior actions that follow. As morally wrong as they may be, the film is an ideal depiction of all the lengths a patriarch or matriarch of a family goes to protect their loved ones!
‘How It Ends’ Featured Him in an Apocalyptic Narrative
James, expanding his career footprint, starred in the 2018 action/thriller movie How It Ends. We see him play the role of attorney Will Younger, who, following a mysterious disaster, embarks on a dangerous journey to rescue his pregnant fiancé from Seattle accompanied by his father-in-law. Though the film was privy to poor reviews, James thrived as a young man, pushing aside differences with his fiancée’s father while they struggled to save the person they loved deeply. Action-packed, authoritative roles are right up his alley, and as viewers, we are not complaining.
It’s Clear That Theo James Has an Affinity for Authority in Role Selection, And It Works for Him
While we have established that Theo James loves exploring projects in the action genre, it’s also clear as day that he has a particular affinity towards authority during role selection. Be it in The Divergent franchise, The Gentlemen, or even as art thief Ivan Warding in the 2019 movie Lying and Stealing. The narrative of being the strong male lead has a symbiotic relationship with Theo James’ aura and deep voice, making him the perfect choice to play roles that hold power and authority. His broad shoulders, no-nonsense tone, and symphonic enunciation work in his favor to establish an unwavering screen presence.
This hypnotic characteristic made his role in The White Lotus stand out as well, with rave reviews. The White Lotus even earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. James has also dabbled in voice acting for Castlevania and The Witcher and has even worked in stage plays including Sex With Strangers. It’s safe to say that Theo James is not shy of broadening his horizons and exploring his range as an actor, even with the usual stint of choosing to remain in his comfort zone. Check out 10 things you didn’t know about Theo James here.
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