Actor Theo James has captured the hearts of many through his portrayal of the dashing Sidney Parker in the latest period drama from PBS Masterpiece, Sanditon. The show itself is based on an unfinished novel by Jane Austen, and fans can't get enough of its star. Of course, James has already been recognized as a bonafide heartthrob since his breakout role in the Divergent series alongside co-star Shailene Woodley, but this leading man is still a bit of a mystery.
Having made his mark as a talented and smoldering leading man, his fan base has grown by leaps and bounds, and the parts keep pouring in. James, however, is not one to relish the spotlight. The notoriously private actor doesn't do social media, so it's tough to keep tabs on him. Luckily, he does do interviews, so we have been able to dig up some dirt on the British star!
15 He Does His Own Stunts
No one faults actors for having stunt doubles since some scenes call for some pretty dangerous exploits, but Theo isn't having any of that. When asked whether he did his own stunts during an interview with the Today team, he responded, "I do, yes. Yes. Which is fun because you know being an actor sometimes you hang around on set a lot, and you're waiting around in the trailer so when you can do a bit of running and sweating, it can be good."
14 He's Also A Musician
Creative people tend to be multi-talented, and Theo is no exception. In his case, he used to be in a band. According to a story by The Cut, he was the lead singer and guitarist for his now-defunct band, Shere Khan, plays harmonica, and can play the piano. He was also set to star in a musical in London's West End called City Of Angels, but unfortunately, the season was cut short due to the coronavirus safety measures in place.
13 He's An Ambassador For The UNHCR
The UNHCR, or the UN Refugee Agency, is an agency that specifically supports the needs of those who are displaced around the world. Like with any organization, they have their celebrity volunteers, whom they have christened "high profile supporters," and Theo James is one of them. He considers it a "deeply personal" undertaking as his own ancestors were refugees. According to the UNHCR's official website, their dedicated group of "high profile supporters" have "demonstrated a commitment" by "regularly using their influence, dedication and hard work to raise funds, awareness and advocate for refugees." It's always nice to hear about celebrities who choose to use their popularity for good!
12 James Isn't His Last Name
His last name is really Taptiklis since he is Greek on his father's side, according to the Evening Standard. His grandfather reportedly left Greece during the Nazi invasion and joined up with the Allied forces. "He ended up in Cairo, working for the British Navy," Theo says. What an interesting family story! Theo says he decided to change his name after deciding to try his hand at acting.
11 He Hates Social Media
"I'm a little allergic to selfies and I'm not on social media. I find it a bit invasive, and very self-centered," he remarked in an interview. So, sadly, his droves of fans won't be able to follow his every move via Instagram, but if you run into him, all is not lost. He doesn't like being asked for photos, but he is "happy to chat with you." But we would take a good conversation over an awkward photo with a celeb any day.
10 He Has A Degree In Philosophy
Before pursuing his acting career, he pursued a degree at Nottingham University, according to an interview with Evening Standard. His chosen field? Philosophy. "I was interested in asking questions, [and having] discussions about the meaning of life," James stated in an interview. Apparently, he uses his background in philosophy to try and connect with his characters on a deeper level.
9 He Has A Production Company
Not content with only appearing in front of the camera, James is going to be doing a lot more behind the scenes. He and producer Andrew D. Corkin recently launched their own production company called Untapped, which will tackle projects in the U.S. and the U.K. "While our primary focus is genre and thriller, we are drawn to stories of conflicted humanity that that force viewers to question how they would react when faced with real or existential threats," Theo told Deadline when he described the type of projects his production company would focus on.
8 He Was In Downton Abbey
The franchise that skyrocketed Theo James to Hollywood fame had to be the Divergent series, but he was in another famous series before that, even if it was only for a short while. If you're a diehard fan of British period drama, then you would recognize him from his single yet memorable appearance in Downton Abbey as the ill-fated Kemal Pamuk. Let's just say a steamy night with Lady Mary turned out to be his last.
7 He Shares A Famous Birthday
Sanditon was written by Jane Austen, but did you know that Theo James shares more than a character with the famous author. According to the PBS story highlighting their star, Austen and James were born on the same day, December 16th, so they also share a birthday, which seems very proper indeed.
6 He's Close To His Siblings
Theo James comes from a larger family (he's the youngest of 5 children) that actually gets along very well. In an interview, when asked whether his family was okay with him pursuing an acting career, he said that they were all really cool about it. "I have lots of siblings and we all do very different things but they're very supportive actually." He is constantly telling stories about how his older siblings poke fun at him which is what older brothers and sisters do.
