Theo James rose to fame in the mid 2010s when he was cast in a lead role in the Divergent film series, before he evolved into the action comedy star he is today. The English actor stars in Guy Ritchie’s highly anticipated spin-off series on Netflix, The Gentlemen in the lead role as Edward. Read on to discover Theo James’ best performances and where to stream them.
After the success of Ritchie’s 2019 film of the same name, which grossed $115 million on a $22 million budget, Netflix commissioned an eight-part spin-off series that follows a similar trajectory to the film. On his father’s death, Edward (James) inherits all the responsibilities that come with being Duke of Halstead.
Thrown into a criminal underworld, with debts to settle and favors to fulfill, it’s an adrenaline-fuelled adventure for Edward and his incompetent brother Freddie (Daniel Ings), which will leave you at the edge of your seat.
Despite his success on the small-screen in The White Lotus, The Time Traveler’s Wife and ITV's adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sanditon, James has also played an integral role in two major film franchises.
After starring in several independent films and appearing in rite of passage British classics such as Downton Abbey, James was cast in the action horror film, Underworld: Awakening. Led by Kate Beckinsale, the sequel to 2006’s Underworld: Evolution went onto become the most successful of the franchise securing $160 million at the box office.
Soon after, James was cast as Tobias Eaton in the dystopian trilogy, Divergent. Alongside Shailene Woodley, the duo fronted the adaptation of Veronica Roth’s novels, which garnered widespread commercial success.
The first installment stormed the box office reaching $288 million on an $85 budget, while the 2015 sequel Insurgent outshone that with $297 million. Though the final installment, Allegiant, didn’t garner the same commercial success, dipping below $180 million at the box office, it was a strong end to a beloved series.
However, arguably, James has delivered the best performances of his career in recent years. From the action-packed Netflix film, How It Ends, to his role in the acclaimed HBO series, The White Lotus, which James received a Primetime Emmy Nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama.
Equally, in the titular role in The Gentlemen, James has the scope to display the breadth of his acting skill flitting from humor to action to anger with ease, delivering one of the best performances of his career.
With so many roles to choose from throughout his established career, here’s the best Theo James performances ranked and where to stream them.
