Theo James biography, wife, age, net worth, height, children 2025

Theo James Biography

Theo James is a British actor who became a true Hollywood sensation after the release of the first installment of the popular franchise "Divergent". He is also known for his leading roles in the sci-fi film "Archive", the series "The Time Traveler's Wife", and the Guy Ritchie series "The Gentlemen".

Childhood

Theo James was born on December 16, 1984, in Oxford, the capital of the southern county of Oxfordshire, and became the youngest of five children in the family. His father, business consultant Philip Taptiklis, is of Greek origin but was born and raised in New Zealand, where his family moved from the Peloponnese. His mother, Jane Martin, who has Scottish ancestry, is an employee of the National Health Service.

The actor considered his childhood to be carefree and happy: he was simply bathed in parental love. Therefore, his father and mother became role models for him: "My main inspiration is my parents. They raised five children and gave them all the best."

Theo James's childhood and youth were carefree

Theo inherited an appearance atypical for a Brit—dark hair and almost black eyes from his father, and beautiful full lips from his mother. The actor claimed that it was his "sensual macho" type that caught directors' attention: "I know I often get work because of how I look, but I hope I keep it because of how I act."

Theo James was an ordinary British teenager and did not dream of a career as an actor

About his years at Aylesbury High School, James said: "I was just an average middle-class guy, constantly listening to hip-hop and playing basketball. I tried to appear much cooler than I really was. We had a whole group of guys, and we called ourselves one team."

After graduating in 2001, Theo continued his studies at the University of Nottingham, where he earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy. At that time, he was in love with a girl who dreamed of acting on stage and convinced her boyfriend to audition with her for drama school. Fate arranged things quite ironically: James was deemed "promising" and accepted into Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, while his companion did not make it through.

Theo James became an actor by a lucky chance

James has never regretted his choice: "I thought about a writing career. But I always really wanted to act and join the ranks of famous, respected artists. So, I hardly would have used my education for its intended purpose." Although he had to work as a barista, a bodyguard, and a hospital cleaner during his studies, he performed brilliantly in all productions and soon caught the attention of directors.

First Roles

Theo James gained his first acting experience on stage, debuting in the play "Tomorrow's Stars" in 2009.

In 2010, the budding actor made a brief appearance on television in an episode of the series "A Passionate Woman." The 25-year-old heartthrob played the role of Alexander Craisenovsky – the lover of Betty, portrayed by Billie Piper.

The series 'A Passionate Woman' – Theo James's first role

James's three-minute appearance in the hit series "Downton Abbey" did not go unnoticed either. He played the role of the fateful suitor, this time as Turkish diplomat Kemal Pamuk, who set his sights on Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery).

Theo James's brief but spectacular appearance in 'Downton Abbey'

That same year, Theo James broke into the world of cinema, playing the role of Ray in Woody Allen's "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger."

In 2011, Theo James joined the main cast of several projects. His first significant role was in the drama series "Bedlam," broadcast on Sky Living. Soon after, James was cast in the sitcom "The Inbetweeners," a comedy about the misadventures of British teenagers vacationing in Crete.

Theo James in the sitcom 'The Inbetweeners'

In 2012, Måns Mårlind offered the young actor the lead role in the fourth installment of the franchise "Underworld: Awakening." To perfectly embody the character, Theo, along with Kate Beckinsale, began training in parkour and extensively practiced with knives and whips. James's portrayal of the vampire David was so convincing that the producers offered him to continue the collaboration in the fifth part of the franchise, "Underworld: Blood Wars."

The 'Underworld' franchise: Theo James as a vampire

In the same year, James landed several minor roles in films by renowned directors. Theo played a guest at a dinner party in Paula van der Oest's "The Domino Effect" and an officer in the war film "Red Tails" directed by Anthony Hemingway, based on the book by John Holway. He also appeared in the crime drama "Case Sensitive," broadcast on ITV. Following these roles, the popular British magazine Screen International named him "a star of tomorrow."

Theo James in the series 'Case Sensitive'

In 2013, James went to conquer the USA. In Hollywood, he debuted as Detective Walter Clark in the crime drama "Golden Boy." To prepare for filming, the young actor learned about police work "from the inside," spending several days side by side with detectives from the New York Police Department. The project did not meet the producers' expectations and was canceled after the first season.

Divergent

In March 2013, Theo James was invited to audition for the film adaptation of Veronica Roth's dystopian bestseller "Divergent". The novel describes a future society divided into five factions; upon reaching the age of 16, each citizen undergoes a test that determines their place within one of them.

After several audition rounds, Theo James secured one of the main roles – Tobias Eaton, an instructor of the so-called "divergents" (phenomenal individuals with multifaceted abilities). At the auditions, Theo beat his main competitors – Alex Pettyfer and Jeremy Irvine.

Theo James' Tattoo in the Movie 'Divergent'

Following the premiere on March 21, 2014, Tobias "Four" Eaton became an idol to millions of teenagers. "I was very lucky with the team and the director. Neil Burger is a true professional, very intelligent and with excellent taste. It was also great to work with Shailene Woodley. We had almost a homely atmosphere on set, which really helps a newcomer," Theo James shared about filming in "Divergent".

There Was a Real Chemistry Between Theo James and Shailene Woodley

In May 2014, filming began for the sequel "Insurgent". The global premiere of the second part of the franchise took place on March 20, 2015, and exactly a year later, in March 2016, audiences saw the third installment, "Allegiant".

Divergent Star Theo James Talks Chemistry With Shailene Woodley

Further Career in Film

During a break from shooting the "Divergent" franchise, Theo James managed to add a drama called "Franny" to his filmography. The film about the complicated relationships between Richard Gere's character and newlyweds Luke and Olivia, with Theo playing opposite young actress Dakota Fanning, was released to audiences in 2015.

That same year, the actor became the face of the fragrance The Scent by Hugo Boss.

Theo James Hugo Boss Commercial Extended

In 2014, Theo James's name was associated with epithets such as "breakthrough of the year" and "young talent," yet just two years later, the public unanimously recognized him as one of the most popular Hollywood actors of the new generation.

In 2016, there were four promising premieres featuring Theo James: the fifth installment of "Underworld," the dark comedy "War on Everyone" with Alexander Skarsgård, and the drama "The Secret Scripture" directed by Jim Sheridan and starring Rooney Mara, as well as the aforementioned third part of "Divergent."

A scene from the filming of London Fields

In 2018, he appeared in three feature films. The first was the crime thriller "London Fields" based on the novel by Martin Amis, starring Amber Heard and Jaimie Alexander, which was not very successful at the box office. Theo played the lead role in the Netflix sci-fi blockbuster "How It Ends," and alongside Ewan McGregor and Léa Seydoux, he starred in the sci-fi drama "Zoe."

He was then busy filming the crime action movie "Lying and Stealing," co-starring with Emily Ratajkowski. He also joined the cast of the series "The Witcher," voicing young Vesemir, a role he later reprised in the animated feature "The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf."

Theo James voiced young Vesemir

In 2020, the sci-fi drama "Archive" premiered. Theo transformed into the young scientist George Almore, who is working on developing androids indistinguishable from humans. Mourning his deceased wife, he uploads her consciousness into his creation.

Together with Rose Leslie, Theo James played the lead role of Henry DeTamble, a librarian with a rare disease that allows him to time travel, in the series "The Time Traveler's Wife." However, the adaptation of Audrey Niffenegger's eponymous bestseller received low ratings and was not renewed for a second season.

Theo James and Rose Leslie in The Time Traveler's Wife

Music

Theo never hid his love for music: "I adore music! Nothing beats listening to music after you come home tired from a trip." The actor has a decent baritone and, in addition, he can play the guitar, piano, saxophone, and harmonica.

While studying at the university, James was the lead singer of the band Makora, and in 2010, he formed his own band called Shere Khan, naming it after the famous tiger Shere Khan from Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book." Besides Theo, who was both the lead singer and guitarist, the band also included bassist Joy Sharratt, rhythm guitarist Will Earl, and drummer Sam Sweeney.

Theo James and the band Sher Khan

The members of Shere Khan described their music as a mix of dance, indie, rock, and punk. They were rarely seen on a big stage; instead, they uploaded their music to MySpace and SoundCloud pages. Their compositions "Straight Up," "Skin," and "Can't Complain" were particularly well-received by online listeners. However, due to the busy schedule of the band's leader, in November 2012, an announcement appeared on the official Shere Khan social media page stating the band had disbanded.

Theo James' Personal Life

In 2009, Theo met up-and-coming Irish actress Ruth Kearney, his fellow student at acting school. The couple kept their relationship private, which sparked numerous rumors and speculations.

After the release of the first "Divergent" film, fans speculated about a romance between Theo James and Shailene Woodley, reasoning that "they portrayed love too convincingly." Adding fuel to the fire was the actor's comment on the first kiss between Four and Tris: "Sometimes you have to make chemistry happen on set. You have to call it forth. But when you don't because everything happens very real and naturally, it positively affects the scenes. Shailene and I have natural chemistry." Later, the actors even received the Teen Choice Award for "Choice Movie Liplock."

Theo James and Shailene Woodley's romance remained within the confines of the set

In the summer of 2014, renowned pop singer Taylor Swift hinted that she found Theo to be the sexiest actor in Hollywood. James' fans immediately began to fan the flames of a rumored romance between the stars, but James remained true to his principles and did not comment on these rumors.

In 2015, the press once again linked Theo and Ruth Kearney. Paparazzi caught them in a jewelry store, looking at a display of rings. The actors were often the focus of camera lenses, walking together in New York. In September 2018, the couple got married.

The couple became parents for the first time in August 2021 with the birth of a girl, whose name they chose not to disclose. In June 2023, they had their second child. This time, Theo and Ruth did not reveal not only the name but also the gender of the newborn.

Theo James Now

In 2022, Theo James played one of the lead roles in the second season of the dramedy "The White Lotus." He portrayed Cameron Sullivan, a brash young investor who starts an affair with his best friend's wife (Aubrey Plaza).

A scene from the TV series 'The White Lotus'

In March 2024, Netflix released Guy Ritchie's series "The Gentlemen," starring Theo James. The series is a spin-off of Ritchie's film of the same name, and Theo played Eddie Halstead, a duke's heir who discovers that the land he inherited has become part of Mickey Pearson's drug empire.

Theo James in the TV series 'The Gentlemen'

Theo James: latest news and articles

Jared Tyler

I didn`t hear about him. Did he play in `Divergent`? He looks like very loved by many girls, probably he has a lot of fans :)

2021-05-08 11:09:01
Ruth Hicks

James was playing in my favorite series `Downton Abbey` but at that moment I did not appreciate :) But then I watched `Backstabbing for Beginners` and this is love!

2021-05-03 09:49:53
Gwendolyn White

Wooow Theo James is a hot handsome guy! I have no words! I could jump into the TV when I see him!

2021-04-16 22:39:03
Ruby Peterson

So handsome like crazy :) I didn`t watch any movie with him but now i have to...

2021-03-10 20:56:02
Leo Adkins

After all knowingly say that a talented person is talented everywhere. Great actor, musician and just a nice guy.

2021-02-27 08:38:48
Keyamara2006

I'm also inspired by him, his acting skills his music skills his goofy comments someday I hope I can meet him and tell him in person how gifted and talented he is and just how much I am inspired Thank you

2018-11-28 00:05:43
Keyamara2006

I'm happy he doesn't hide his gifts and that he loves his wife he's one of my most favorite actor's

2018-11-27 23:42:10

Photos: Theo James