James Norton, the acclaimed actor known for his roles in Happy Valley and A Little Life, has revealed the true physical toll of portraying a historical figure.
At a recent screening of his latest project, the BBC's King and Conqueror, Norton disclosed that he broke his collarbone during a stunt on the set of the show.
The eight-part historical drama, set to premiere on August 24, delves into the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Norton stars as Harold Godwinson, while Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, famous for his role as Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones, plays his rival, William the Conqueror.
The series is a fictionalized account of the power struggle between the two men, who were once allies but found themselves on opposing sides in a war for the English crown.
According to Norton, the injury occurred during a rehearsal in Iceland, where much of the series was filmed.
"I fell off a horse and I landed on my shoulder," the actor told reporters. "It was during a rehearsal and I fell off a horse and landed on my shoulder. Actually, it was a remarkably quick recovery and it didn't affect the shooting, it just was quite painful."
The actor shared that he had to push through the pain for the latter half of the shoot, with his authentic "yelps" in some of the battle scenes being a direct result of the injury.
"The yelps are pretty authentic," he said with a laugh. "That was a challenge, but it really was remarkable how quickly and efficiently the crew took it on and we got through it perfectly."
Executive producer Kitty Kaletsky corroborated the story, describing the injury as a "painful" challenge.
Coster-Waldau also joked about the incident, admitting that he had been "so desperately wanting to say" that Norton had broken his collarbone during their press tour, but believed it was a secret.
This is not the first time Norton has been open about the demands of his craft.
He has previously spoken about the physical and emotional toll of his work, including a recent health scare at an awards ceremony due to his Type 1 diabetes and the intense psychological strain of his stage role in A Little Life.
The Battle of Hastings is a cornerstone of British history, a pivotal moment that reshaped the country's identity.
King and Conqueror promises to bring this story to life with a gritty and visceral approach, and as Norton's on-set injury proves, the cast and crew were fully committed to making the action as authentic as possible.
What do you think of actors performing their own stunts, knowing the risks involved? Share your thoughts and let us know in the comments section below!
At a recent screening of his latest project, the BBC's King and Conqueror, Norton disclosed that he broke his collarbone during a stunt on the set of the show.
The eight-part historical drama, set to premiere on August 24, delves into the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Norton stars as Harold Godwinson, while Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, famous for his role as Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones, plays his rival, William the Conqueror.
The series is a fictionalized account of the power struggle between the two men, who were once allies but found themselves on opposing sides in a war for the English crown.
According to Norton, the injury occurred during a rehearsal in Iceland, where much of the series was filmed.
"I fell off a horse and I landed on my shoulder," the actor told reporters. "It was during a rehearsal and I fell off a horse and landed on my shoulder. Actually, it was a remarkably quick recovery and it didn't affect the shooting, it just was quite painful."
The actor shared that he had to push through the pain for the latter half of the shoot, with his authentic "yelps" in some of the battle scenes being a direct result of the injury.
"The yelps are pretty authentic," he said with a laugh. "That was a challenge, but it really was remarkable how quickly and efficiently the crew took it on and we got through it perfectly."
Executive producer Kitty Kaletsky corroborated the story, describing the injury as a "painful" challenge.
Coster-Waldau also joked about the incident, admitting that he had been "so desperately wanting to say" that Norton had broken his collarbone during their press tour, but believed it was a secret.
This is not the first time Norton has been open about the demands of his craft.
He has previously spoken about the physical and emotional toll of his work, including a recent health scare at an awards ceremony due to his Type 1 diabetes and the intense psychological strain of his stage role in A Little Life.
The Battle of Hastings is a cornerstone of British history, a pivotal moment that reshaped the country's identity.
King and Conqueror promises to bring this story to life with a gritty and visceral approach, and as Norton's on-set injury proves, the cast and crew were fully committed to making the action as authentic as possible.
What do you think of actors performing their own stunts, knowing the risks involved? Share your thoughts and let us know in the comments section below!
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