An English actor who starred in a hit BBC crime drama and a new Netflix series delighted staff at a café this week.
James Norton paid a visit to Basil in St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells, and spent time posing for photos.
English actor James Norton with manager Jan Gabriel. Picture: Basil Wholefoods
The 40-year-old is well known for being a part of BBC’s TV series Happy Valley, where he played Tommy Lee Royce alongside actress Sarah Lancashire (Catherine Cawood).
He was also Pete Riley in ITV’s four-episode drama Playing Nice, as well as Grantchester, War & Peace, and McMafia.
Most recently, he had a lead role as Sean Rafferty in Netflix’s House of Guinness, which was released on the streaming platform at the end of September.
It follows the lives of the powerful and ambitious Guinness family in 19th-century Dublin, immediately after the death of patriarch Sir Benjamin Guinness.
On Monday (October 27) morning, the actor popped into Basil, a wholefoods café and coffee shop.
The Basil cafe in St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells. Picture: Google
The independent business has two branches in the town, one in St John’s Road and the other at Lime Hill Road.
Manager Jan Gabriel told KentOnline she was a little star-struck at the encounter but was “thrilled” to meet him.
The actor had walked into the shop with a friend and ordered two coffees to take away.
He told staff that he had recently completed a parkrun in Pevensey, East Sussex, and was passing by on his way back.
Jan, who has been working at Basil for the last eight years, explained that she immediately recognised Mr Norton after binge-watching House of Guinness.
“When he took his glasses off, I realised it was him,” she said. “I told him I’d just seen him on TV recently and that he was brilliant in the series.”
The 54-year-old added: “He was down to earth – really friendly and lovely. He was quite happy to have his photos taken with everyone.
“It was really nice. You never get anyone famous in here!”