2023 Rewind: Beyond 'The White Lotus': The Hottest Theo James Performances
This piece is part of EDGE's 2023 Rewind series. We're reaching into our archives and sharing some of our favorite stories from the past year.
One of last year's rising stars, Theo James, managed to transcend the fact that we have now seen more of his naked flesh than arguably any other male actor this year because he also happens to be a terrific actor. The combination is intoxicating.
But James is no newcomer. He's been working in film and on TV for over a decade, starring in the successful franchise, "The Divergent Series," as well as a slew of indie films and TV shows.
Yet, 2022 was the year he truly took audiences by their respective retinas, making his mark on HBO — first in the divisive "Time Traveler's Wife," where we got to study his naked anatomy in each episode, and again at year's end, showing off more naked flesh as well as his impressive range in Season 2 of "The White Lotus," arguably the water cooler show of the year.
James's ridiculous good looks (those sultry lips!), perfect body, and brooding magnetism have made him almost too attractive a thesp to take seriously, but he's proven himself time and again to be an immersive, committed craftsman.
EDGE has gone over his resume and selected his 10 best and sexiest performance.
Mr. Pamuk on "Downton Abbey" Season 1, Episode 3 (2010)
Most people were introduced to Theo James in the famous "Downton Abbey" episode where he played the dreamy, but devious, Turkish visitor, Mr. Pamuk. When closeted Thomas (Rob James-Collier) hits on the irresistible Pamuk, he is rebuffed, but Pamuk takes advantage of the sitch by demanding Thomas guide him to Lady Mary's (Michelle Dockery) bedroom, where he seduces her and then dies, placing her in a double-compromised position. Quelle scandal! With the help of her trusted lady's maid, Anna (Joanna Froggett), and a flabbergasted mama, Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), they drag his naked (sadly, sheet-covered) body away, dropping him once. James made quite a splash in an episode no "Downton" fan will ever forget.
Stream on Prime and Peacock.
Ray Richards in "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" (2010)
That same year, James made his feature film debut as Ray Richards in Woody Allen's London-set "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger," a meditation on faith and delusion. We first see him at the gym wearing a black T and sweatpants, and lusting after Charmaine Foxx (Lucy Punch), a former prostitute now married to Alfie Shepridge (Anthony Hopkins). They eventually have an affair, and she gets pregnant. In just a few scenes, James made quite an impression. (And not many people get to punch Sir Anthony Hopkins onscreen.)
Rent on AppleTV or Prime.
Jed Harper in "Bedlam"
From the moment you see James's stunningly curious, yet tortured, eyes at the very beginning of the British supernatural TV series "Bedlam," it would have been easy to predict he was bound for stardom. When I first watched this series on BBC America in 2011, I remember thinking something along those lines. Of course, the fact that he often walked around clad only in a towel or sat pensively in a bathtub had me a bit distracted. In "Bedlam," Jed sees ghosts, and in each episode there is some new haunting/murder, but what kept viewers enraptured was the mere presence of this sexy stud and his arresting eyes.
Four/Tobias in "Divergent" (2014)
Sure, the "Divergent" franchise is a combination (rip-off?) of "The Hunger Games," "The Maze Runner," and "The Giver," but that doesn't make it any less fun, thanks in large part to James's enigmatic performance. At first his character, the "Dauntless" Four, comes off as harsh and mean, but he slowly peels away his layers to show us who he really is and why he's so guarded. Whenever he's offscreen you long for his return.
Stream on HBO Max, Hulu and Prime.
Luke in "The Benefactor" (2015)
Most critics weren't kind to Andrew Renzi's debut feature "The Benefactor," which boasted a hammy, grandstanding performance by Richard Gere as a wealthy, morphine-addicted egomaniac named Franny. But it's Theo James understated and downright sweet performance as his protégé, Luke, that grounds this erratic film. And the weirdly intimate, deeply homoerotic relationship between Franny and Luke gives the film its raison d'être. "Jesus, you are gorgeous. Wow," Franny says as he lustily stares into Luke's eyes and lightly pats his face. Had Renzi had the balls to truly explore what he only hints at, he might have given us something truly compelling.
Stream on Prime.
Lord James Mangan in "War on Everyone" (2016)
Martin McDonagh's ("Banshees of Inisherin") older brother, John Michael McDonagh is also a filmmaker whose movies strive to be like his brother's, but try too hard. His 2016 feature, "War on Everyone," is exactly that: While a very entertaining, and often hilarious dark, comedy, it sometimes falls flat in its attempt to be cool. The film centers on two corrupt policemen (Alexander Skarsgård and Michael Peña) who embark on all kinds of shenanigans. One involves Lord James Mangan (James), a knighted British thug with some nasty secrets. James basks in this wickedly vile role. In one scene he wakes up next to both a guy and a gal. Exciting. But how can you cast two yumburgers like Skarsgård and James in the same film, and not have them all over one another?
Stream on Prime and Hulu.
Sidney Parker in "Sanditon" (2019)
Jane Austen's unfinished novel is the basis for the UK TV series "Sanditon," set during the Regency era and sexed up well beyond the Austenesque norm. James acts as both executive producer and star of this infectious tale of love, longing, heartache, and lust in a seaside town. James's Sidney Parker is dismissive, disparaging, dispassionate yet dashing, devilish, and seductive. Watch as Rose Williams (as Charlotte) is mortified, but also swoons when she watches a naked Theo walk out of the sea. Beware: If purchasing the U.S. Masterpiece DVD or Blu-ray, PBS censors the Theo butt nudity. They should be canceled for such a crime.
Rent on AppleTV or Prime.
George Almore in "Archive" (2020)
Gavin Rothery's directorial debut, "Archive," is a sometimes confusing but beguiling sci-fi indie centering on George Almore (James), a scientist trying to bring back his dead wife via artificial intelligence. This creepy, yet poignant, mindfuckery benefits from James's immersive performance, examining how grief can become obsession. In the film, James is given a deep facial scar and scruffy beard, trying to mask his stunning good looks, but his sexiness shines through. And the twist ending makes it all worthwhile.
Stream on Tubi, Rent on AppleTV
Henry DeTamble in "The Time Traveler's Wife" (2022)
Those of us who were hooked on HBO Max's peculiar, but enthralling, limited series "The Time Traveler's Wife" were sadly disappointed that it was not renewed for a second season. Based on the book by Audrey Niffenegger, the series showcased many of James' talents, as well as a lot of his naked anatomy. James is the titular character's eventual husband, who has the bizarre ability to travel to different time periods with no control over when it happens or where he ends up — or the fact that he always arrives nude. James had to play Henry at many different stages of his life, and he pulls off the tragic with the hilarious masterfully. And he and Rose Leslie had wonderful chemistry. And did we mention all the butt shots?
Stream on HBO Max.
Cameron Babcock in "The White Lotus, Season 2" (2022)
Much has been written (and posted) about Theo James' "ginormous" penis in "The White Lotus," Season 2, which takes place on the gorgeous shores of Taormina, Sicily. Alas, it was just a prosthetic. (If you desire to see the real thing, stream "Time Traveler's Wife.") And that famous nude scene where he may or may not be tempting Aubrey Plaza was allegedly toned down. But let's give James (and writer Mike White) credit for creating a morally-challenged cad flashing his wicked smile whom we still root for. James' Cameron Babcock loves his wife, yet cheats on her — probably often — and we're not sure how he feels about his kids (who might not be his). He may even have a crush on his college bud (Will Sharpe), whom he flirts with. But we still hoped and prayed that he wasn't the corpse floating in the Ionian Sea. Now that (spoiler) Jennifer Coolidge is fish food, perhaps James can return for Chapter 3 of "The White Lotus." If so, let's hope the locale is a place where little clothing is necessary.
Stream on HBO Max.