Okay, so I haven’t actually seen The Tudors yet — if you, like me, don’t get Showtime, we can all catch the first two episodes online — but I did spend a recent weekend rewatching Emma on cable. Twice. And after I watched Jeremy Northam (a.k.a. my Mr. Knightley) propose to Gwyneth Paltrow for the second time in 24 hours, I actually sighed to myself, "Where have you been? I’ve missed you."
A quick trip to his IMDB page confirms that Northam (Sir Thomas More on The Tudors) has, in fact, been "around"— just not in anything that I’ve bothered to see since Gosford Park. Not sure who to blame for the loss of our connection, which seemed so unbreakable after he wooed me by playing an ex-con posing as Steve Zahn’s gay lover in Happy, Texas. Him? Me? Casting agents?
What do you think, PopWatchers? Should Northam be a bigger star with better roles?
Comments (1-30) of 4554 Add your comment
This guy won me over with his uncanny portrayal of Dean Martin (opposite Sean Hayes as Jerry Lewis) in a 2002 TV-movie about the great comedy team.
I am sure he will be heard from more and more in the months ahead. Maybe he should sign up for the sixth and seventh Harry Potter movies!
Yes, why isn’t Jeremy Northam a bigger star?? I’ve loved him in everything I’ve ever seen him in. Even as a total skeeze-bag in “The Net”!
I totally agree! I watched The Net and even when he was holding a gun on Sandra Bullock I was saying, “Just give him a chance! He’s so cute and that accent!!! Yummy!” He was so lovely in Emma and I had forgotten about his portrayal of Dean Martin, but you’re right, Jakeem… he was great. Somebody give this guy some good roles!
Yeah, where is Jeremy Northam? With all of the British singers hitting it big over here, and Daniel Craig actaully becoming a star, the time is right. Maybe he doesn’t really want to be a star though. He’s taken roles in some fantastic movies (Gosford Park, An Ideal Husband), but they’re not exactly star-making movies. Either way, he’s definitely still got fans over here. If he ever does a movie I’ll see, that is.
I am happy to see Jeremy Northam get his own Popwatch post. He has been a favorite since I saw him in “Emma” in college. I, too, have missed several of his other projects, but he will always be special to me. And yes, I of course think he’s not as appreciated as he perhaps should be. But I don’t wish him overexposure either.
I don’t understand why so many other, lesser actors are stars and Jeremy Northam who seems to have the entire package (looks, talent and style) isn’t a bigger one. I remember seeing him in Emma in college and I’ve been a fan ever since.
Two of my favorite Northam movies are The Winslow Boy and Possession. He’s brilliant in both.
I really haven’t paid any attention to him till Happy Texas! I loved that movie, him & Steve Zaun were so hilarious!
I have been a Jeremy Northam fan for years. An Ideal Husband is one of my favorite movies. He is great in Emma and The Winslow Boy. Like you, I wonder why he isn’t a major star, because even if a movie he is in disappoints, he never does.
Kudos to you for pointing this out! I think Northam is great and certainly will see a movie if I know he’s in it. An Ideal Husband is probably my fave
I’ve been wondering the same thing for years. Same thing about Colin Firth too until Bridget Jones.
Am I the only one who always confuses him with Jason Isaacs.
I was asking the very same question when I caught the first Tudors episode. I love Jeremy Northam! He’s so yummy in Emma and my fav is Possession. I’d line up to see him in anything.
Emma, Ideal Husband, Possession, Gosford Park, heck even The Net – I’ll take Jeremy Northam anytime!
He was a fabulous Mr. Knightley!
He’s a VERY talented actor, and I’m sure he’ll always get work, but I don’t know that I would buy him as A-list.
I’ve been a fan since Emma, but my favorite movie of his is The Winslow Boy (which is one of my favorite movies ever), he is brillant in the film, it is a very simple, stirring performance that deserved more reconition. I believe he is going to be in the new Nicole Kidman movie, Invasion.
It never ceases to amaze me how superior English actors are to American ones. Give me Jeremy Northam or Christopher Eccleston over Brad Pitt or Mark Wahlberg any day of the week.
While Northam is definitely talented, I just think he’s been lost in the shuffle with other, more high-profile, 30 to 40, dark-haired actors from the UK, Ireland, etc. Guys like Clive Owen, Rupert Everett, Jude Law, Colin Firth, Colin Farrell, Christian Bale, Hugh Grant, Ewan McGregor, etc.
The thing is there’s a younger crop of guys like Jonathan Rhys Myers, James McAvoy, Hugh Dancy, coming down the pipeline, so I’m not very optimistic Northam will EVER get his due.
Jeremy Northam is Fantastic!!! Its a real shame that he’s not in a lot of movies. There are plenty of Brit actors out there, but some are waaay overrated (I mean you, Jude Law!), and its sad that those with real talent dont get the chance to show it as much as they should.
Cypher! – he’s the lead role in this, and he gets to play both of his stock character types – probably in your local video bin for 1.99 and worth about three times that.
Jeremy Northam is Fantastic!!! Its a real shame that he’s not in a lot of movies. There are plenty of Brit actors out there, but some are waaay overrated (I mean you, Jude Law!), and its sad that those with real talent dont get the chance to show it as much as they should.
i’ve been a fan of is for a long time. whenever i name him as one of my fave actors, i am always faced with puzzled faces. but, i kinda like the fact that he doesn’t take flashy roles. It seems like he picks his roles based on something else besides the success factor, and i applaud him for that. but i do wish he was given a choice of quirkier roles that usually goes to the other brit actors.
i have loved jeremy northam since i saw him in emma, but he was also fantastic in possession, a really great movie (w gwenyth paltrow and aaron eckhart). he’s pretty sexy and british– how can you go wrong??
You need to improve the quality of what you watch, then you’ll see more of Jeremy Northam. He’s starred in The Golden Bowl, The Winslow Boy, An Ideal Husband. No shortage of Northam opportunities.
Oh, that man is fine. Being a big star would be nice, but I’ll take him as a great actor working at quality material. (for the most part)
There’s no other actor that I’ve missed seeing on the big screen in recent years than Jeremy Northam. He’s been one of my favorite actors for the past decade, but it has been frustrating trying to follow his career since 2002’s “Possession,” when so many of his films have either had very poor distribution or gone directly to DVD. Northam has the noble bearing of a classic leading man, but with the soul of a character actor. He isn’t merely good–he’s one of the finest actors of his generation. And great actors deserve great roles. I sincerely hope that his excellent portrayal of Sir Thomas More in Showtime’s “The Tudors” will result in more good scripts coming his way.
Ugh. I’ve been SO missing my Mr. Knightly. I’m ashamed to admit to this…but after watching the first 2 episodes of The Tudors on the web I dropped Cinemax and picked up Showtime (no one is taking my HBO). It’s been way too long. I miss me some Mr. Knightly. Ahem. I mean Sir Thomas More.
I LOVE Jeremy Northam and have missed him so much! From The Net to An Ideal Husband he’s always riveting. I even watched The Golden Bowl, the lamest movie in history, just for him.
I absolutely love Jeremy Northam and totally think that he isn’t getting the dues he deserves. I, like many, fell for his charms as Mr. Knightley, but a lot of his other movies are great too (The Winslow Boy, The Statement, Enigma, Gosford Park). I’m so mad that i don’t get Showtime b/c i need a Northam fix!!
I absolutely love Jeremy Northam and totally think that he isn’t getting the dues he deserves. I, like many, fell for his charms as Mr. Knightley, but a lot of his other movies are great too (The Winslow Boy, The Statement, Enigma, Gosford Park, Possession). I’m so mad that i don’t get Showtime b/c i need a Northam fix!!