Taylor James

Taylor James is a British actor born on January 26, 1980, in Sevenoaks, Kent, England. He spent part of his early childhood in South Africa before returning to the UK for his education. Initially aspiring to become a commercial airline pilot, James shifted his focus to the performing arts in his early twenties, earning a scholarship to the London Studio Centre, where he studied for three years . James began his acting career on the West End stage, appearing in musicals such as Footloose, Mamma Mia!, and Guys and Dolls. He expanded his theatrical repertoire with performances in productions like Piaf at the Donmar Warehouse, Danton's Death at the National Theatre, and The Duchess of Malfi at the Old Vic. He also worked with the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company, featuring in The Winter's Tale and Romeo and Juliet . Transitioning to film and television, James appeared in the 2008 film adaptation of Mamma Mia! and had roles in TV series such as Red Dwarf and Hotel Babylon. His breakout film role came in 2018 when he portrayed the titular character in Samson, a biblical epic produced by Pure Flix . He also played an Atlantean military messenger in Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) and appeared in The Beekeeper (2024) directed by David Ayer . In television, James took on the role of Batu in the second and third seasons of Netflix's Vikings: Valhalla . Standing at 6'3" (1.91 m), he is known for his commanding presence and versatility across various genres, including action, historical drama, and musical theatre.