James Norton pictured with rarely seen sister at Wimbledon

James Norton attended the eighth day of Wimbledon on Monday with his rarely seen younger sister, Jessica.

The Happy Valley star, 40, and his sibling were spotted in the Royal Box, with the race for the quarter-finals intensifying at SW19. 

The actor looked dapper in a light grey suit with a white shirt and burgundy tie, while Jessica opted for a yellow sleeveless summer dress.

Jessica is a doctor and she and James have always been close. She has accompanied him to other events in the past, including the British Academy Television Awards in 2015, where the siblings were joined by their parents, Lavinia and Hugh.

James and his sister were raised in North Yorkshire and he has previously described their childhood as “idyllic”.

James and Jessica’s health battle 

The siblings, along with their mother, have Type 1 diabetes.

According to the NHS, Type 1 diabetes is a condition where your body cannot make enough of the insulin hormone, which causes the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood to get too high. Meanwhile, Type 2 is when insulin does not work properly or there is not enough of it. 

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In 2023, James spoke about managing the condition while performing on stage for nearly four hours as Jude in A Little Life. Alongside the “physical and emotional drain” of the role, he had systems in place to monitor his blood sugar levels.

“I will have sugar tablets at places [on set] where I need them, if I need them, and hopefully I won’t need them. I’ve got one in the wheelchair and there’s one in the kitchen,” he told the BBC.

The sold-out show ran for 18 weeks, and James later reflected: “If you’d asked me six months ago whether I’d be able to do a three-and-a-half-hour play as a diabetic, I’d have been really scared. I’m so proud that I’ve been able to prove to myself and other Type 1 diabetics that I’m able to do that.”

© Samir Hussein/WireImage

James’ next career move

James has been confirmed to play Hamlet in a major new West End production next autumn, taking on one of the most coveted and daunting roles in theatre.

Announcing the news, James admitted he feels both honoured and intimidated by the challenge ahead. “It’s a privilege for anyone to take on the role of Hamlet,” he said. “It’s also pretty terrifying!”

The production will be directed by acclaimed German theatre director Thomas Ostermeier, whose previous London productions include The Seagull, starring Cate Blanchett, and An Enemy of the People with Doctor Who actor Matt Smith.