Sex scenes cause trauma, claims ‘future 007’ Norton

SEX scenes used to be seen as a perk of the job for leading men, with James Bond star Sir Roger Moore admitting: ‘I always rather liked [them]; I felt we didn’t have enough of those, really.’

How times have changed. Now, James Norton, who’s being tipped as the next 007, has claimed that such scenes can cause ‘trauma’ and shouldn’t even be considered unless actors have been forewarned and agree to the specifics.

The 35-year- old teachers’ son, who appeared in BBC dramas War And Peace and McMafia, declares: ‘There’s so much potential for trauma.

‘Everyone’s sensitive about their naked body — so if you are going to have a sex scene, write “sex scene”, and have actors say what they’re comfortable with.’

It’s quite a statement from Norton, who first appeared naked at the start of his career in a film called Bonobo. He went on to strip off before diving into a river in the first scene of ITV’s Grantchester, in which he played vicar Sidney Chambers. And in the BBC thriller McMafia he was topless in most episodes.

However, Norton (pictured) praises the acclaimed BBC drama Normal People for showing the leading man, Paul Mescal, naked as often as his costar, Daisy Edgar- Jones. ‘We’re so used to seeing female nudity that when you see a man, you go: “This is so explicit!” But it’s just balanced.’ Norton, who’s going out with actress Imogen Poots, is the bookmakers’ favourite to take over from

Daniel Craig, but declines to comment. ‘Pure speculation,’ he tells GQ magazine.

However, owing to three delays, Craig’s final 007 appearance, No Time To Die, has still not come out, so the world is no closer to knowing who will be next to fill Bond’s hand-made shoes.

‘Nothing’s changed,’ says Norton, now grinning.