James Norton has revealed the unusual name of the WhatsApp group he’s in with some big Hollywood stars.
The Happy Valley actor, 39, appeared on The Graham Norton show – which will air on Friday – to discuss his new film Joy, which tells the story of the inception of IVF.
Based on a true story, Joy follows three pioneering British scientists in the Sixties and Seventies and their struggle to develop IVF — against all odds.
Explaining the movie, and how it inspired his WhastApp Group, he said: ‘The film is important and really wonderful because it is righting a wrong. History has forgotten Jean Purdy who was vital to the science, but because she was a woman she was not honoured as she should have been.
‘It is a sweet story about good people doing good things. There was a lot of love in the film and on the set and it was great hanging out with Bill Nighy and Thomasin McKenzie for the summer.’
James added: ‘The three of us now have a WhatsApp group call the ‘Fallopians’!’
James Norton revealed the unusual name of the WhatsApp group he’s in with some big Hollywood stars during an appearance on The Graham Norton show – which will air Friday
The Happy Valley actor, 39, was on the show to discuss his new film Joy, which tells the story of the inception of IVF (pictured with Nicole Kidman, Cynthia Erivo and Chris McCausland)
Joy was released on Netflix on Friday.
It tells the remarkable true story behind the birth of Louise Joy Brown in 1978, the world’s first ‘test-tube baby,’ and the tireless 10-year journey to make it possible.
The film is told through the perspective of Jean Purdy, a young nurse and embryologist who joined forces with scientist Robert Edwards and surgeon Patrick Steptoe to unlock the puzzle of infertility by pioneering IVF.
Thomasin plays Jean Purdy, James stars as Robert, while Bill takes on the role of Patrick.
Recently, James has been working on his new role in the Netflix series House Of Guinness, which is set to tell the story of the rise of the iconic alcohol empire.
Filming for James’ latest project, by Steven Knight, began last month, with the actor seen on set in Liverpool while filming fight scenes.
Netflix has now announced who will join James in the cast of the hotly anticipated show, The House Of Guinness.
The actor will be joined by famous faces including Jack Gleeson who played Game of Thrones villain Joffrey Baratheon, and Fionn O’Shea who starred in Normal People as Daisy Edgar Jones’ love interest Jamie.
Others who have already been announced as part of the cast of the new series, written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, include Olivia Rodrigo’s boyfriend Louis Partridge.
James revealed the name of his WhatsApp group with his Joy co-stars Bill Nighy and Thomasin McKenzie is called Fallopians (pictured together at the BFI Film Festival in October)
![Joy is told through the perspective of Jean Purdy, [Thomasin], an embryologist, who joined forces with scientist Robert Edwards, [James], and surgeon Patrick Steptoe, [Bill] to unlock the puzzle of infertility by pioneering in IVF](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/11/22/12/82592761-14113985-Joy_is_told_through_the_perspective_of_Jean_Purdy_Thomasin_an_em-a-22_1732278719126.jpg)
Joy is told through the perspective of Jean Purdy, [Thomasin], an embryologist, who joined forces with scientist Robert Edwards, [James], and surgeon Patrick Steptoe, [Bill] to unlock the puzzle of infertility by pioneering in IVF
Joy tells the remarkable true story behind the birth of Louise Joy Brown in 1978, the world’s first ‘test-tube baby’ (pictured with parents John and Lesley Brown)
The star-studded cast also contains Masters of the Air star Anthony Boyle, Emily Fairn who recently starred opposite Martin Freeman in The Responder, Niamh McCormack, Seamus O’Hara and Irish actress Dervla Kirwan.
Michael McElhatton and Danielle Galligan are also set to star with David Wilmot, who was cast alongside Florence Pugh in The Wonder, and Hilda Fay to complete the line up.
The show’s creator said he was delighted with the star-studded cast.
He said: ‘I am thrilled that we have such an exceptional cast and such an exceptional team to tell this story inspired by an exceptional family’
House Of Guinness was written by Steven Knight, who is currently also working on the Peaky Blinders film.
Netflix announced the series – which will explore the history of the family behind the famous brewery – back in March.
The series will chronicle the extraordinary success of the family behind the famous Irish brewery, which was founded back in 1759 by Arthur Guinness.
But behind the story of wealth and prosperity lies a tragic tale of seemingly endless misfortune for the family.
The Graham Norton Show airs Friday at 10.40pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
