James Norton has therapists on West End play that sees cast go to 'disturbing' places

James Norton has revealed he has therapists to help as he stars in the play A Little Life.

The Happy Valley actor plays a lawyer haunted by a troubled past in the production, which is based on author Hanya Yanagihara’s novel.

And the star — who previously shared that he had therapy after being bullied at school — said he feels very "looked after" thanks to safeguards put in place for the cast.

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Speaking on Radio 4’s Today show, he said: "We have therapists and they have really gone through amazing safeguards to make sure that we’re all looked after, because there are no punches pulled in this production.

"We do have to go places which are quite disturbing, but I do feel very supported in order to do it.”

The actor has also worked with an intimacy coordinator on scenes of sexual violence.

He said: “Some people will say, ‘Oh, I don’t need them.'

"But if that intimacy coordinator prevents that one actor from experiencing life-changing trauma then of course it justifies the other 99 people who don’t need it."

"I needed it on this, definitely," he added.

Earlier this year Norton revealed that he sought help after being "badly bullied" at boarding school.

The 37-year-old opened up on the Comfort Eating podcast, explaining that his "school years were complicated" and that he was bullied for several years.

"I didn't have the greatest time," he said.

"I was quite badly bullied for five years and I was at boarding school so I couldn't leave.

"So it's complicated."

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A Little Life is at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London from 25 March.

Watch: James Norton: 'My school years were complicated'