James Purefoy Biography: Wife, Children, Age, Net Worth, Height, Career, Movies & TV Shows

James Brian Mark Purefoy famously known as James Purefoy is an English performer celebrated for his roles as Mark Antony in HBO’s Rome, Joe Carroll in The Following, and Laurens Bancroft in Altered Carbon.

With a robust career spanning theatre, television, and film, he has captivated audiences with his versatile performances and commanding screen presence.

Profile

• Full Name: James Brian Mark Purefoy
• Stage Name: James Purefoy
• Born: June 3, 1964
• Age: 61 years old
• Birthplace: Taunton, Somerset, England, UK
• Nationality: British
• Occupation: Actor, Producer, Director
• Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
• Parents: Anthony Chetwynd Purefoy, Shirley Purefoy
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Jessica Adams
• Children: Joseph Purefoy, Rose Purefoy, Kit Purefoy, Ned Purefoy
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $6 million USD

Early Life and Education

James Purefoy was born on June 3, 1964, in Taunton, Somerset, England, to Anthony Chetwynd Purefoy, a former Conservative Party worker, and Shirley Purefoy (née Taylor), who ran an employment agency.

He is the eldest child, but details about his siblings are undisclosed, with sources indicating he may have brothers or sisters but lacking specific names or numbers.

Raised in a family of landed gentry from Shalstone, Buckinghamshire, James attended Sherborne School, a boarding school, where he struggled academically, leaving with only one O-Level.

At 18, he enrolled at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Acting in 1986, honing his craft for a career in theatre and screen.

His ethnicity is White, and he was raised in a Christian household, though his current religious beliefs are not publicly specified.

Career

James Purefoy began his career in 1987 with stage roles, including Romeo in Romeo and Juliet in Leatherhead and Alan Strang in Equus on tour at age 17.

In 1988, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), performing in The Constant Couple, Macbeth, The Tempest, King Lear (as Edgar), and The Man Who Came to Dinner.

His television debut came in 1990 as Mike Baker in Coasting, followed by a role as James McCarthy in The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (1991).

He appeared in costume dramas like Sharpe’s Sword (1995) as Captain Jack Spears, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1996) as Mr. Lawrence, and The Mayor of Casterbridge (2003) as Donald Farfrae.

His film debut was in Feast of July (1995) as Jedd Wainwright.

Notable film roles include Edward, the Black Prince in A Knight’s Tale (2001), Rawdon Crawley in Vanity Fair (2004), and the titular role in Solomon Kane (2009).

He gained international fame as Mark Antony in HBO’s Rome (2005–2007), a British-American-Italian series, and as Joe Carroll, a serial killer, in The Following (2013–2015).

Other significant roles include Teddy Rist in The Philanthropist (2009), Laurens Bancroft in Altered Carbon (2018), and Hap Collins in Hap and Leonard (2016–2018).

He played Captain Gulliver Troy/Captain Blighty in Pennyworth (2020–2022) and Louis XV in Marie Antoinette (2022).

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @jamespurefoy
• Twitter Handle: @JamesPurefoy
• YouTube Channel: @jamespurefoynews6471

Personal Life

James Purefoy, 61, has been married to art historian, director, and producer Jessica Adams since July 2014, following their relationship’s start in 2007.

They have three children: daughter Rose (born 2012) and twin sons Kit and Ned (born 2017).

He was previously married to actress Holly Aird from 1996 to 2002, with whom he has a son, Joseph Purefoy (born 1997).

Past relationships include an 11-year romance with actress Fay Ripley (1983–1994), and brief rumored links with Gwyneth Paltrow (2002), Piper Perabo (2004), Mariana Tosca (2006), and Sienna Miller (2011), though these are unconfirmed.

Filmography

• Mansfield Park (1999): Tom Bertram (Film)
• Women Talking Dirty (1999): Daniel (Film)
• Maybe Baby (2000): Carl Phipps (Film)
• A Knight’s Tale (2001): Edward, the Black Prince (Film)
• Resident Evil (2002): Spence Parks (Film)
• The Mayor of Casterbridge (2003): Donald Farfrae (TV Movie)
• Photo Finish (2003): James (Film, Jury Award for Best Actor)
• George and the Dragon (2004): George (Film)
• Vanity Fair (2004): Rawdon Crawley (Film)
• Rome (2005–2007): Mark Antony (TV Series, 22 episodes)
• V for Vendetta (2005): V (Film, Uncredited, left mid-production)
• Beau Brummell: This Charming Man (2006): Beau Brummell (TV Movie)
• The Philanthropist (2009): Teddy Rist (TV Series, 8 episodes)
• Solomon Kane (2009): Solomon Kane (Film)
• Ironclad (2011): Marshall (Film)
• John Carter (2012): Kantos Kan (Film)
• The Following (2013–2015): Joe Carroll (TV Series, 45 episodes)
• Momentum (2015): Mr. Washington (Film)
• High-Rise (2015): Pangbourne (Film)
• Hap and Leonard (2016–2018): Hap Collins (TV Series, Main Role)

Net Worth

James Purefoy has an estimated net worth of $6 million USD.

His wealth is derived from his extensive acting career in television, film, and theatre, with significant earnings from roles in Rome, The Following, and Altered Carbon.

Additional income comes from producing projects like Fisherman’s Friends: One and All and endorsements.