When Anthony Hopkins said that actors ‘needed to stay hungry’, he appealed to those who had both tasted success and those who still strove to obtain it. Those who were literally trying to find their next meal.

After filming concluded on the set of The Wolfman in 2010, Hopkins walked up to his stand in and handed him an envelope of cash, offering thanks and words of encouragement. The person who had guided Hopkins through his movements in front of camera was James Payton.

In Mike Leigh’s Vera Drake James appeared as a court reporter. Then three years later he was asked to play Frank Longbottom in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. In 2011, he was  a caricature of Adolf Hitler opposite Chris Pratt‘s Captain America.

These roles have led James into a new world. The world of fandom. For the past few years, James has been invited to appear at numerous events across the UK. At a recent event he boasted a 2 hour queue for an autographed picture. His engagement with attendees has led to a new success of sorts, one where James plays himself.