James Norton recalls causing ‘pandemonium’ after he nearly fainted next to Jude Law because of his diabetes at a star-studded GQ dinner

James Norton has revealed he caused ‘pandemonium’ at a star-studded GQ dinner when he almost fainted because of his diabetes.

The actor, 41, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 22 and uses a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to help manage it, along with daily doses of insulin.

James explained he started ‘sweating and began feeling wobbly’ at the event in 2024 after being unable to eat the correct food needed once he put his insulin in.

He was sitting on a table alongside Jude Law and Nicole Kidman when he began feeling faint. 

Speaking on the Table Manners podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware, James recalled having to ask a waitress for substantial food to stop him from fainting. 

He said: ‘I was at a GQ event once and I put my insulin in, thinking that we were going to have some bread with the starter. 

‘The starter arrived, and it was this little bit of smoked trout with no carbs. I was on the high table and they were honoring Jude Law and Nicole Kidman and all these people, and there were speeches after the starter.

‘So I was sitting there, having done my insulin, having eaten this trout, going, “I’ve got 10 minutes before I start to faint, basically”, and I couldn’t interrupt the speeches because I was sitting on the high table.

‘I eventually started sweating, and like you know, you get really wobbly. You eventually will faint. 

‘So I walked over to the back to the lady that was standing behind my table, saying, “I’m a diabetic. I need some food quickly”. So she gave me a chocolate bar and some juice, and I thought I was okay. Went back, sat back down. 

‘What I didn’t realise was that pandemonium had broken out backstage, and they were like, “James Norton’s about to have a hypo!” So in the middle of Nicole Kidman’s speech, someone randomly brings me a steaming plate of potatoes. 

‘It basically looked like “This is b***s***. James is hungry. Give him some potatoes.’

Type 1 diabetes is a life-long autoimmune disease that causes the level of glucose in your blood to become too high, which happens when your body cannot produce enough insulin. 

This is controlled by daily injections of insulin which keeps the blood glucose levels low and under control. 

James has also spoken frankly about having to stitch special pockets into his costumes in some shows to hold sugar tablets.

He was sitting on the most prestigious table alongside Jude Law (pictured) and Nicole Kidman when he began feeling faint

The actor, 41, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 22 and uses a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to help manage it, along with daily doses of insulin 

‘It’s interesting being on stage or on set because your body is full of adrenaline and that screws up your sugar’, he said in 2017.

‘Especially when I’m on stage for a full hour and a half. I have to anticipate it at the beginning of the show and make sure my sugar levels are going up or are at least stable. 

‘In period plays, I’ve had to stitch little pockets in my costume for sugar tablets.’

He also recalled how a co-star once thought he was going into diabetic shock while he was starring in Journey’s End, a play about the First World War, back in 2011.

Explaining how he started to shake and sweat from the adrenaline on stage, he described: ‘Pandemonium broke loose.

‘The next thing I know, they’re improvising and offering me Lucozade in a teacup, saying, “Cup of tea, sir?” and putting biscuits all over the dugout. So there have been moments where diabetes and theatre have collided.