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Oliver James - Biography

Oliver James left Hollywood behind

Actor Oliver James arrives at the premiere of "What A Girl Wants" at the Cinerama Dome Theater on March 27, 2003 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Bryony Gooch
US Writer
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Oliver James was a British actor and musician who starred in the hit teen romcom What A Girl Wants. Here is all we know...

Who is Oliver James?

Oliver James is an English actor, musician and songwriter from Ottershaw, Surrey.

He appeared both on the small and big screen with notable roles in 2003's What a Girl Wants, alongside Colin Firth and Amanda Bynes, and an episode of the BBC show The Afternoon Play.

What happened to Oliver James the actor?

Oliver trained at the Guildford School of Acting in Guildford, Surrey at the start of the 2000s. The cross-disciplinary performer is said to have taken up studies in acting so he could be with his girlfriend at the time, who also attended the acting school.

But after a series of box office flops, he chose to move away from the world of acting and is now a trained therapist and mindfulness practitioner in his home town f Guildord.

"My passion for personal healing and the wellness of our shared humanity is ultimately what led me to this vocation. It brings me great joy to offer this work in service toward the benefit of all beings," his website reads.

"One of my strengths as a therapist and person, is that I am as engaged in peoples difficulty, pain, wounding, heartache and loss as I am in sharing their good fortune, growth, joy, happiness and wellbeing.

"My interest in spirituality and personal development are what anchors me in this life and I feel blessed to offer the work that I am passionate about."

What films was Oliver James in?

Whilst still studying, Oliver made his screen debut at the age of 22 in the made-for-television film School's Out, which released in 2002. From here he would go on to appear in romcom What a Girl Wants the following year, starring as teenage heartthrob Ian Wallace.

In 2004 Oliver starred in musical drama film Raise Your Voice, directed by Sean McNamara and co-starring Hilary Duff. Sadly for Oliver the film was a box office bomb, grossing just over $14.8 million. 

Where is Oliver James now?

Oliver is still based in the UK, and goes by his full name Oliver Hutson.

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