James Norton gets mistaken for his character in real life (Picture: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Netflix)

Happy Valley star James Norton wishes fans could separate fact from fiction after being mistaken for his psychopath character Tommy Lee Royce in real life.

‘I was at a gig and some people turned round, saw me, and screamed,’ he said.

‘Another time, a woman came up to me on the street, grabbed my neck and shouted, “You’re a monster!”

She then caught herself and said, “I’m so sorry, that was really inappropriate”. It was quite funny.’

Things also got hairy for James, 37, while reprising his role as Tommy in a new series of the gritty drama, airing New Year’s Day on BBC One.

James Norton as Tommy Lee Royce (Picture: Matt Squire/Lookout Point)

‘The beard is all mine. And it’s a lot of my hair but also a lot of extensions,’ he told Radio Times.

‘I quite quickly acquired these weird tics of someone with long hair. I found myself coming out of the shower and doing this [dramatically shakes head].’

MORE : Happy Valley season 3 trailer teases explosive final outing for Sarah Lancashire and James Norton

MORE : James Norton promises Happy Valley ending to final series that ‘does not disappoint’

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‘A woman came up to me on the street, grabbed my neck and shouted, “You’re a monster!”’