James and West, who co-star, were seen holding hands in Rome in October 2020.
The 54-year-old married West now says that the scandal that followed—which was sparked by tabloids—helped him in his role as Charles in The Crown, in which he played the Prince of Wales.
“I had a very acute understanding of what it’s like to feel the horror of your name or your photo in the newspapers,” the actor said in an interview with The Times.
“There’s that awful, paralyzing instant when something about you comes to light. Anyone, I believe, can relate to how that feels.
However, I had already experienced it, so it must have influenced my approach. It is not something you become accustomed to—that sinking sensation of fear.
