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| “ | Forgive me, Father… for I have indeed sinned. | „ |
| ~ James introduction. |
| “ | People who do not know me soon come to understand that I do not have any sense. Now, please do not misunderstand the situation... You send me 12 men, I will return you 12 sets of testicles in a bag, and we can watch your little whores devour them together, before I chop off your trotters and boil them. | „ |
| ~ James. |
James Keziah Delaney is the titular anti-heroic main protagonist of BBC's 2017 historical medival drama mini-series Taboo. He is a former cadet of the East India Company, who swore vengeance to his former employers in their conflict against the Americans.
He is potrayed by Tom Hardy, who also potrayed Eddie Brock/Venom in the Venom series, Tommy Conlon in 2011 film Warriors and Max Rockatansky in Mad Max: Fury Road.
Biography[]
Taboo[]
Born in 1787, James was sent to the East India Company Military Seminary as a young boy after his mother's death. He excelled initially but developed rebellious ideals, eventually leaving for Africa in 1802. There, he was captured and adopted some local practices, earning a tough reputation.
After returning to London, thought to be dead, James sought to claim his inheritance and settle scores with the East India Company. He discovered troubling truths about his father’s legacy, including his involvement in the slave trade, and began making plans to oppose the Company. With the help of his servant Brace and others, James set up a series of schemes, including buying ships and forging alliances. His complex relationships, especially with his sister Zilpha, added further tension.
After being arrested and tortured for treason, James eventually escaped, using blackmail to further his agenda. Ultimately, he aimed to strike at the heart of the East India Company, revealing his plans to travel to the Azores rather than the Americas, continuing his efforts to expose the Company’s wrongdoings.
Personality[]
James Keziah Delaney is a pragmatic and morally flexible man, focused on protecting his mother's people from imperial powers like the British and the U.S. He uses harsh methods when necessary but avoids harming those who are loyal to him.
Opposed to imperialism and capitalism, James is not motivated by money. He practices African rituals and wears tribal tattoos, reflecting his experiences in Africa. James dresses in dark, sharp clothing and often wears Ghanaian beads during rituals.
Trivia[]
- Tom Hardy conceived the character of James Delaney almost a decade before producing the series. The project has grown out of that initial character portrait—a villainous character like Bill Sikes from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens mixed with the likes of seaman Charles Marlow from Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, and Jack the Ripper put inside a gentleman's body.
- Tom Hardy played Bill Sikes in the BBC miniseries Oliver Twist in 2007.
- Describing James Delaney, Steven Knight said: "One of the things about creating a hero of any sort is that they are occasionally ridiculous. For all the weirdness, there are elements of James Delaney that are recognisable and that’s what audiences respond to." Tom Hardy simply stated: "Is he an antihero? I don’t think so. He’s heinous and opportunistic, but he’s not just a standard bad boy. I wanted to go further than that.
- James is likely Robert's biological father.
- His English address was a mansion known as "Chamber House", on Wapping Wall, a street located in the East End of London at Wapping.
- Tom Hardy confirmed that the parts of the story that might seem supernatural are more just a way for Taboo's storytellers to play around with the tone of the series.
- James speaks Twi, a dialect of the Akan language spoken in Ghana, West Africa.
- Given the Akan language spoken and the Sankofa, an Adinkra Symbol, the origin of James's practices should be sought in the culture of the Ashanti people.
- Reviewers referred to his rituals as 'Sexy Voodoo' and to the seductive trances as 'mesmerism'.