James Lance

James Frederick Grenville Lance (born 29 September 1974) is an English actor, best known for his appearances in a number of British comedy series and as Trent Crimm on the British-American comedy series Ted Lasso, for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2022.

Early life Lance was born in Southampton on 29 September 1974 and grew up in Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset. He attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School.

Career Lance first started acting in 1988 in two Persil Liquid adverts with British actor Peter Sallis. His appearances in comedy series include Top Buzzer, I'm Alan Partridge, Absolute Power, Spaced, Absolutely Fabulous, 2point4 Children, Rescue Me, Doc Martin, People Like Us, No Heroics, Toast of London, Saxondale and, most recently, as the recurring character Trent Crimm, a sportswriter at The Independent, on the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso.

Drama appearances have included Teachers, Boy Meets Girl, The Impressionists, Sensitive Skin, Marple, Being Human, Midsomer Murders, Moving Wallpaper, Black Mirror, The Canterville Ghost and The Famous Five.

Lance has also appeared in the films Late Night Shopping, The Search for John Gissing, Marie Antoinette, Bronson and Bel Ami.

Lance voiced several UK TV commercials for brands such as Maybelline, Wrigley's Extra, the AA and Moneysupermarket.com.

Lance appeared on stage as Miles at the Trafalgar Studios in May 2009 in Marcus Markou's play Ordinary Dreams; Or How to Survive a Meltdown with Flair. He portrayed Eric Idle at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival in a play called Pythonesque by writer Roy Smiles.

Personal life In 2016, Lance married Kate Quilton. Lance and Quilton separated in late 2023 and divorced in early 2026. The couple have a son, born in 2018.

Filmography Film

Television

Music videos Title Year Artist Role Notes Miss Erotica 2025 Peach PRC "The Guy"

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Project Result Ref. 2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Ted Lasso 2022 Online Film & Television Association Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series