00s heartthrob told he’s ‘aged like fine wine’ 21 years after cult TV show

It’s been 21 years since one of the most iconic coming-of-age series began, and incredibly, one of the leading actors still looks pretty much the same.

One Tree Hill star James Lafferty won legions of fans as the rehabilitated bad boy Nathan Scott when he gave us one of the best teen romances alongside Bethany Joy Lenz, who played his eventual wife Haley James Scott.

The series began in 2003 and introduced us to the Scott half-brothers who both resided in the fictional town of Tree Hill. Despite their biological connection, they were raised in separate households by their respective mothers and barely interacted. The drama begins when Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray) joins the school’s basketball team which already includes Nathan, and their worlds collide.

As well as providing one of the catchiest theme tunes (It’s almost scientifically impossible not to join in with ‘I don’t want to be anything other than what I’ve been trying to be lately’), One Tree Hill introduced us to stars Sophia Bush (Brooke Davis), Hilarie Burton (Peyton Sawyer), and, of course, James.

James, who was just 17 when he auditioned, has since revealed that he came close to quitting acting. He decided that if he didn’t get cast as Nathan, he was going to give up the profession to attend college after spending his childhood as an actor.

‘It felt like fate,’ Nathan said of obtaining the role.

James was drawn to the complexity of the character, who began as a bit of a villain due to his mean dad Dan Scott (played by Paul Johansson) before softening up while falling in love with tutor Haley. The duo were affectionately referred to as Naley by their shippers.

‘For me, it was just an opportunity to play a really complex character that was going through a lot, and it was manifesting itself in negative ways,’ James told People.

‘But I remember very early on the writers telling me, “He’s not always going to be a villain. He’s going to make a turn.” And I was like, “I’m fine, either way. This is fun”.’

He continued to play Nathan for nine years with the character dealing with everything from teen fatherhood, to a kidnapping plot, and a life-changing car accident.

Now 39, James has used his experience as a teen star to write a smart commentary.

Alongside, One Tree Hill co-star Stephen Colletti [Chase Adams], he has created TV series Everyone Is Doing Great. The narrative begins five years after the end of Seth [Stephen] and Jeremy [James]’s hit series Eternal. The pals lean on each other as they struggle to regain their former level of success and relevance.

The independently produced first series is available to watch on Apple TV and Amazon, and the second series is coming soon.

Fans can keep up with the TV series updates, and James’ life on Instagram, where he recently shared photos from his travels which his 1.3 million followers often show their appreciation for.

In the gallery, which included a snap in his swimming trunks, follower Boricu_Sel wrote: ‘You aged like fine wine.’

‘James lafferty…the man that you are ????’ wrote Maria Fernanda. While Mely simply told the TV star he looked ‘amazing’.

Laura Nicole cheekily typed: ‘NAAAATHAN has always been ZADDY.’

Nathan is partial to a ‘thirst trap’ with some recent topless pictures in the gym causing a reaction from his former colleagues.

Sophia joked: ‘Bro you gotta warn the internet when you drop something like this!?’

‘What in the thirst trap is this?!?!?! James!!!!!!! Good Lord. Put a warning on stuff like this,’ remarked Hilarie.

James has a real-life Haley in his wife Alexandra Park. He began dating the actress in 2015, after meeting on the set of The Royals where James directed several episodes, on the show which featured Alexandra, 35, as Princess Eleanor.

They got engaged in 2020, before tying the knot in a Hawaiian ceremony in May 2022.

Art reflects real life in their household as Alexandra plays his wife Andrea in Everyone Is Doing Great.

‘We love working together,’ she told US Weekly.

‘That’s one of the things I’m so grateful about in our relationship is that we’re able to work together doing the things that we love.

‘We just thought it would be really fun to play around with the dynamic of Jeremy and Andrea in obviously something that’s very opposite to our personal relationship.’

While One Tree Hill ended after nine series a decade ago, the cast continues to support each other. Hilarie recently shared her desire for a ‘do-over with a girl boss’ so perhaps there’s a reboot in the future.

One Tree Hill is available to watch on ITV player.

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