From 2018 to 2020, James appeared in the film Peterloo and the television series The ABC Murders, Sandylands, Ghosts, Outlander, and Call the Midwife.

[citation needed] In 2019, James also starred opposite Rob Lowe in the ITV crime drama Wild Bill.

[citation needed] In December 2022, James was cast as ShenShen, a friend of Glinda, in the film adaptation of the Stephen Schwartz musical Wicked.

[6][7] In January 2024, it was announced that she would play Ruffnut Thorston in the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, the film set to release on 13 June 2025.

[8] In 2023, James married Katherine-Alice,[9] founder of the Yorkshire-based nonprofit Hearts Collective, which promotes accessibility in the arts.