'Little Women' star James Norton says society is hung up on male nudity: 'We're scared of the penis'

• James Norton said society is still "wary" of male nudity because people are afraid of the penis. 
• The actor, who starred in "Little Women," said men are far more "obsessed" with penises than women.
• "We're scared of the penis," Norton told The Telegraph while discussing his view on sex scenes.

James Norton said society is still very "wary" of male nudity, so much so that people are "afraid of the penis."

Speaking to The Telegraph's Chris Harvey, the British actor detailed his views in an interview published Friday on nudity while discussing an upcoming theatre role. Norton, who previously starred in "Black Mirror" and "Little Women," has been cast in the stage adaptation of Hanya Yanagihara's 2015 book "A Little Life." According to the outlet, the novel features violence, sexual and emotional abuse, self-harm, and nudity. 

Giving his thoughts on the book-turned-play's nude sex scenes, Norton said society is overly concerned about nakedness, particularly with men. 

"There's still a block when it comes to male nudity, about the penis, and what it looks like, and its size and its shape – and all these things of which we as a culture are still very wary," Norton said.

"We're scared of the penis. Men, I think, we're far more obsessed with it," he added. "I mean, women I've asked are like, 'I don't care, you know, it's just a penis, whatever.'"

Despite the heavy-hitting content of his upcoming project, which also features "Bridgerton" star Luke Thompson, Norton said the atmosphere during rehearsals was light-hearted. 

"Our rehearsal room is a really light, fun place," Norton said. "Horror-movie sets are often the most fun because you're trying to offset the dark."

He added that he and the rest of the cast had the mindset of doing good work, but not letting it infringe on their well-being. 

"I sense that the four of us are from the school of: let's draw a line," he said. "Do good work, but at the point at which it infringes upon your life, and your friendships and relationships – so that you can't go home and you can't sleep and you can't function in society – stop."

"A Little Life" will run at various theatres across London from March 18 until August 5.