By Oscar Woods 
The birth of Noah Wilder Russell Thornton brought joy to Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page and husband James Thornton when they welcomed their third child in December 2016.
Table of Contents
A December Arrival
Noah was born on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, at 8:51 am, weighing 7 pounds 3 ounces. Joanna Page, then 39, shared the news with fans on social media just two days after his birth. The Welsh actress posted on Twitter about her beautiful baby boy joining the family.
Her husband, James Thornton, who portrayed John Barton in Emmerdale from 2009 to 2012, also announced the birth. The 41-year-old actor told his followers that Christmas had come early for their family.
Growing Family
Before Noah arrived, Joanna and James were already parents to two children. Their daughter Eva Madelief Russell Thornton was born in February 2013, and their son Kit James Thornton arrived in April 2015. The couple, who married in December 2003, had always expressed their desire for a large family.
Joanna mentioned in interviews how her husband, being one of four siblings himself, considered four children normal. While she grew up as an only child, the actress admitted she could understand how people become drawn to having multiple babies.
Career and Parenthood
The timing came during a busy period in Joanna’s career. She was two months pregnant with Noah when she completed filming the series Home from Home in 2016. The actress had returned to work just 11 months after giving birth to Kit, showing her dedication to balancing motherhood and her profession.
Joanna is widely recognized for playing Stacey Shipman in the BAFTA-winning BBC comedy series Gavin & Stacey. She has also appeared in popular productions including Love Actually, Doctor Who, and various theatre productions with the Royal National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company.
The Name Choice
The couple chose the name Noah Wilder Russell for their son, continuing their pattern of giving their children distinctive middle names. Russell appears to be a family name, incorporated into the names of all their children.
Meeting and Marriage
Joanna and James first met while filming the 1999 BBC adaptation of David Copperfield, where she played Dora Spenlow and he portrayed Ham Peggotty. Though they appeared together in the production, they were properly introduced by a mutual friend a year later. After three years of dating, they married in 2003.
Both actors have built successful careers in British television. While Joanna became a household name through Gavin & Stacey, James established himself through roles in Emmerdale, Holby City, and Stella. He’s also worked extensively as a voice artist for commercials including the National Lottery and Visa.
Expanding Further
The Page-Thornton family didn’t stop at three children. In August 2021, Joanna surprised fans by announcing she was expecting their fourth child at age 44. She described the pregnancy as unexpected but welcome. Their youngest daughter, Boe Willow Russell, was born in December 2021.
Today, the family of six lives in South Oxfordshire. Joanna frequently shares glimpses of family life on social media while protecting her children’s privacy.
Life as Parents of Four
Joanna has been open about the challenges and rewards of raising four children. She described her typical Sunday as hectic, managing hockey practice for one child while looking after the younger ones. Meanwhile, her husband takes their eldest to rugby practice.
The actress told Good Housekeeping that becoming a mother made her more organized in her work life. She admitted that before having children, she thought she was busy, but parenthood taught her better time management.
Career Beyond Acting
In recent years, Joanna has branched into television presenting. She’s hosted shows including Shop Well For Less and The Pet Show on ITV. Despite rumors suggesting she might retire from acting, the Welsh star clarified on social media that she has no such plans.
Her most recent work includes a memoir titled “Lush,” released in September 2025, giving fans deeper insight into her life and career journey.
Noah Today
Now eight years old, Noah Wilder Russell Thornton is growing up as the third of four siblings. While his famous parents keep their children’s lives relatively private, occasional social media posts show the family enjoying time together, whether at the coast or on trips around the UK.
The Page-Thornton children benefit from parents who understand the entertainment industry’s demands and have created a stable, loving home environment. Both Joanna and James work to balance their professional commitments with family time.
Family Dynamics
Noah’s birth came at a time when Joanna was already well established in her career. The arrival of each child brought new dimensions to the family dynamic, and Joanna has spoken about how her approach to work and life evolved with motherhood.
The couple’s relationship has weathered various challenges over the years. Joanna admitted in 2021 that she and James spent much of the first lockdown arguing and threatening divorce, showing that even celebrity couples face typical relationship struggles. However, they worked through those difficulties and remain together, co-parenting their four children.
For fans of Gavin & Stacey, watching Joanna navigate real-life motherhood provides an interesting parallel to her on-screen character Stacey Shipman, who also becomes a mother during the show’s run.
As Noah Wilder Russell Thornton and his siblings continue to grow, their parents remain committed to providing them with as normal a childhood as possible while juggling careers in the public eye. The story of Noah’s arrival remains a cherished memory for the family, marking a special moment when they expanded from four to five, just before Christmas 2016.