Lily James in sportswear. Beauty secrets of Lily James
Lily James is a young and promising British actress. She gained fame in her homeland after starring in the TV series Downton Abbey, and her leading role in the film Cinderella by Kenneth Branagh brought her worldwide fame. What path did the aspiring actress take to achieve such fame?
Carier start
The future actress was born in 1989 in Great Britain. Her mother, Ninette Thompson, is also an actress, although less successful than her daughter. The girl's father was involved in music. It was he who became Lily’s ideological inspirer, prompting her to start a career as an actress. Unfortunately, he passed away from cancer in 2009. In memory of him, the girl took his name as a pseudonym - Lily James. Her grandmother was also an actress. Her most significant role was voicing a computer in the legendary film Alien. Lily also has two brothers, but they are in no way connected with the acting environment.
Even as a child, under the influence of her father and grandmother, the girl became interested in acting. Immediately after graduating from high school, she began studying at the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 2010, the girl successfully graduated and began building her career. At first, Lily played only in theaters. On stage, she embodied the image of Desdemona from the play Othello by William Shakespeare. She also played in venues in Richmond and London, including the capital's famous Young Vic Theatre.
Main filmography
She made her television debut with a small role in the final season of the popular British sitcom The Secret Diary of a Call Girl. However, she became famous in England for her role as Lady Rose McClair in the historical drama Downton Abbey. Lily James played in this project for 3 seasons. It also became the first step for the actress on the path to popularity. The next project of the future star is the comedy short film “Chemistry”, in which she played the main role. In 2010, she took part in the filming of the family series Just William.
Lily James first appeared on the big screen in 2012, taking part in the film “Wrath of the Titans” by the famous British actor and director Kenneth Branagh. Subsequently, he will invite the girl to participate in his major projects more than once. However, the film was a moderate success - it collected good box office revenues around the world, but was completely crushed by critics. Lily returned to television, where she starred in the film “Broken,” playing the cameo role of the matured main character. In addition, she played in the film “Fast Girls,” a sports drama about the intense rivalry of track and field athletes. Then the actress took a short break between filming, appearing only in the 2013 short film Boycott.
In 2014, she began preparing for a new film adaptation of the famous cartoon “Cinderella”, in which Lily James played the main role. In addition to her, such famous actresses as Alicia Vikander, Saoirse Ronan and Emma Watson also auditioned. The film was a huge success and received positive reviews from critics, instantly making the young British actress popular all over the world.
This was followed by roles in major Hollywood projects: “Chief Adam Jones” and “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.” In the last film, the girl played the role of Elizabeth Bennet, a cult heroine of British literature. It was followed by another film adaptation. This time, Lily James got the role of Natasha Rostova in the British TV series War and Peace. Its production was commissioned by the BBC, the largest in the UK. It consists of 6 episodes, which were released in early 2016. Thus, Lily James, whose filmography includes more than a dozen projects over the past few years, can be called one of the most successful British young actresses.
Personal life
Nothing is known about the relationship in which the actress was at the beginning of her career. Only in 2014, rumors began to appear in the press about the growing romance between Matt Smith and Lily James. Personal life is a topic that the girl avoids when communicating with journalists. However, by 2015, no one had any doubt that they were in love with each other.
Matt Smith is a popular British actor, whose popularity was brought to him by the role of the Eleventh Doctor in the science fiction series Doctor Who. Together with Lily, he took part in the filming of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. The couple has been dating for two years. They do not seek to highlight their relationship in public, but they often appear at official events together and are also family friends.
Future projects
Lily James continues to actively act. At the end of 2016, she became the official face of the new Burberry fragrance. The actress spends most of her time on advertising campaigns for perfumes and participating in numerous photo shoots. She also returned to the theater again. Lily James, whose photo now adorns many advertising platforms in London, will work again with Kenneth Branagh in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. Her participation in the films “The Kaiser’s Last Kiss” and “Young Driver” is planned for 2017.
We can only hope that Lily James's career will develop rapidly and she will bring many more striking images to life on the screen. So far, the actress has all the makings to become famous not only in her homeland, but throughout the world.
Actress Lily James assures that computer graphics were not used to achieve this effect, it’s all about her constitution.
Lily James as Cinderella. Photo: press service materials.
The exit generated an unexpected stir around the waist of the leading lady, Lily James. A huge number of viewers wondered why the actress is so thin? And most agreed that this effect was achieved using computer graphics.
However, the 26-year-old star herself assures that she has a naturally thin waist. “I didn’t even expect that my waist would interest so many people. On the one hand, this upsets me. On the other hand, it’s even boring to discuss all this,” says Lily. — Why does a woman’s body always become an object of discussion? Why do I always have to make excuses for my figure? Everyone just celebrated International Women’s Day, but it feels like some people don’t know about it.”
“I’m naturally slim. And I’m in good health, I don’t suffer from eating disorders,” James continues. “Besides, on set I wore a very tight corset, which also took a few centimeters off my waist.”
At the same time, the actress admits that during filming she had to limit her diet to one tea. “I couldn’t eat anything in the corset because I was afraid that the food would just crawl out of me. And after filming, I had to watch what I ate and not overeat, otherwise the next day I simply wouldn’t be able to put on a dress.”
Richard Madden, who plays the Prince, also came to the actress’s defense. “I hugged Lily and I can firmly say that this is her real waist. “It’s really quite thin,” explains the actor. - And, I assure you, in life Lily eats well and eats a lot! She just has a constitution that allows her not to gain weight.”
The film's director, Kenneth Branagh, also denies using CGI to create Cinderella's thinner waist. “This effect was achieved with the help of a corset and specially exposed light,” Branagh succinctly commented on all the rumors.
Unfortunately, Lily James's waist size remains unknown.
Lily James is a British film actress. Lily gained popularity by starring in the television series The Secret Diary of a Call Girl, and then in the British series based on the original script. But international fame came to the actress after her roles in full-length Hollywood films: the fantasy “Wrath of the Titans”, the fairy-tale film “Cinderella” and the parody mashup horror film “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”, where Lily James played the main role.
Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson, better known to us as actress Lily James, was born in April 1989 in the town of Esher in the English county of Surrey. From an early age, the girl demonstrated creative inclinations and considerable artistry. Seeing this, the parents sent their daughter to art school in Tring, Hertfordshire.
After graduation, Lily James went to London, where she studied at the famous Guildhall School of Music and Theater. In 2010, having received a Guildhall diploma, Lily began to take her first steps in her career.
Movies
The creative biography of Lily James, the stage name the British woman took, began with a small serial role. The young actress appeared in several episodes of the family melodrama Just William. The following year, 2011, she again played in the series. Now Lily was entrusted with a more significant role: she played in 8 episodes of the film “The Secret Diary of a Call Girl.”
At the same time as working on the set, the young artist tried her hand at the stage. From time to time, Lily James performs on the stage of various London theaters. In Richmond, on the Orange Tree stage, she brilliantly played in two plays by Martin Crimp. And in the Shakespearean play directed by Daniel Evans, she appeared in the character. Evidence of Lily's high acting skills is the artist's invitation to the stage of the legendary Young Vic theater.
Success and popularity came to the actress after the release of the mega-popular series Downton Abbey. Lily turned out to have a rather noticeable, although not the main role here: she reincarnated as the charming Lady Rose McClair. At first, her character was eccentric and committed rash acts, but by the end of the series she turned into a real lady.
The actress took her participation in the action film with fantasy elements “Wrath of the Titans” to even greater heights. This large-scale project by Jonathan Liebesman, where Lily James played Corrina, finally established the artist on the star pedestal.
2012 was a very fruitful year for the actress. She appeared in several projects at once. The films “Broken” and “Fast Girls” had considerable success with critics and audiences.
After a three-year break, the actress appeared in a supporting role in the American drama series Chief Adam Jones. And then Lily James’s acting career took off sharply, and leading roles in world blockbusters fell on the girl as if from a cornucopia.
In March 2015, the fairy tale film Cinderella, directed by the famous director, was released on British screens. Such famous actresses as and others auditioned for Cinderella. But the choice fell on Lily James. Such masters of British cinema as, and. played in this filmed fairy tale. It’s no wonder that the project was a stunning success.
On February 27, 2015, the actress visited Russia during the Cinderella promotional tour. Lily James became a guest of the popular Russian show “Evening” and met with the performer of the title song of the film in Russian, singer.
In 2016, Russian television viewers received a wonderful opportunity to watch another film adaptation of the great novel. The 8-episode project by Tom Harper was filmed in several countries, including Russia. Palace Square in St. Petersburg, the Assumption Cathedral, the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo and the Yusupov Palace on the Moika - all these places are shown in the film. Lily James played.
The rising British star already has more than two dozen film roles to his credit.
Personal life
The actress prefers not to talk about personal things. But fans learned that her heart was no longer free. Lily is dating a colleague. This artist is known to many film fans for his role in the series of the same name.
So far, Lily James's personal life is a romantic relationship that has not yet developed into a legal marriage. But thoughts about the future celebration are already visiting the beauty. She says that one half of her dreams of a lavish wedding in Las Vegas, and the other demands a modest wedding ceremony among relatives and close friends. Which half of Lily will win will soon be revealed.
The actress starred with her lover in the film “Pride and Prejudice,” which was released in 2015. Lily appeared as Lizzie Bennet, the main character of the film. Matt got the role of Parson Collins.
Lily James maintains an official verified account at " Instagram", where 800 thousand fans subscribe to the young British actress. On Instagram, the girl posts picturesque landscapes, fresh photo shoots, shots with friends - the photos are in soft colors and create an overall stylish look for the page.
Lily James now
In 2016, Lily James played the role of Elizabeth Bennet in the parody horror film Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith, in which the writer, using mash-up inserts, reimagined the classic novel Pride and Prejudice, turning a book familiar from school into a post-apocalyptic read about a zombie apocalypse in prim old England.
In the new reading, Elizabeth Bennet is a master of martial arts and weapons, and Mr. Darcy also acts as a center of stereotypes of high society, but at the same time he also brutally kills zombies. A growing epidemic forces the heroes to forget about pride and prejudice and unite in the fight against zombies.
2016 brought the actress another leading role, also familiar to viewers from literature lessons, but this time in the most traditional reading. Lily James played in the film-play “And Juliet” based on the famous play.
The classic story about the love of the heirs of two warring families and the subsequent tragic outcome appeared on British screens on May 12, 2016, and was released in Russia on August 9, 2016.
In 2017, Lily James appeared in the long-awaited and critically acclaimed crime action film Baby Driver, but only played the supporting role of Deborah. The crime thriller tells the story of a young and stylish guy who works in a dangerous and criminal job: he helps bandits escape from the crime scene. But the hero’s problems begin not with the law, but with the criminal world itself, when the guy decides to quit the game.
Also in 2017, the actress played the main female role in the biographical drama Darkest Hour. The film tells about the first decisions as Prime Minister of Great Britain. Churchill gained power under extraordinary circumstances, and the first step of the new prime minister was to refuse to cooperate with.
In this drama, Lily James played the role of Elizabeth Lighton.
The film premiered on September 1, 2017 at the Telluride Film Festival and will be released on January 12, 2018.
Filmography
- 2011 - “The Secret Diary of a Call Girl”
- 2012 – 2015 - “Downton Abbey”
- 2012 - “Wrath of the Titans”
- 2012 - “Broken”
- 2012 - “Fast Girls”
- 2015 - “Cinderella”
- 2015 - “War and Peace”
- 2015 – “Chief Adam Jones”
- 2016 – “Elizabeth Bennett - Master of Martial Arts and Weapons”
- 2016 – “Romeo and Juliet”
- 2017 – “Baby Driver”
- 2017 – “Darkest Hours”
In just a few years, the actress achieved considerable success in cinema and became known to a very large number of people. What is this on-screen noble lady like in real life?
Questionnaire
- Real name: Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson.
- Zodiac sign - Aries.
- Year of birth - 1989.
- Place of birth: Isher, Surrey, UK.
- Nationality - English.
Options
- Height - 1.70 m.
- Weight - 58 kg.
A star is born
April 5, 1989 In a British town called Isher, which is located in the English county of Surrey, a baby was born into the Thomson family, named Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson. The girl's mother, Ninette, was an actress, and her father, Jamie, was a musician. The atmosphere in the house was suitable for the formation of a future star. Already in childhood, little Lily showed acting talent and creative abilities. The parents of an artistic girl quickly noticed a hereditary craving for art in their child. They did not interfere with Lily’s aspirations, but, on the contrary, decided to support and develop their daughter’s inclinations.
From her home, Lily went to study at the Tring School of Art in Hertfordshire. This was followed by a trip to London, again for science - to the famous Guildhall - the school of music and theater. In 2010, her studies were completed and the girl, with a diploma in her hands, found herself at the foot of her career ladder.
Career
The first step for the graduate was melodramatic series "Just William". The aspiring actress got a small role. Ethel Brown, played by Lily, who by this time had already taken the screen name Lily James, appears in only four episodes of the television melodrama. Such a debut, of course, did not bring the actress to world fame overnight, but nevertheless she was noticed. The next year she received a new serial role - twice the size of her debut. In The Secret Diary of a Call Girl, her character Poppy appears throughout eight episodes.
Lily James successfully combined filming in the series with work on the theater stage. To this day, from time to time she appears in various theater productions in London. Among her theatrical heroines one cannot fail to mention Shakespeare's Desdemona, brilliantly played by the actress.
With each new performance, the actress received invitations from more and more famous stage venues. And it should be noted that all the theaters with which Lily James collaborated, even the most legendary ones, celebrate her remarkable acting talent and high professionalism. This means that the flow of invitations will not dry up in the future.
The path to big screens
year 2012 became a turning point in Lily James's career and mega-successful. Still not knowing what enormous success this role would bring her, James began filming in the series Downton Abbey. Her character (Lady Rose McClair) first appeared in the last episode of the third season. Lady Rose was not the main character, but she was still quite a prominent person. The actress's boundless charm made the audience literally fall in love with both Lady Rose and Lily, who plays her.
Thanks to the excellent performance of Lily James, Lady Rose turned into one of the central characters of the film and did not leave the screens for several subsequent seasons. She also appeared in the final episodes of the show. Eccentric and prone to rash actions at the beginning, by the last episodes, released on the screen in 2015, Rose became a true lady.
Lily James herself instantly gained popularity and won the hearts of TV viewers. The life of a little-known aspiring actress changes dramatically - Lily, as they say, came out of the shadows. A series of photo shoots, interviews and other components of the life of stars befalls the girl. Photos of a pretty young actress with dark, bottomless eyes and a slender figure appear one after another in various magazines.
Along with her transformation into Lady Rose McClair, Lily James managed to star in several major film projects. Following the theater stage and television screens, the actress finally conquered the cinema screens. With the role of Corrina in the fantasy action film “Wrath of the Titans,” James consolidated her success - the actress finally established herself at the top of the career ladder and the star pedestal.
Also in 2012 The films “Fast Girls” and “Broken” appeared on the big screens, in which James also participated. Both projects left neither viewers nor critics indifferent - the actress received positive reviews from both.
For her role in Downton Abbey, Lily James received an award from the US Screen Actors Guild twice.
Great success
At the end of filming in "Abbey", James turns on screen from a real aristocrat into fairy-tale aristocrat - Cinderella. Many young but already famous actresses auditioned for the main role in the film. But Lily James becomes Cinderella. A photo of Lily in a sky-colored dress of incredible beauty graced the cover of the New Year's issue of Vogue magazine. And a few months later, in the spring of 2015, the film was released.
The large-scale film adaptation was a huge success. The worldwide box office of "Cinderella" amounted to almost six hundred million dollars. The project received an Oscar nomination for its impressive costumes. Stills from the film flashed everywhere, and a photo of Lily James in the image of Cinderella was published, perhaps, in all existing publications.
The success of "Cinderella" has not yet subsided, and Lily James has already started a new job - roles of Natasha Rostova. The controversial eight-part film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's great work "War and Peace" was released in 2016 and caused a lot of controversy and discussion. The British presented the plot of the tetralogy in a very original way, saturating the novel with eroticism, but still achieved considerable praise. So this role of James can also be called successful.
Best films
The actress’s filmography includes several dozen roles, but the best projects, of course, can be called:
- "Downton Abbey" (TV series),
- "Wrath of the Titans",
- "Cinderella",
- "War and Peace" (TV series).
Personal life
Film of dubious content "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies", in which Lily James starred in 2014, failed miserably at the box office - the fees covered only half of the filming costs. But still, this work cannot be considered completely unsuccessful for James - on the set of the film, the actress met actor Matt Smith. The couple has not yet legalized their relationship, although there is talk of a wedding. The actors also don’t have children yet.
Getty images Russia
GRAZIA: I see you can’t be called a fan of electronic devices... (Lily came to the interview with a phone whose screen was broken. - Note: Grazia.)
Lily James: I am absolutely hopeless when it comes to social media and gadgets. Obviously she was born later than she should have. Mom says that I would have made a good young lady of the 18th-19th centuries. Eka, a heroine from Jane Austen's novels.
GRAZIA: However, Baby Driver is a very modern film. How would you define its genre?
L.D.: On the one hand, a story about a bank robbery, on the other, a musical and a romantic comedy. It seems to me that this is a movie that will not take first place at the box office right away, but people will remember it, love it and then watch it at home.
GRAZIA: How was it working with your co-star Ansel Elgort?
L.D.: He is a very musical guy. Not only did he dance and sing, but during filming Ansel composed a song,
which is called All I Think About Is You (“All I can think about is you.” - Note: Grazia). I think in it
We are talking about his Russian girlfriend Suzanne.
GRAZIA: Maybe you should record a duet with him?
L.D.: I love music, but I wouldn't take that risk. While I sing, when I take a shower. My boyfriend Matt Smith even reprimanded me recently because I didn't let him sleep!
GRAZIA: What was this hit?
L.D.: Mamma Mia! from ABBA's repertoire.
GRAZIA: Ansel has an MTV award for best on-screen kiss. Did you rehearse the romantic scenes in any particular way?
L.D.: I found out about this after filming, when I visited him. The certificate is hanging right on the wall!
GRAZIA: Could your kiss win an award this year?
L.D.: I think we did very well! The director created the frame of our first kiss like a composer creates a symphony. The scene I remember most was the first romantic meeting between the Kid and Debbie in a laundromat in Brooklyn. They put clothes in a specific color in each washing machine, created special lighting, and the site looked like a music video from the 70s.
GRAZIA: Debbie and Baby dream of earning a lot of money and traveling far, far away together. Do you remember when
received your first large fee and what did you spend it on?
L.D.: For his role in Downton Abbey. Then I went and bought an expensive Chloe bag. Then, however, she took it back because she couldn’t come to terms with the thought that she had spent so much money!
GRAZIA: And how long did you last without new clothes?
L.D.: Until I received the next fee, and my conscience no longer tormented me. I chose a brown Mulberry bag, which is still one of my favorites.
GRAZIA: Have you already set up a separate room for bags and shoes?
L.D.: No, I'm completely calm about things. It’s generally difficult for me to choose shoes - my feet are too big.
GRAZIA: Do you watch your own films?
L.D.: I'm at the very beginning of my career, so I evaluate my work from a very critical point of view. Seeing a film with yourself in the lead role for the first time is sheer agony. Most of all, I indulged in self-criticism after Cinderella. Most of the viewers mostly recognized me from it.
GRAZIA: In Russia you are also remembered as Natasha Rostova from the series “War and Peace”. Was it easy for you to transform into a Russian aristocrat?
L.D.: The beauty of all of Leo Tolstoy's works is that they are incredibly universal. These are very Russian characters, but Natasha's sensuality and experiences can be compared to many female archetypes. Even with a British education, I still understood what the character was thinking and feeling.
GRAZIA: Many Russian schoolchildren find the book very long and heavy. Don't you think so?
L.D.: The parts about war and everyday life really seemed a bit heavy to me, but I honestly got through the entire book and didn’t miss anything.
GRAZIA: Recently there was news that the filming of the full-length Downton Abbey was confirmed. Have you been invited to participate?
L.D.: I know that they are planning to do it next year. The most difficult thing now is to coordinate the schedules of all the actors who are involved in different projects. I would love to return to the role of Lady Rose.
GRAZIA: Compared to other young stars, you are very private and rarely share photos on social networks. Why?
L.D.: When I'm working, I can post something on Instagram. But Christmas with my family and everything that happens at home with my loved one is a closed story for me, not for prying eyes. They told me about Instagram Stories, but I had never even heard of them. As you can see, part of the screen on my phone is broken off where they can be posted. So my private life doesn't even have a chance to become public.