Lily James
Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson (born 5 April 1989), better known as Lily James, is an English actress. She is best known for her role as Lady Rose Aldridge in the ITV period drama Downton Abbey, and the title role in the 2015 Disney film Cinderella.
James began her professional acting career as Ethel Brown in the 2010 BBC production Just William. In 2011 and 2012, she earned warm reviews in several London theatre productions. She began to appear in Hollywood films in 2012, with roles in Wrath of the Titans and Fast Girls, and was seen in further television roles, including the character of Natasha Rostova in the 2016 BBC historical drama series War & Peace.
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Early life
Lily James was born in Esher, Surrey, the daughter of Ninette V. A. (née Mantle), an actress, and musician James (Jamie) S. Thomson. Her grandmother, Helen Horton, was an American actress. She began her education at Arts Educational School in Tring and subsequently went on to study acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, graduating in 2010.
Career
In 2011, James played Taylor at the Young Vic Theatre in Tanya Ronder's stage adaptation of the novel Vernon God Little directed by Rufus Norris, Nina in Russell Bolam's modern adaptation of The Seagull at Southwark Playhouse, and Desdemona in Daniel Evans's production of Othello at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, alongside Dominic West and Clarke Peters. Quentin Letts wrote in The Daily Mail: "We may have a new star actress on our hands. ... She left drama school only last year, yet she practically sweeps all before her as Desdemona in this Othello. Poise, diction, allure – she has them all. ... Her character’s love affair with a much older husband is completely believable". In 2012, James played the role of Katrina in Play House and Marijka in Definitely the Bahamas in a double-bill written and directed by Martin Crimp at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, London as part of the theatre's fortieth anniversary. Charles Spencer of The Telegraph wrote that "it is performed with a persuasive mixture of mischief and deeper feeling by Obi Abili and Lily James, the latter combining a mixture of neuroticism and glowing sexual allure that proves extraordinarily potent."
Also in 2012, James played the role of Korrina in the Warner Brothers film Wrath of the Titans and starred in Fast Girls, written by Noel Clarke, centered around a group of young female athletes competing in the World Championships. Her television credits include Ethel Brown in the 2010 BBC production of Richmal Crompton's Just William, Poppy in the fourth series of ITV's Secret Diary of a Call Girl (2011), and the rebellious Lady Rose in the last episode of series three of Downton Abbey. Lady Rose later became a main character in the fourth and fifth series of the programme. James also appeared as Lady Rose in the series finale.
James played the title character in the 2015 live-action Disney film Cinderella. The film was released on 13 March 2015. James, as Cinderella, was photographed by Annie Leibovitz, in the blue gown that she wears to the ball, for the December 2014 issue of Vogue. James also made her singing debut in the film's end credits, covering "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from the 1950 animated film.
In 2016 she returned to television in the BBC's War & Peace drama adoption, which received rave reviews. She played the character of Natasha Rostova in the 2016 BBC historical drama series War & Peace.
The Radio Times said; Downton Abbey's "sex on legs" Lily James again plumps for a costume drama as the sweet and kind Natasha Rostova, over the course of the drama which spans eight years we will see her have her fair share of love and woe. When we meet the only daughter of Count and Countess Rostova, she is a spirited young teenager playing matchmaker between her friends. She appears to have feelings for her friend Pierre but with his imminent marriage it looks like any chances of romance between the two have been scuppered by the machinations of others.
In 2016 she also starred in her second major film, playing the role of Elizabeth Bennett in the action-horror film Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a parody of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It received mixed reviews and failed to break even at the box office.
James is scheduled to play the role of Juliet in the Garrick Theatre's production of Romeo and Juliet. The directors are Rob Ashford and actor-director Kenneth Branagh.
Personal life
In 2008, James' father died from cancer, which made filming father/daughter scenes in Cinderella very emotional for her. She began dating Matt Smith in 2015, announcing their relationship when they appeared together at the Cinderella premiere in February.
