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Lily James

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Lily James
James at the Australian premiere of Baby Driver in 2017
Born
Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson

(1989-04-05) 5 April 1989 (age 35)
Esher, Surrey, England
Alma materGuildhall School of Music and Drama (2010)
OccupationActress
Years active2010–present

Lily Chloe Ninette James (née Thomson; born 5 April 1989) is an English actress. She studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and soon began her acting career in the British television series Just William (2010). Following a supporting role in the period drama series Downton Abbey (2012–2015), James had her film breakthrough by playing the eponymous role in the fantasy film Cinderella (2015).

James went on to play Natasha Rostova in the television series War & Peace (2016), and in 2017, she starred in two critically and commercially successful films—the action film Baby Driver and the war drama Darkest Hour. She played the younger version of Meryl Streep’s character in the musical film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018).

Early life

James was born Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson in Esher, Surrey, the daughter of Ninette (née Mantle), an actress, and James "Jamie" Thomson, a musician.[1] Her grandmother, Helen Horton, was an American actress.[2][3] She attended Tring Park School for the Performing Arts[4] and subsequently went on to study acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, graduating in 2010.[5][6]

Career

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.[7] Lady Rose later became a main character in the fourth and fifth series of the programme.[8] James also appeared as Lady Rose in the series finale.[9]

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,[10] Nina in Russell Bolam's modern adaptation of The Seagull at Southwark Playhouse, and Desdemona in Daniel Evans' 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."[11]

James at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con

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."[12] James played the role of Korrina in the Warner Brothers film Wrath of the Titans and starred in Fast Girls, written by Noel Clarke, centred around a group of young female athletes competing in the World Championships.

James played the titular character in the 2015 live-action Disney film Cinderella.[13] James was photographed by Annie Leibovitz as Cinderella, in the blue gown her character wears to the ball, for the December 2014 issue of Vogue.[14][15] 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 2016 BBC historical drama series War & Peace, playing the character of Natasha Rostova. She also starred in her second major film, playing the role of Elizabeth Bennet 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 played the role of Juliet in the Garrick Theatre's production of Romeo and Juliet directed by Rob Ashford and actor-director Kenneth Branagh in 2016.

In 2017, she played Debora, the love interest of the main character, Baby, in the action film Baby Driver; starred as Elizabeth Layton, a secretary to PM Winston Churchill, in the film Darkest Hour; and headlined the World War II drama The Exception, playing a British agent posing as a servant to the exiled Kaiser Wilhelm II. James is set to portray the younger version of Donna Sheridan in the sequel to Mamma Mia!, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.[16]

Personal life

James' father died from cancer in 2008; she has said that filming father/daughter scenes in Cinderella was therefore very emotional for her. She changed her surname to "James" as a tribute to her father.[17]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
2012 Chemistry Ines
2012 Wrath of the Titans Korrina
2012 Broken Older Skunk
2012 Fast Girls Lisa Temple
2015 Cinderella Cinderella
2015 Burnt Sara
2016 Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Elizabeth Bennet
2016 The Exception Mieke de Jong
2016 The Tale of Thomas Burberry Betty
2017 Baby Driver Debora
2017 Darkest Hour Elizabeth Nel
2018 Sorry to Bother You[18] White Detroit (voice)
2018 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Juliet Ashton
2018 Little Woods[19] Deb
2018 Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Young Donna Sheridan
2019 Untitled Danny Boyle/Richard Curtis film Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Just William Ethel Brown 4 episodes
2011 Secret Diary of a Call Girl Poppy 8 episodes
2012–2015 Downton Abbey Lady Rose MacClare 21 episodes
2016 War & Peace Natasha Rostova 6 episodes

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Vernon God Little Taylor Young Vic Theatre
2011 Othello Desdemona Crucible Theatre
2012 The Seagull Nina Southwark Playhouse
2016 Romeo and Juliet Juliet Garrick Theatre
2019 All About Eve Eve Harrington Noel Coward Theatre

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Refs
2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Won
2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Won
2015 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Cinderella Nominated [20]
2015 Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards Breakthrough Award Cinderella Won [21]
2016 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actress Cinderella Nominated [22]
2017 Whatsonstage.com Awards Best Actress in a Play Romeo and Juliet Nominated [23]

References

  1. ^ Pietras, Emma (20 March 2015). "Cinderella and Downton Abbey's Lily James amazing rise to Hollywood star". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Hansen, Pal (23 December 2012). "Fallen angel: How Lily James is bringing scandal to Downton Abbey this Christmas". The Independent. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Lily James found comfort in drama". Belfast Telegraph. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Branagh and Lily James in new venture". Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. 17 April 2015. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Lily James". Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Mottram, James (15 March 2015). "Disney's Cinderella: Why Downton Abbey star Lily James is not just another English rose". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "The Tatler List". Tatler. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Ones to Watch in 2011". Female First. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Lily James to return for final episode of Downton Abbey". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "What's On – Young Vic". youngvic.org. Archived from the original on 2 March 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Letts, Quentin. "A star is born as newcomer takes Desdemona to The Wire" Archived 29 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine, The Daily Mail, 20 September 2011, accessed 19 November 2014
  12. ^ Spencer, Charles. "Play House/Definitely the Bahamas, Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, review" Archived 2 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine, The Daily Telegraph, 19 March 2012, accessed 19 November 2014
  13. ^ ‘Downton Abbey’ Star is New Cinderella Archived 2 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  14. ^ "The New Trailer, Poster and Photos for Disney's Cinderella!". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on 21 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Camhi, Leslie. "What Would Cinderella Wear? Costuming Lily James and Cate Blanchett in Kenneth Branagh's Forthcoming Film". Vogue. Archived from the original on 22 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Jenna Busch (12 July 2017). "Mamma Mia Sequel Casts Baby Driver's Lily James". Comingsoon.net. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  17. ^ "'Downton Abbey's' Lily James reveals her real-life Cinderella story". New York Post. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  18. ^ Bojolad, Alec (17 May 2018). "Sorry to Bother You Trailer is NSFW Madness". Den of Geek. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  19. ^ Lee, Ashley. "Tessa Thompson, Lily James Pair for Modern Western 'Little Woods". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Staff, Variety (17 August 2015). "Teen Choice Awards 2015 Winners: Full List". Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ Kallon, Catherine (4 November 2015). "Lily James In Erdem – 2015 Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "Kids' Choice Awards: Adele, Justin Bieber, 'Star Wars' Among Nominees". Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ "Harry Potter leads winners of the 17th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards". Archived from the original on 20 February 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lily James.
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