Lily James

Not to be confused with Lilie James or Lil James.

Lily James
Lily James photographed at the Australian premiere of Baby Driver in 2017
James 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
OccupationActress
Years active2009–present
RelativesHelen Horton (grandmother)

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

James went on to portray Natasha Rostova in the television adaptation of War & Peace (2016) and starred in several films, including the action film Baby Driver (2017), the period dramas Darkest Hour (2017), The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018) and The Dig (2021), and the musicals Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) and Yesterday (2019). Her portrayal of Pamela Anderson in the biographical series Pam & Tommy (2022) earned her nominations for a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award.

Early life and education

Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson[1] was born on 5 April 1989[2] in Esher, Surrey,[1][3] the daughter of Ninette Mantle, an actress, and James "Jamie" Thomson, a musician.[4] She has two brothers, one older and one younger.[1] Her paternal grandmother, Helen Horton, was an American actress.[5] Her maternal grandmother was French, and fled her village near Paris because of the Nazis, later marrying James' grandfather, a minister in the Royal Air Force.[6]

After finishing her studies at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in Hertfordshire, James went on to graduate from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London in 2010.[7] Shortly thereafter, she signed with Tavistock Wood management in London.[8]

Career

2010s

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 Lady Rose Aldridge in Downton Abbey.[9] Lady Rose became a main character in the fourth and fifth series of the programme.[10] James also appeared as Lady Rose in the series finale.[11]

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,[12] 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, with Dominic West and Clarke Peters.

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 40th 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".[13] 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.

James played Cinderella in Kenneth Branagh's 2015 live-action Disney film Cinderella.[14] 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.[15] James also made her singing debut in the film singing "Sing Sweet Nightingale", "Lavender's Blue" and "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from the 1950 animated film in the end credits.

James promoting Pride and Prejudice and Zombies at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con

In 2016, she returned to television in the 2016 BBC historical drama series War & Peace, playing Natasha Rostova. She also starred in her second major film, as 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 Juliet in the Garrick Theatre's production of Romeo and Juliet directed by Rob Ashford and the actor-director Kenneth Branagh in 2016.

In 2017, she appeared in several major films. She played Debora, the love interest of the main character, Baby, in Edgar Wright's action film Baby Driver. She played Elizabeth Layton, a secretary to the British prime minister Winston Churchill (played by Gary Oldman), in Joe Wright's war drama film Darkest Hour. She also headlined the Second World War drama film The Exception, playing a British agent posing as a servant to the exiled Kaiser Wilhelm II.

James starred as the younger version of Meryl Streep's character, Donna Sheridan, in the sequel to Mamma Mia!, titled Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. The film was released in July 2018.[16] In the same year, James played the author Juliet Ashton in the 1940s period drama The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society who exchanges letters with the residents of Guernsey, an island off the coast of Normandy that was German-occupied during the Second World War.[17]

In 2019, James starred as Eve Harrington in Ivo van Hove's stage adaptation of All About Eve alongside Gillian Anderson.[18] The play opened on 15 February to positive reviews, running at the Noël Coward Theatre in the West End until 11 May.

2020s

In 2020, James played the second Mrs de Winter in an adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's Gothic romance Rebecca directed by Ben Wheatley and co-starring Armie Hammer.[19] In 2021, she played Peggy Piggott in The Dig, a British film directed by Simon Stone, based on the 2007 novel of the same name by John Preston.[20] In late 2020, she was cast to play Pamela Anderson in the miniseries Pam & Tommy for Hulu.[21]

In September 2022, it was announced that James was contracted to be a brand ambassador for the Natural Diamond Council, which promotes naturally sourced diamonds.[22]

In June 2023, it was announced that James would star in Penelope Skinner’s new play Lyonesse at the Harold Pinter Theatre, alongside Kristin Scott Thomas, whom she previously acted with in Darkest Hour and Rebecca. It will run from 17 October to 23 December.[23] In 2023, she starred as Pam Adkisson, Kevin Von Erich's wife, in The Iron Claw. She also starred in the Italian film Finally Dawn as Josephine Esperanto.[24] James starred in the indie film Greedy People along with Himesh Patel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt which released in 2024.[25][26]

James is set to star as the lead in the upcoming Cliffhanger Reboot directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. Originally Slyvester Stallone was set to play the lead, but production announced he was no longer involved with the film.[27]

Personal life

James' father, James Thomson, died from cancer in 2008. She took her father's first name as her stage name when she learned there was already an actress named Lily Thomson.[28]

She was in a relationship with actor Matt Smith, whom she met while working on Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, from 2014 to 2019.[29]

In 2021, James began dating American musician and songwriter Michael Shuman, a member of U.S. rock band Queens of the Stone Age.[30][31] In February 2023 it was reported the couple's relationship had ended.[32]James' romance with Shuman was reported to have rekindled as of November 2023.[33]

Filmography

Key
† Denotes productions that have not yet been released

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Chemistry Ines Short film
Wrath of the Titans Korrina
Broken Older Skunk
Fast Girls Lisa Temple
2013 The Silent Treatment The Girl Short film
2015 Cinderella Cinderella
Burnt Sara
2016 Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Elizabeth Bennet
The Exception Mieke de Jong
The Tale of Thomas Burberry Betty Short film
2017 Baby Driver Debora
Darkest Hour Elizabeth Layton
2018 Sorry to Bother You White Detroit (voice) Cameo
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Juliet Ashton
Little Woods Deb Hale
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Young Donna Sheridan
2019 One Red Nose Day and a Wedding Miranda Short film
Yesterday Ellie Appleton
Rare Beasts Cressida
2020 Rebecca Mrs. de Winter
2021 The Dig Peggy Piggott
2022 What's Love Got to Do with It? Zoe Stevenson
2023 Finally Dawn Josephine Esperanto
The Iron Claw Pam Adkisson
2024 Greedy People Paige Shelley [34]
Relay Sarah Grant [35]
2025 Swiped † Whitney Wolfe Herd Post-production; also producer
TBA Untitled Cliffhanger film † Naomi Cooper 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 Aldridge née MacClare 21 episodes
2016 War & Peace Natasha Rostova 6 episodes
2021 The Pursuit of Love Linda Radlett 3 episodes; also executive producer
Beauty and the Beast Rose Television pantomime[36]
2022 Pam & Tommy Pamela Anderson Miniseries[21]

Theatre

Year Title Role Venue
2011 Vernon God Little Taylor Young Vic Theatre
Othello Desdemona Crucible Theatre
2012 The Seagull Nina Southwark Playhouse
2016 Romeo and Juliet Juliet Garrick Theatre
2019 All About Eve Eve Harrington Noël Coward Theatre
2023 Lyonesse Kate Harold Pinter Theatre

Awards and nominations

Accolades received by Lily James
Award Year Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Dorian Television Awards 2022 Best TV Performance Pam & Tommy Nominated [37]
Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards 2022 Best Actress in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Nominated [38]
Primetime Emmy Awards 2022 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Nominated [39][40]
Critics' Choice Television Awards 2023 Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Nominated [41]
Golden Globe Awards 2023 Best Actress – Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film Nominated [42]
Satellite Awards 2023 Best Actress in a Miniseries, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television Won [43]

See also

References

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  3. ^ Kaleem Aftab (12 July 2017). "Lily James: "You're at the Mercy of Circumstance"". The Talks. Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
    - "Lily James found comfort in drama". Belfast Telegraph. 3 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  6. ^ Collin, Robbie (6 January 2018). "Lily James interview: How my grandmother's war diaries helped me in my Darkest Hour". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Lily James". Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
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  8. ^ "Lily James to Star in Disney's 'Cinderella'". 30 April 2013. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  9. ^ "The Tatler List". Tatler. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Ones to Watch in 2011". Female First. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
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    - Camhi, Leslie (19 November 2014). "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.
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  17. ^ Tenreyro, Tatiana. "This New 1940s Drama On Netflix Spotlights A Heroic European Book Club". Bustle. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
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  19. ^ Kroll, Justin (14 November 2018). "Lily James, Armie Hammer to Star in Daphne du Maurier Adaptation 'Rebecca'". Variety. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  20. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (8 October 2019). "'The Dig': Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott & Monica Dolan Join Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes & Lily James In Netflix Pic Now Underway In UK". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Lily James, Sebastian Stan to Play Pamela Anderson, Tommy Lee in Hulu Series About Sex Tape". Collider. 15 December 2020. Archived from the original on 21 December 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Natural Diamond Council names new celebrity ambassador Lily James and unveils next global advertising campaign" (Press release). Natural Diamond Council – via PR Newswire.
  23. ^ Gillinson, Miriam (13 October 2023). "Penelope Skinner on her #MeToo play: 'We focus on perpetrators. I wanted to explore the life that was lost'". The Guardian. The Guardian. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  24. ^ Canfield, David (4 September 2023). "How Lily James and Joe Keery Became Old Hollywood Icons in 'Finally Dawn'". Vanity Fair. Collider. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Old Henry' Director Moves Into Dark Comedy With 'Greedy People' Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Lily James". Variety. November 2023. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  26. ^ DeVore, Britta (30 July 2024). "Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Himesh Patel Make the Most of Murder in 'Greedy People' Trailer". Collider. Collider. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  27. ^ Donnelly, Matt (31 October 2024). "'Cliffhanger' Reboot: Lily James and Pierce Brosnan to Star for Director Jaume Collet-Serra; Sly Stallone Out (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Variety. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  28. ^ McElroy, Naomi (8 April 2021). "10 things you didn't know about actress Lily James". Buzz. Archived from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
    - "'Downton Abbey's' Lily James reveals her real-life Cinderella story". New York Post. 11 February 2015. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  29. ^ "Lily James unsure of marriage". Associated Press. 7 January 2019. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
    - Hodge, Gavanndra (15 June 2019). "Lily James: 'We are trying always to be happy, but unhappiness is just as real, just as important'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
    - Heawood, Sophie (24 October 2020). "Lily James: 'I got sucked into the vortex. I didn't know which way to turn'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  30. ^ "Who Is Michael Shuman, Lily James's Boyfriend? We've Got Answers, Don't Sweat". Cosmopolitan. 7 September 2022. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  31. ^ Griffin, Louise (28 March 2022). "Oscars 2022: Lily James and boyfriend Michael Shuman make red carpet debut". Metro. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  32. ^ "Lily James 'splits' from rock star boyfriend after two-year relationship". 12 February 2023. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  33. ^ "All About Lily James' On-Again-Off-Again Boyfriend Michael Shuman". ELLE. 1 January 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  34. ^ Hammond, Pete (21 August 2024). "'Greedy People' Review: Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Loopy Cop Tops Black Comedy That Somehow Escaped The Coens' Grasp". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  35. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (17 February 2023). "Riz Ahmed & Lily James To Star In David Mackenzie Thriller 'Relay' For Thunder Road, Sigma & Black Bear: EFM Hot Package". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  36. ^ "Beauty and the Beast". BBC. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  37. ^ Coates, Tyler (23 June 2022). "'Hacks' and 'Somebody Somewhere' Lead Dorian TV Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  38. ^ Schneider, Michael (7 July 2022). "'Severance,' 'Ted Lasso' Lead Streaming Nominees for 2nd Annual HCA TV Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  39. ^ Snierson, Dan (12 September 2022). "See the full list of 2022 Emmy winners". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  40. ^ Moreau, Jordan (12 July 2022). "Emmys 2022: The Complete Nominations List". Variety. Archived from the original on 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  41. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (15 January 2023). "Critics Choice Awards: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  42. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (10 January 2023). "Golden Globes: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  43. ^ "The International Press Academy Announces Winners for the 27th Annual SATELLITE™ Awards". International Press Academy. 3 March 2023. Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lily James.